Cherokee, North Carolina

... Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Wednesday
morning...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* portions of northeast Georgia... western North Carolina and
upstate South Carolina... including the following areas... in
northeast Georgia... Elbert... Franklin... Habersham... Hart...
Rabun and Stephens. In western North Carolina... Avery...
Buncombe... eastern Polk... Graham... Haywood... Henderson...
Macon... Madison... Mitchell... northern Jackson... Polk
mountains... southern Jackson... Swain... Transylvania and
Yancey. In upstate South Carolina... Abbeville... Anderson...
greater Greenville... greater Oconee... greater Pickens...
Greenville mountains... Greenwood... Laurens... Oconee
mountains... Pickens mountains... Spartanburg and Union SC.

* Through Wednesday morning

* moisture associated with tropical cyclone Ida will continue to
overspread the region into Wednesday producing copious amounts
of rainfall... on the order of 2 to 5 inches with locally
higher amounts.

* Across mountainous or hilly terrain... rainfall amounts of 5
inches or more over a large area lead to a significant increase
in landslide threat on an isolated to scattered basis. The
expected rainfall may cause flooding of creeks... streams and
rivers. Also... locations with poor drainage will flood...
especially across urbanized areas.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should flash flood warnings be issued.

... Moderate rainfall to continue across the Southwest Mountains of
North Carolina and the northeast Georgia mountains this evening...

Areas of light to moderate rainfall from the remnants of Ida will
move northward across the extreme southern Appalachians through
the late afternoon and evening hours. Rainfall rates have
generally been between one tenth and one quarter of an inch per
hour today... with local totals reaching one to one and a half
inches in several locations. Additional rainfall at rates of one
quarter to one half inch per hour will be possible through the
evening hours. Deep ponding of water in low lying areas will
likely develop... as well as significant running water in culverts
and ditches. Stream and creek levels will likely rise
substantially through the evening hours.

Do not attempt to drive through any flooded roadways. Turn around
and find another Route. Keep abreast of the latest statements in
case any flood advisories or flash flood warnings become
necessary.