Slow-moving storm threatens Carolinas with heavy rain, significant flooding

A dangerous storm system is expected to bring heavy rainfall and a few strong to severe thunderstorms, possibly causing serious flash flooding over the southern Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast US over the coming days. Mudslides are possible in the higher terrain.

A slow-moving low pressure system will move northward to the North Carolina coast by Tuesday evening (local time), April 25, 2017, the National Weather Service warns.

The system will produce showers and thunderstorms over parts of the Southeast and portions of the Southern Mid-Atlantic that will move off the Southeast Coast by Tuesday morning and remain over parts of the Southern Mid-Atlantic Coast through Tuesday evening.

Rain will also develop over the Virginias that will slowly expand northward into the Northern Mid-Atlantic/Lower Great Lakes and Southern New England by Tuesday morning and continue to expand northward into Northern New England by Tuesday evening.

"Given the slow and drenching nature of the rainfall, there is the potential for widespread flooding to occur from eastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina to the eastern foothills of the southern Appalachians," AccuWeather meteorologist Renee Duff said.

"Runoff could quickly overflow small streams and rivers, potentially inundating nearby lands, roads and homes. Mudslides are possible in the higher terrain."

Featured image: Rain+Wind, April 24, 2017. Credit: NOAA