Tropical Depression Chantal causes flood threats across Eastern US
The system, downgraded to a tropical depression, was spinning over the mid-Atlantic region on the morning of July 7, with the center located about 70 miles from Danville, Virginia.
A flood watch was in effect July 7 for several states, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "Storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 6 inches, is expected," the Weather Prediction Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update. "An elevated risk for flash flooding will continue."
In addition to the flood threat, "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected to continue at beaches along the U.S. east coast from northeastern Florida to the Mid-Atlantic states during the next day or so."
Chantal had stirred up trouble in a few North Carolina locations as it crept northward on July 6, spreading out into Virginia and West Virginia with flooding rains and a few tornadoes.
Major flood warnings remained in effect for three waterways to the west of Raleigh. Up to 8 inches of rain had been reported west of Durham.
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, town officials said on the night of July 6 that they were evacuating some homes at Camelot Village due to flash flooding, and they reported a dozen road closures.
A gauge on the Haw River, between Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina, rose more than 25 feet on July 6, according to a U.S. Geological Survey monitoring station. Further south, the Haw River near Bynum, rose roughly 15 feet in six hours and is expected to crest near its record high on July 7.
The Emo River near Huckleberry Springs, blew past its record high, set in 1989, by more than three feet and was still rising on the morning of July 7.
In Moore County, in Central North Carolina, officials declared a state of emergency. The proclamation said the county has suffered "extreme amounts of rain in a short amount of time," with widespread flooding, damaged roads. The weather service issued a flash flood warning for parts of the county because of the potential failure of a farm pond, and advised residents in low-lying areas along Joes Creek between Taylortown and Whispering Pines to "move to higher ground immediately."
One tornado was reported in each of the following cities: Raleigh, Chatham and Mebane. The National Weather Service said it expected to send survey crews out to confirm the tornadoes. The possible twister at the Raleigh Executive Jetport caused damage to a couple of hangars and some aircraft, according to a weather service report.
No tropical storms are expected inthe Atlantic Ocean over the next week, the hurricane center said. In the Pacific, however, the hurricane center is watching two storms that could see potential development off the southwest coast of Mexico.
Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, writes about climate change, violent weather and other news. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Depression Chantal spurs flood warnings in Mid-Atlantic
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