Threat of flooding due to Hurricane Idalia has increased. Here are the details
As Hurricane Idalia gets closer to the Myrtle Beach area, the risk of flooding is rising too.
The National Weather Service Wilmington Office increased its threat of flooding rain to “significant” Tuesday, Aug. 29. The Wilmington Office previously listed the threat of flooding rain between “elevated” and “limited” Monday, Aug. 28.
The NWS has also increased the threat of tornadoes from “limited” to “elevated”.
A few tornadoes and waterspouts “are possible” in areas of southeast North Carolina and Northeast South Carolina possibly Wednesday into Wednesday night, the report stated.
The National Weather Service ranked threat levels in order of severity from:
- none
- limited
- elevated
- significant
- extreme
The risk of river flooding is still listed as “limited,” but the NWS has identified three rivers in North Carolina and South Carolina that could have minor flooding.
The North East Cape Fear River near Burgaw, N.C.; Little Pee Dee River at Galivants Ferry S.C. and Black Creek near Quinby could see minor flooding, according to The NWS report.
National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Steven Pfaff said most flooding fatalities in the Carolinas are associated with freshwater flooding caused by rainfall and vehicle-related.
Drivers should avoid driving through road ponding or closed roads.
