Heavy rain and wind may make holiday travel frightful in the Carolinas, forecasters say
If you’re getting ready to travel for the holidays in the Carolinas, you may want to plan for some adverse weather.
Heavy rain and wind gusts along with potential flooding are possible in some areas of North and South Carolina early in the week, according to the National Weather Service, and it may impact holiday travel.
Western Carolinas, mountains
Western North Carolina and northwestern areas of South Carolina are expected to see “widespread” rain starting Sunday and into Monday, the National Weather Service Greenville/Spartanburg office says, but it should taper off Monday night, just in time for Christmas Eve.
Parts of the North Carolina mountains could see between 1 and 2 inches of rain, while parts of northwest South Carolina could see between 2 and 3 inches, according to the weather service.
“Potentially isolated flooding” is also possible in the area, the NWS says. This is mostly possible in urban areas and areas with poor drainage.
Additionally, the area could see wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph, according to the weather service. In western North Carolina, gusts are mostly expected to be in the low 20s and in northwestern South Carolina they’re mostly expected to be in the mid-to-upper 30s.
These gusts coupled with rain “may loosen a few roots and cause a few trees to be blown down,” which could cause power outages, the weather service says.
“Reduced visibilities and wet roadways may hinder holiday travel this evening,” the NWS says.
Central North Carolina
Central North Carolina is also expected to see widespread rain Monday, with the “heaviest and steadiest” rainfall concentrated over the southern half of the area, the National Weather Service Raleigh office says. Up to 2 inches of rain is expected near the South Carolina line, the NWS says.
But the rain should taper off Monday night and any lingering rain will be gone early Christmas Eve, the weather service says.
Coastal Carolinas
On the coast, heavy rain is also expected with “periods of flooding” possible in some areas.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect through Monday for northeastern South Carolina, which could see 2 to 4 inches of rain and 5 to 6 inches in some areas, according to the National Weather Service Wilmington Office.
In southeastern North Carolina, 2 to 3 inches of rain are possible in some areas, with 3 to 4 possible in others, the weather service says.
Wind gusts could reach up to 28 mph in southeastern North Carolina and up to 31 mph in coastal South Carolina, according to the NWS.
The worst of the weather is expected Monday night, the NWS says, and it could cause fallen tree branches, power outages, slick roadways and reduced visibility while driving.
Moderate rain could continue through Christmas Eve night, the weather service says, but the system should be pushed out to sea, allowing for a “pronounced drying trend.”
Steady rain should move into northeastern North Carolina by Monday morning, with some areas seeing more than an inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service’s Newport/Morehead City office.
“Occasionally heavy” rain is possible during the day Monday with between 1.5 to 1.8 inches possible, the weather service says.
But skies should be clear in the area by Christmas Day, according to the NWS.
This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Heavy rain and wind may make holiday travel frightful in the Carolinas, forecasters say."
