Monday is a WRAL weather alert day as potential Tropical Cyclone No. 8 brings heavy rains, strong winds and the threat of tornadoes, flooding and power outages to North Carolina.

The greatest impacts from PTC #8 will be felt during the second half of Monday and into Tuesday, especially along the coast, where the storm dumped more than 15 inches (380 mm) of rain in Carolina Beach and caused life-threatening flooding.

According to WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels, PTC No. 8 could become Helene on Monday, but the impact on North Carolina will be the same even if the storm doesn’t receive a name.

On Monday, tropical storm warnings were in effect along the coast of North Carolina, where several tornado warnings had already been issued.

Locally, in central North Carolina, the impacts will not be quite as severe, but the storm still poses a threat.

A flash flood warning is in effect for Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Wake and Wayne counties until 9:04 p.m.

In addition, a wind advisory is in effect until 2 a.m. Tuesday for Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Sampson, Scotland, Wake and Wayne counties.

According to Duke Energy’s website, about 3,000 Cary residents have been without power since 5 p.m. Monday.

Helpful links: Sign up for WRAL weather alerts | Live DUALDoppler5000 | Wind speeds and gusts | Live cams across North Carolina | WRAL interactive hurricane tracker

On Monday afternoon, the wind picked up in downtown Raleigh.

Buildings on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh’s City Plaza can act like a wind tunnel, and WRAL News crews saw people leaning into the wind or holding onto their umbrellas

In Raleigh, it has rained most of the day. Combined with local winds of up to 30 miles per hour, the waterlogged ground has downed trees.

An oak tree fell on Timber Drive near Crabtree Boulevard on Sunday evening, cutting off power. Utility The outage left more than 100 people in the area without power, many of them for more than 12 hours.

Local timing, impacts of potential Tropical Cyclone No. 8

Heavy rain at times and wind gusts between 25 and 35 miles per hour are expected in the Triangle Monday afternoon and evening. Flooding, localized storm damage and power outages are all possible.

Due to PTC #8, Monday is a WRAL Weather Warning Day and there is a Level 1 (out of 5) tornado risk from late Monday afternoon into the evening, primarily in areas south and east of the Triangle.

Conditions will improve on Tuesday, with rain and wind possible early in the morning. Showers and storms will become more isolated starting Tuesday afternoon, according to Michaels.

Looking ahead to next week, the low pressure system will weaken, but its impact will persist throughout the week.

“That means there will be a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms every Wednesday afternoon and evening through Friday,” Michaels said. “Some dry air could arrive just in time for the weekend.”

Governor Cooper urges caution

Governor Roy Cooper posted on Platform X and urged residents to stay safe:

“Southeastern North Carolina is experiencing severe flooding as heavy rain continues. We are in contact with local authorities and @NCEmergency is assisting coastal communities with storm response. Stay safe and follow the guidance of local emergency authorities.” – RC

NC emergency teams on standby

After issuing a WRAL weather alert, state authorities are preparing for possible storm impacts on Monday.

Disaster response teams are ready to mobilize and provide crews, equipment and support to areas that may need additional assistance – particularly along the coast.

Flooding is often the most dangerous part of a storm.

“Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth. Even a small amount of rain or flood water on a road can have devastating consequences,” said Darshan Patel, Wake County Emergency Management operations manager.

Patel said the ground was already soaked by this week’s rains and flooding could easily occur in low-lying areas.

“We work closely with our partners to assess potential public safety concerns. If risks are identified, we are prepared to take proactive measures,” he said.

Emergency crews are also monitoring the condition of roads and power lines. Duke Energy expects possible outages as strong coastal winds move inland and are accompanied by heavy rainfall.

“Mother Nature is a constant challenge,” said Jeff Brooks, a spokesman for Duke Energy. “Wet ground makes it even more difficult to prevent power outages caused by falling trees, but we are doing everything we can to minimize disruptions.”

Duke Energy is keeping its current teams on standby and ready to deploy to critical areas if needed. Although summer is coming to an end, the peak of the tropical storm season is just beginning.

“This system has developed quickly offshore and will bring severe weather over the next few days. We could see more storms like this soon,” Brooks said.

To receive up-to-date information on local safety, residents should use ReadyWake, a mobile resource that provides notifications about potential threats in their area.

Road closure information is also available on DriveNC. A “Potential Tropical Cyclone” tab has been added to the company’s website. Users can toggle the tab on and off to see the specific impacts of that storm on the roads.