Full Notification

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

* WHERE...A portion of western North Carolina, including the following county, McDowell.

* WHEN...Until 815 PM EDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. River or stream flows are elevated.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 535 PM EDT, emergency management and weather spotters reported Buck Creek and Sams Creek were basically at the top of their banks following multiple rounds of heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain have fallen in the creek basin since Monday afternoon. The stream bed was widened in some spots by the flooding which occurred during Helene, and piles of debris in the creek still are inhibiting flow in some spots. Additional rainfall remains possible through this evening, and due to the height of Buck Creek and Sams Creek, even short downpours may lead to flash flooding along it. - Areas along Buck Creek and downstream of Sams Creek are the areas of most concern for possible flooding this evening. - Some locations that may experience flooding include... Pleasant Gardens, Busick, and the Blue Ridge Parkway between Craggy and Little Switzerland. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

* AFFECTED AREAS: MCDOWELL, NC

Instructions:

When it is safe to do so, please report flooding or landslides threatening roads or property to the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg by calling toll free, 1, 800, 2 6 7, 8 1 0 1. Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe. Many unstable slopes remain in areas of steep terrain because of the very heavy rainfall that recently occurred. Additional moderate rain could be enough to cause a few more slopes to fail, resulting in new landslides. If you live in an area of steep terrain, avoid landslide-prone areas and slopes that are unstable. 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.