More than 18 inches of rain fell Monday in areas along North Carolina's southern coast, prompting life-threatening flooding and water rescues.
Much of central and eastern North Carolina felt the impacts of Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 on Monday, but conditions were deteriorating at the southern coast, including in Carolina Beach, where homes were flooded and trucks were underwater.
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A Carolina Beach resident told WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner it's "impossible" to drive on the island, where, as of 1 p.m., radar estimates showed between 14 and 15 inches of rain had already fallen.
One rainfall gauge showed 18 inches of rain at Carolina Beach, according to a post from the National Weather Center in Wilmington. At the Wilmington airport, 3.61 inches of rainfall were reported.
The intersection of Harper Avenue and Lake Park Drive was flooded for hours, but the water was higher along Canal Drive, where people were driving and walking through floodwaters.
WRAL News crews spotted a man kayaking through the water to get to a hotel. Nearby, a black SUV was stranded after two women and a child were rescued Monday morning.
Nikki Taylor said she was picking up her granddaughter early from school and took a turn, not realizing it was dangerous.
"It didn't look that high," Taylor said. "The water didn't look that high. We live off of Sea Bend, so we were just going to make a right. as we took the left, you can see, the car just completely almost went underwater."
The family was rescued by the Carolina Beach Fire Department.
Drownings are a leading cause of death from tropical systems, and it's important to not drive through floodwaters, even if the water appears low. Only 6 inches of water can make you lose control of your car, and less than 2 feet of water can sweep cars off the road.
The town of Carolina Beach posted photos of cars with tires half-covered by floodwaters and back porches partially underwater, writing: "Life-threatening flash flooding is ongoing in Carolina Beach where volunteer rain gauges and radar are estimating over 15 inches of rain may have fallen."
The flooding was also severe at Carolina Beach Elementary School, which posted a "closed effective immediately" message on its website. Many schools in the area dismissed early on Monday, including Brunswick and New Hanover school districts.
The Wilmington Fire Department's "highwater vehicle" was sent to Carolina Beach to help with flash flooding calls, according to the city.
In Carolina Beach, a sign for Celtic Creamery was ripped off the wall, and parts of a McDonald's sign were also blown away.
Kevin Fritzinger, who is friends with the owner of Celtic Creamery, said the flooding in downtown Carolina Beach was comparable to Hurricane Florence.
"Everything downtown is flooded," Fritzinger said. "There's water everywhere. Everywhere where it's laying low. it's flooded. I have 3 feet of water in my backyard, and that's the first time I've ever seen any water in my backyard."
The damage extends into Southport, where Moore Street collapsed, closing the road between Leonard Street and the Harbor Oaks subdivision. N.C. Highway 211 was also closed in both directions near the Duke Progress Bridge, the Southport Police Department posted on Facebook.
The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office posted photos of people sitting on trucks and cars on U.S. Highway 17 at Randolphville Road.
Also in Brunswick County, the entrance to a landfill at 172 Landfill Road in Bolivia, N.C., was flooded, and people could not exit.
WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels shared a photo from his family, showing flooded roads in the town of Saint James in Brunswick County. More than 13 inches of rain fell there, according to NWC Wilmington.
Michaels called the flooding in Carolina Beach "very rare," explaining the National Weather Service in Wilmington "is referring to this as a 1,000-year flood."
Much of the coast is under a tropical storm warning. According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts at the coast are expected to reach up to 60 mph, and storm surge could reach 1 to 3 feet.