Flood Advisory

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...Eastern Caldwell County in western North Carolina...

* WHEN...Until 945 AM EDT.

* IMPACTS...Nuisance flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to streams and other poor-drainage areas, including farmland, parks, greenways, boat-access areas, golf courses, underpasses, and parking lots. Isolated, shallow flows over roadways is possible. A few flood-prone, low-water crossings may become impassible. A small culvert washout or two is possible.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 339 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a round of moderate rainfall recently has departed eastern Caldwell County, with additional cells of moderate rainfall moving into the county from the south. This rainfall is occurring on top of saturated soils resulting from a prolonged period of light to moderate showers that occurred over the county yesterday. Storm-total rainfall of 2.5 to 4.5 inches has been observed across eastern Caldwell County since yesterday, with the highest totals from Cajah's Mountain to Sawmills and Granite Falls. Areas streams have been steadily rising in response to this heavy rainfall and isolated, out-of-bank conditions impacting low-lying areas adjacent to streams are likely to develop over the next 1-3 hours.

Areas of greatest concern include along Lower Creek in Lenoir, where a streamgauge on Harrisburg Dr is at 8.53 feet and approaching the Action/Advisory Stage of 9.0 feet. At 9.0 feet, flooding of low-lying, undeveloped woodland surrounding Lenoir Mall will begin.

- Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms may develop through 9am this morning. These showers and storms will be very efficient at producing heavy rainfall. Soils are saturated and streams are swollen. Therefore, additional heavy rain may quickly create new areas of flooding and cause previous areas of flooding to redevelop. As a result, a Flash Flood Warning may be issued this morning. Caution is advised near any stream or other vulnerable area. Seek higher ground immediately if heavy rain develops. Please have a plan in place should flash flooding develop and do not hesitate to act. Please heed all evacuation orders from Emergency Management officials.

- Some locations that may experience flooding include... Hickory, Lenoir, Sawmills, Granite Falls, Gamewell, Hudson, Cajah's Mountain, Rhodhiss, and Cedar Rock.

- Https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood