Full Notification

FFWGSP The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for... Southeastern Buncombe County in western North Carolina... Northwestern Burke County in western North Carolina... McDowell County in western North Carolina... Northwestern Rutherford County in western North Carolina...

* Until 445 AM EDT.

* At 133 AM EDT, Persistent moderate to heavy rainfall today has resulted in between 4 and 7 inches of additional rainfall across the area. A band of moderate to at times heavy rain will move into the area with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing across the warned area, and new areas of flash flooding are likely as a new band of elevated rainfall rates pushes across the warned area. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Heavy rain producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Emergency management reported. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Marion, Black Mountain, Lake Lure, Old Fort, Chimney Rock Village, B.R. Parkway-Craggy To Little Switzerland, Lake James, Lake James State Park, B.R. Parkway-Little Switzerland To Linville, Linville Falls, Table Rock, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock State Park, B.R. Parkway-Linville Falls To Grandfather, Montreat, Pleasant Gardens, Woodlawn, Sugar Hill, Busick and Little Switzerland.

* AFFECTED AREAS: BUNCOMBE, NC ... BURKE, NC ... MCDOWELL, NC ... RUTHERFORD, NC

Instructions:

Heavy rain is increasing the risk of landslides, especially in areas where slides have occurred in the past. Be especially alert if you are near a stream, especially at the base of a mountain or in a cove. Watch for loose-moving soil and rocks or a sudden increase in streamflow. Leave the area quickly if this is observed. When driving along roads where the terrain is steep or rocky, watch and listen for falling rocks, mud, trees and other debris. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.