Harrells, North Carolina

... Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through this evening...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* a portion of central North Carolina... including the following
areas... Cumberland... Durham... Edgecombe... Franklin...
Granville... Halifax... Harnett... Johnston... Nash... Orange...
person... Sampson... Vance... wake... Warren... Wayne and Wilson.

* Through this evening

* moderate to heavy rain will re-develop across central NC late this
morning into the afternoon hours... especially along and north of
Highway 64. An additional 1 to 2 inches of rain will be
possible... with locally higher amounts. With the ground already
saturated from the widespread 3 to 5 inches of rain that has
fallen during the past 36 hours... any additional rainfall will
runoff causing flooding.

* Additional rainfall today may produce flooding along flood prone
creeks and streams... especially in urban areas across the
Piedmont... sandhills... and coastal plain. A few locations that may
see flooding include Crabtree creek through the Raleigh area... and
Cross Creek in Fayetteville.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

Most flash flood deaths occur in vehicles. Do not drive into
areas where water covers the roadway... and never drive around
police barricades. Rising water can rapidly engulf a vehicle and
its occupants. If your vehicle stalls in water... abandon it
immediately... and seek higher ground. Be especially cautious at
night since it is harder to recognize the dangerous of flooding.

Flooding is a very dangerous situation. People are urged to
monitor forecasts and conditions... and be prepared to take
action should flash flood warnings be issued.

... Wind Advisory remains in effect until 6 am EST Friday...

An intensifying low pressure system along the North Carolina
coast and high pressure to the north will produce strong winds
across central North Carolina through Friday morning. Sustained
northerly winds of 20 to 30 mph with frequent gusts between 30
and 40 mph are expected. Sporadic wind gusts up to 45 mph will be
possible.

Gusty winds combined with saturated soils from recent heavy
rainfall will lead to downed trees and scattered power outages
today... similar to what was reported across central North
Carolina on Wednesday.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Wind Advisory means that sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph or gusts
above 45 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving
difficult... especially for high profile vehicles. Drivers should
use extra caution. Be alert for possible branches and other tree
debris in the roadway.

The following are unofficial peak wind gusts from ASOS and AWOS
sites across central North Carolina during the 24 hour period
beginning at 600 am Wednesday and ending at 600 am this morning.

***************************************************************

Location peak wind gust (mph)

Kmeb (laurinburg) 46
krdu (rdu airport) 43
kint (winston salem) 43
kgso (greensboro) 40
kfay (fayetteville) 39
kvuj (albemarle) 39
krwi (rocky mount) 38
khff (mackall airfield) 38
kbuy (burlington) 36
ksop (southern pines) 36
khbi (asheboro) 33
kgsb (seymour Johnson afb) 33