Tropical Storm Chantal dumped up to 10 inches of rain in parts of North Carolina on Sunday, bringing significant flooding that inundated homes, closed roads, stranded drivers and threatened to push rivers to near historic levels.
The worst impacts of the storm were felt in the central part of the state, where tens of thousands of people were without power, emergency responders rescued people trapped in their vehicles, and at least two tornadoes were confirmed, the authorities said. As of early Monday, no fatalities or injuries had been reported.
Forecasters said the storm, which made landfall early on Sunday in South Carolina before moving inland as a tropical depression, was expected to continue to move northeast toward Southern Maryland and possibly as far as New Jersey.
See the likely path and wind arrival times for Chantal
“While things will improve across North Carolina, they may worsen for areas further to the northeast,” said Frank Pereira, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “We’re advising people not to go out and travel unless absolutely necessary,” he said.
In central North Carolina, the storm downed trees and power lines and inundated roads, trapping several drivers who had to be rescued, according to local authorities. Footage posted to social media appeared to show cars in the town of Chapel Hill, southwest of Durham, half submerged by floodwaters.
About 60 miles south, in Southern Pines, N.C., a private dam broke, contributing to the flooding, said Mike Cameron, the assistant town manager and fire chief. He said emergency responders had rescued three people trapped in vehicles.
Though the storm has slowed, forecasters said that it could still dump large amounts of rain along its path, leading to flash flooding.
Flash flooding can occur well inland and away from the storm’s center. Even weaker storms can produce excessive rainfall that can flood low-lying areas.
Recorded rainfall for the last day
As of early Sunday morning, parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania remained under flood warnings or watches. The greatest risk of flooding was in urban areas, said Mr. Pereira, the meteorologist. There was also the potential for heavy surf and rip currents along much of the east coast, he said.
The Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. There have been two tropical storms so far: Andrea, which formed on June 24 and dissipated a day later, and Barry, which formed in the Gulf on Sunday just off Mexico’s coast before making landfall that night.
In May, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that this year would be an above-average hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms. Typically, the most destructive storms come later in the summer.
Experts think it is probable that a major hurricane will make landfall in the United States this season. Climate experts have warned that intense storms like these are more likely to occur, with more rapid intensification likely in a warming world.
Last year was also one of the most costly for hurricanes in the United States.
