Over 20 million Americans face dangerous flood threat as heavy rains batter Carolinas, Mid-Atlantic
As a severe weather threat increases across coastal cities along the Gulf Coast, the Mid Atlantic region, and the Carolinas, they are next up through the end of this week.
The FOX Forecast Center continues to monitor a deep moisture surge coming from Tropical Storm Bertha, which will only worsen flood impacts as rain hits the Southeast and Carolinas.
The main threat will be flooding, as a cold front will start to slow down as it approaches the Mid-Atlantic region, allowing it to tap into high moisture from Tropical Storm Bertha and other activity in the Atlantic.
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This will lead to repeated rounds of heavy rain across the region, as some areas have already experienced extreme and exceptional drought.
The persistent drought conditions will increase the flood threat, as dry soil will not absorb water efficiently.
There is currently a level 3 out of 4 flash flood risk through Thursday, stretching from Southeastern Virginia and into the Outer Banks of North Carolina, before it tapers down to a level 2 out of 4 threat on Friday.
To end the week, the front is expected to drift a little farther south, shifting the heaviest rain closer to the coast.
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"That could bring some improvement to inland areas while keeping the flood threat active from the Outer Banks south through coastal South Carolina," according to the FOX Forecast Center said.
Locations such as Wilmington, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia, could see rain totals of 3 to 5 inches through the weekend.
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Stay tuned to FOX Weather all week as we monitor these developing severe weather threats across the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas.
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