Common trouble spot Crabtree Creek swells in Raleigh

While Crabtree Valley Mall opened on a normal schedule, the lower level parking deck was closed Thursday. To prepare for heavy rain and strong winds, crews spent time overnight driving mall vehicles to higher ground and removing retail banners around the property.

Within hours Thursday afternoon, water quickly rose by about four feet, filling in a drainage area and merging with the waters of the creek.

Crabtree Creek was at 11.9 feet, minor flood stage, by 5 p.m., but the worst of the rain had moved out of Raleigh.

Water levels were high, but had not reached levels seen during Hurricane Florence.