Storms dump rain on Triangle, cause flooding

Saturday night showers developed in the central portion of the state. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Durham, Nash, Orange and Wake counties during the night.

Posted 11:28 a.m. Aug 30, 2008 — Updated 2:47 a.m. Aug 31, 2008

RALEIGH, N.C. — A pattern of coastal storms drifting north into the Sandhills and Triangle continued Saturday causing some thunderstorms and flooding.

Storms developed in the central portion of the state causing warnings to be issued for Durham, Nash, Orange and Wake counties.

Two to three inches of rain fell at Raleigh-Durham International Airport Saturday.

A line of thunderstorms moved through the Triangle around 8 p.m. causing college football game delays in Durham and Chapel Hill.

In Raleigh flooding was reported at South Saunders and Martin Luther King Boulevard and on Avent Ferry Road near North Carolina State University.

In Cary, two vehicles were stuck in floodwater near the 1000 block of Highhouse Road. Flooding was also an issue on Morrisville Carpenter Road between Davis Drive and Town Hall Drive.

Downed trees were also reported on Morrisville Carpenter Road. The fire department has closed part of the road.

Cary remained an active area when a fire broke out at 410 April Broom Lane during the storm.The fire may have been caused by lightning, fire officials said. No injuries were reported.

In Apex a downed tree was blocking South Salem Street between Apex Barbecue and Kelly roads.

Storms were expected to be more isolated in Sunday, but a weak cold front moving in from the west could increase the chances of showers.

The slow-moving nature of the cold front meant that storms that develop will likely also be nearly stationary. With ground soaked by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay this week, any locally heavy rain would create the danger of flooding.

Labor Day is expected to be clear and sunny.

"Monday really looks delightful, a little less humid with a much lesser chance for thunderstorms," WRAL Elizabeth Gardner said.

And after this weekend, another chance at rain does not appear on the seven-day forecast.

WRAL Meteorologist Kim Deaner said the weather team will be paying close attention in the coming days to Tropical Storm Hanna, whose forecast track changed Saturday. The National Hurricane Center estimates the storm to be over the Bahamas by Thursday and then possibly affecting the United States.

“We don’t need to be overly concerned. We need to be watchful of the situation,” Deaner said.

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