Raleigh, North Carolina.In a summer characterized by dramatic weather, torrential rains slammed over Raleigh and much of central North Carolina on Monday, flooding intersections and leaving drivers stranded.
Downtown Intersections Underwater
In the afternoon, there were heavy downpours, causing some of the worst flooding in downtown Raleigh. Water flooded the intersection of Harrington Street and West Johnson Street, close to the Smoky Hollow neighborhood, forcing cars to turn around or reverse.
Similar difficulties were experienced by residents of North Raleigh. After the streets became impassable, Katherine Bardzel and Jessie Barnett, who had walked to a fitness class earlier in the evening, decided to take an Uber home. According to Barnett, there has been a monsoon. There must be dangerous road conditions.
Flooding Hits Multiple Counties
The storms were not limited to Wake County. In Goldsboro, flooding flooded Carolina Street, Ash Street, and parts of the north end of town, and deputies stopped Marks Creek Road after water rushed across the pavement.
In her four years on the job, Beth Rivera, who works on Harrington Street, said she has never witnessed water there. It was very startling. “Many cars were stopping to turn around and back up,” she claimed.
Part of a Wet, Unpredictable Summer
This most recent round of storms is a continuation of a pattern of heavy precipitation that started in July when the region was hit by Tropical Depression Chantal, which caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage in places in central North Carolina, including Chapel Hill and Durham.
Two Nash County residents perished in early August after being carried away by floodwaters near Spring Hope. Residents had to endure one of the state’s most severe heatwaves ever in between these flooding incidents, with excessive heat warnings in effect for six days in a row.
A portion of Olive Chapel Road washed away due to flooding in Apex just last week; repairs could take months.
Officials Urge Caution on Flooded Roads
Drivers are being cautioned by police not to cross flooded streets. Authorities caution that even a few inches of flowing water can carry an automobile, so turn around and avoid drowning.
As more erratic weather is anticipated in the upcoming weeks, local alerts and the WRAL Weather app can give homeowners real-time updates.
The summer of severe weather in Central North Carolina is far from over, and as hurricane season approaches its zenith, experts warn locals to brace themselves for additional storms.
What effects has the weather had on your town this summer? Post your story in the SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com comments section.
