Several cities in southeastern North Carolina saw historic rainfall on Monday. Rainfall was a particularly notable record along the coast of Carolina near Wilmington. According to the National Weather Service, 18 inches of rain fell on Ocean Boulevard in 12 hours — something meteorologists said only happens “once every 1,000 years.”
“Historical rainfall occurred today across Carolina Beach, Southport and PSL,” the weather service in Wilmington wrote in a news release. Social media post Shared on Monday afternoon. “Voluntary gauges reported more than a foot of rain since midnight.”
Citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the weather service estimates that 12 inches of rainfall in 12 hours only occurs in this area about once every 200 years. That unusual range was met at several locations where gauges collected rain readings between midnight and midnight on Monday.
The highest rainfall associated with the weather system was 18 inches recorded along Ocean Boulevard in Carolina Beach. After that, areas around the nearby Snow Cut Bridge, Sunny Point Military Terminal and Boiling Springs Lake all received more than 14 inches in half a day. Southport and parts of St. James City each recorded more than a foot of rain, while Leland, near Wilmington, received nearly 7 inches. Rainfall was significantly less than the 3 1/2 inches measured at the Wilmington airport.
Parts of southeastern North Carolina experienced severe flooding and powerful, gusty winds on Monday. National Hurricane Center They warned that some of the effects of the storm would be “life-threatening” as a potential tropical cyclone eight. By 5 p.m. EDT that afternoon, forecasters estimate that the system will bring another 4 to 8 inches of rain to parts of the region by the end of the night, with up to 10 inches in some places.
By Tuesday morning, about 21 inches of rain had fallen near two feet along Ocean Boulevard in Carolina Beach. Weather Service. Nineteen inches of rain was reported in Southport during the same period, and several sites in the area reported similarly heavy flooding. Boiling Spring Lakes and Long Beach reported 16 inches of rain, and parts of Wilmington received 9 inches.
The weather service in Wilmington shared images of some of the damage from Monday’s rain and flooding. In Brunswick County, the weather caused a section of road to collapse, leaving pieces of it floating in a puddle of stagnant muddy water below.
“Today’s heavy rains and flash flooding have resulted in major road washouts across Brunswick County,” the service said.
Forecasters said no additional rain was expected on Tuesday in areas hit on Monday. Numerous flash flood warnings already in place across the region expired before midnight.
