Hurricane Ian rain may top 7 inches in North Carolina mountains. When will it arrive?
Remnants of Hurricane Ian are expected to dump more than 7 inches of rain in the North Carolina mountains, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
Forecasters expect the storm to make landfall Thursday, Sept. 29, just north of Tampa, Florida, and it will likely arrive in the Carolinas by Friday.
“Unless the system gets completely blocked, we should see some heavy rainfall across the forecast area,” weather service forecasters say.
“Rain chances will increase across southeastern North Carolina Thursday night, with the most widespread rainfall expected on Friday and Saturday,” the Department of Safety reported Tuesday, Sept. 27.
“Much of North Carolina is forecast to see 2-5 inches late this week and weekend, but 5-7 inches or more will be possible near the coast and along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. These rainfall totals could lead to localized flash flooding, landslides in the mountains, and rises on main-stem rivers.”
Winds between 45 and 57 mph could will be felt in the Carolinas starting 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, officials say.
“With gusty winds, coupled with saturating soils, we will continue to message the possibility of at least isolated power outages as a result of falling trees. (The) tornado threat looks likely to remain low, given the slight eastward shift in track,” the National Weather Service said.
Rainfall near 10 inches and gusts exceeding 70 mph are possible on the North Carolina coast as far north as the Outer Banks, forecasters say. Minor coastal flooding is expected.
The storm became a Category 3 hurricane Tuesday, Sept. 27, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. As much as 16 inches of rain could fall in west Central Florida when the storm makes landfall, officials say.
Ian is expected “to weaken to a tropical depression or post-tropical low” by the time it reaches the Carolinas.
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