2:05
- ABC News
- September 17, 2018
Florence causing 'unprecedented flooding'
The Carolinas are bracing for major river flooding and possible tornadoes.
2:05
\"We talked about the massive risk the storm poses, catastrophic flooding, prolonged flooding,\" he said of the briefing. \"We gave him an update on response capabilities in the theater and the president is completely leaning in. Anything the feds need to do to support the local, the state partners here in South Carolina and North Carolina. We feel fully supported.\"
![\"Jeff](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/florence-roof-tarp-ap-mo-20180916_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The Lumber River, near Lumberton, North Carolina, rose to into major flood stage Sunday. It is expected to reach a level very near the record Hurricane Matthew set in 2016. Mandatory evacuations were issued for South Lumberton on Saturday.
Major river flooding is also expected on some rivers from southern Virginia to northern South Carolina.
The Northeast Cape Fear River, near Chinquapin, North Carolina, will rise above record flood levels set by Hurricane Floyd in 1999. This will cause devastating flooding across much of Onslow County with travel made impossible and many homes completely flooded.
The Neuse River, both near Goldsboro and Kinston, North Carolina, will reach major flood stage late Sunday and into Monday. The Waccamaw River, near Conway, South Carolina, will rise near record levels by the end of the week.
Florence has dropped a tremendous amount of rain in eastern North Carolina, with a widespread 20 to 30 inches reported already. Radar is estimating that some areas between Wilmington and New Bern, North Carolina, have received over 30 inches of rain.
These are some of the latest rainfall totals as of 11 p.m. on Saturday:
-- Swansboro, N.C. -- 30.59 inches
-- Newport/Morehead City, N.C. -- 25.20 inches
-- Elizabethtown, N.C. -- 20.17 inches
-- Jacksonville, N.C. -- 16.13 inches
-- Conway, S.C. -- 9.90 inches
-- Myrtle Beach Airport, S.C. -- 6.74 inches
Florence is now the third storm to set a tropical cyclone state rainfall record in just the last 12 months. Harvey dropped 60.58 inches of rain last year in Texas, setting the state’s new record. Lane just last month dropped 52.02 inches of rain in parts of Hawaii, breaking the state record. The 30.59 inches that have fallen in Swansboro sets a new record for North Carolina.
Florence also currently stands as the sixth-highest tropical cyclone rainfall total across the U.S. for records dating back to 1950.
Heavy rains bands are still coming onshore in eastern South Carolina and North Carolina on Sunday morning. Some of the heavier bands have shifted toward Fayetteville, Charlotte, and Raleigh.
Photos: Cleanup begins in the areas damaged by Hurricane Florence
Torrential rain is causing inland flooding with major roadways, including large portions of I-95, closed.
An additional 6 to 10 inches of rain is still possible along the southeast border of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding is likely over the southern to central Appalachians from western North Carolina into western Virginia and eastern West Virginia. Torrential rain will cause flash flooding and increase the risk of landslides in the higher terrains.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/florence-debris-ap-mo-20180916_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Florence is still moving very slowly inland. The track shows Florence moving west through Sunday, and then gradually turning north by Monday. Florence will likely become a remnant low within 36 hours.
Even though Florence is weakening, it will still bring significant rainfall inland to the Appalachians before moving toward the Northeast on Tuesday. Totals could exceed 4 inches locally for inland New York and Massachusetts.
\"People need to heed the warnings from their local emergency management experts and stay in safe ground,\" the Coast Guard's Adm. Schultz said.
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