Western North Carolina Flash Flood Watch

The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for

* portions of piedmont North Carolina and western North
Carolina, including the following areas, in piedmont North
Carolina, Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell,
Lincoln, and Mecklenburg. In western North Carolina, Avery,
Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Eastern
McDowell, Eastern Polk, Greater Burke, Greater Caldwell,
Greater Rutherford, Henderson, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell,
Polk Mountains, Rutherford Mountains, and Yancey.

* through this evening

* Additional Rainfall amounts of one half to 1 inch, with
locally higher amounts up to 2 inches are possible across the
region through tonight. This could cause additional flash
flooding to develop very quickly, especially in areas that
have seen very heavy rainfall since Friday, and also in urban
areas.

* Flooding is ongoing across portions of western North Carolina,
especially along the Catawba River in the foothills and
western Piedmont. This flooding will likely continue through
at least tonight. Additional heavy rainfall may worsen the
flooding in these areas. Other areas could also see streams
rise quickly, with some coming out of their banks. The
possibility of isolated landslide activity will remain
elevated along and near the Blue Ridge Escarpment, especially
across the northern mountains, where widespread rainfall
amounts in excess of 5 inches have occurred since Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.