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SPECIAL EDITION: This is a special Sunday morning weather update. We normally publish our newsletter on weekday mornings, but with flooding ongoing across the High Country, we wanted you to have the latest as soon as possible.
Flooding is ongoing in parts of the High Country this morning after 4 to locally 7 inches of rain since Saturday morning. A Flood Warning is in effect until 8 AM for Watauga, south central Ashe and southwestern Wilkes counties, including Boone, Blowing Rock, Deep Gap, Todd, Foscoe, Seven Devils and Aho. A Flood Advisory is in effect for Ashe and Watauga counties until 11 AM, with water possibly over a few roadways, including Todd Railroad Grade Road along the South Fork of the New River. A Flood Watch remains in effect for Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Surry counties through this evening, with another 1 to 3 inches possible and the risk of flash flooding if thunderstorms develop. The Wind Advisory has been dropped.
A Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 1 PM for southeastern Avery, northwestern Burke and west central Caldwell counties, where the National Weather Service says life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams is possible and the damage threat is considerable. A separate Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 9 AM for southwestern Avery, McDowell, southeastern Mitchell and southeastern Yancey counties. Avery County is also under a Flood Watch until 2 PM and a Flood Advisory until 11:45 AM. Locations include Crossnore, Table Rock, Linville Falls, Jonas Ridge, Edgemont, Spruce Pine, Celo and Marion. If you are near a creek or stream in these areas, seek higher ground now.
Rain is expected to continue south to north this morning, then dry out from southwest to northeast this afternoon. A band of showers and a few thunderstorms will move from central North Carolina into the Virginia Piedmont late morning, with an isolated severe threat well east of the mountains. Some showers could return in the mountains this evening and overnight. Lingering upslope showers end by late Monday morning, then it stays dry through most of the week with above-normal temperatures through midweek. Another front could bring mountain rain chances between Thursday and Saturday, with temperatures dropping below normal next weekend.
SAFETY REMINDERS
Do not drive on flooded roads, and use extra caution on mountain roads where landslides or debris are possible.
When it is safe, report flooding to NWS Blacksburg at 1-866-215-4324, or in Avery County and areas to the south to NWS Greenville-Spartanburg at 1-800-267-8101.
WEATHER
Check the current Hazardous Weather Outlook, live weather radar, and forecast for Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties on our Weather page. Forecast courtesy of the National Weather Service.
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Thanks for reading — see you tomorrow.
— WataugaOnline