Full Notification

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

* WHERE...A portion of western North Carolina, including the following counties, Avery, Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey.

* WHEN...Until 530 PM EDT.

* IMPACTS...Nuisance to Minor flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to streams and other poor-drainage areas, including farmland, greenways, parks, boat-access areas, golf courses, low-water crossings, and low-lying roadways. High flows over low-water crossings and low-lying roadways are possible and water may approach low-lying structures.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1138 AM EDT, Doppler radar and rain gauges have reported 2-5 inches of rainfall since midnight along the northern Blue Ridge Escarpment, adjacent foothills, and northern NC mountains. Areas of McDowell County from Lake Tahoma to Pleasant Gardens to Marion to Woodlawn have received isolated totals of 6 inches, with at least three inches occurring from training showers and thunderstorms over the last 2-3 hours. This has caused areas of Minor flooding impacting several low-water crossings and secondary roads, with water approaching properties. Additional nuisance to Minor flooding is likely across the northern NC mountains, including and especially the headwaters and tributaries of several streams including the North Fork Catawba River, Linville River, upper Catawba River, Buck Creek, Warrior Fork, South Toe River, Cane River, and the North Toe River. - Showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop through the afternoon hours. These showers will be very efficient at producing heavy rainfall and soils are saturated. Therefore, additional heavy rain will quickly create new areas of flooding and cause previous areas of flooding to redevelop. Caution is advised near any stream or other vulnerable area. Seek higher ground immediately when heavy rain develops. Flash Flood Warnings may be issued during the day and into the nighttime hours. Please have a plan in place should flash flooding develop and do not hesitate to act. - Some locations that may experience flooding include... Morganton, Marion, Spruce Pine, Burnsville, Newland, Drexel, Old Fort, Banner Elk, Elk Park, Bakersville, Beech Mountain In Avery County, Crossnore, Sugar Mountain, Seven Devils, Linville Falls, Lake James State Park.

* AFFECTED AREAS: AVERY, NC ... BURKE, NC ... MCDOWELL, NC ... MITCHELL, NC ... RUTHERFORD, NC ... YANCEY, NC

Instructions:

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route. Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.