A Flash Flood Watch was issued on Sunday evening for all counties in Eastern North Carolina, due to heavy rain that is expected to continue through Monday morning and afternoon.
A total rainfall of 2-3 inches is expected across the coastal plain, and heavier amounts of 3-4 inches is forecast for areas east of US 17, which includes Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.
There is the potential for some coastal locations, particularly from Rodanthe south, to receive 5+ inches of rainfall by Monday afternoon.
The period of the heaviest rainfall will be from 12 a.m. – 9 a.m. on Monday, and is expected to impact the morning commute, especially across coastal areas. Most areas have received between 1 and 3 inches the past day or so, and motorists are urged to be alert for ponding on area roads.
There is also a predicted King Tide event starting on Monday, January 29 that continues through Friday, February 2 as a result of lunar perigee (on Jan. 30) and the full moon (on Jan. 31) occurring less than a day apart. As a result, islanders can expect higher than normal tides across Eastern NC through throughout the week.
For more information, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather forecast information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
