Heavy rain floods North Carolina, states of emergency declared, U.S.

At least 3 people have been killed after a slow-moving storm dumped extremely heavy rain on parts of the southeastern United States over the past couple of days.

On June 5, Wharton and Palacios, Texas, received massive 203.2 mm (8 inches) of rain in less than 12 hours. Lafayette, Louisiana set its daily maximum rainfall record of 87.8 mm (3.46 inches), breaking the old record of 61.2 mm (2.41 inches) set in 1926. The 24-hour total for Lafayette ending at 15:00 UTC (10:00 local time) was 195.3 mm (7.69 inches), according to data provided by AccuWeather. The city typically receives 179.8 mm (7.08 inches) of rain during the entire month of June.

Atlanta, Georgia received 99 mm (3.9 inches) of rain on June 8, breaking its previous record for the day set in 1950 at 36.8 mm (1.45 inches). The city usually receives 100.3 mm (3.95 inches) during the entire month of June.

The worst affected was western North Carolina where up to 346.7 mm (13.65 inches) of rain fell in Brookford and 344.6 mm (13.57 inches) in Boone in 72 hours.

The result was major flooding which prompted rescue operations, evacuations and declarations of states of emergency.

Three people were killed near Lincolnton, NC late June 8 after the vehicle they were traveling in slid off Highway 27 near Rock Dam Road, hit a tree and overturned into a creek.

Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible today and tonight from the Texas Hill Country to the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area, the National Weather Service meteorologists warned. Over the eastern U.S., heavy rain and flooding will continue from the Southeast U.S. to the southern Mid Atlantic states into Monday. 

Featured image credit: Rolesville Fire Department, NC