With Florence slowing substantially as it meanders along the coast of North and South Carolina, the current forecast of feet of rain could lead to catastrophic flash flooding and major river flooding in parts of the Carolinas and possibly other neighboring states.
Some communities in the Carolinas may be under water for days and possibly a week or more.
As AccuWeather meteorologists have warned about since the middle of the soggy and in some cases record wet summer, any tropical storm or hurricane that moves over saturated ground in the eastern United States during the height of the hurricane season may lead to disastrous flooding.
“Strength, track and forward speed of Florence will be the major players in determining the scope and amount of rainfall and correspondingly the severity of inland flooding,” according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
In addition to storm surge flooding, inland flooding will escalate from urban and poor drainage areas to small streams. However, even as torrential rain ceases days after the initial first drops from Florence, major rivers in the region are likely to reach major flood stage.
Record flooding is possible.
Following the State of Emergency that has been declared from Georgia to Maryland, property owners are urged to take action.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay up-to-date with Florence’s expected track and impacts to the U.S.
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