Front Brings Flood Threat Ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia

A stationary front over the area will continue to interact with deep moisture and instability through Tuesday night to produce numerous showers and thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Idalia will move north into the
eastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday, strengthening into a major hurricane prior to landfall in Florida on Wednesday. Idalia and her primary impacts are forecast to track east of the area Wednesday into Thursday.

Several rounds of storms/heavy rainfall are expected tonight through Tuesday night. Flash flooding is possible at any time during this period. Additional heavy rainfall is possible Wednesday through Thursday morning, primarily over the lower Piedmont (south and east of I-85), as Idalia moves
up the Atlantic coast. Local conditions will improve on Thursday as Idalia heads out to sea.

Widespread 1-to-2-inch rain totals are expected with storms developing along/near the stationary front through Tuesday night. Localized 3+ inch totals are possible anywhere numerous storms occur or stall. Isolated
flash flooding will be possible from these slowly moving storms. Idalia’s current forecast track would keep the heaviest rainfall and strongest winds just southeast of our area. The outermost rain bands from
Idalia is expected to impact lower Piedmont areas south and east of I-85 from Wednesday into early Thursday. These bands may produce another 1-2” of rainfall and a low-end isolated flood threat.

Rainfall totals will vary widely across the area due to the locally intense rainfall associated with individual storms. While Idalia is currently forecasted to track near the GA/SC/NC coastline, reducing our local
impacts, our area remains vulnerable to small westward shifts in the track. This is especially true for areas south and east of I-85.

Dry weather is expected behind Idalia beginning Friday and through the weekend as high pressure builds into the area. High temperatures are expected to return to near normal by Sunday.