Hurricane Delta: What Gulf Storm Will Mean For Weekend In NC

CHARLOTTE, NC — Portions of North Carolina can expect to see possibly up to 3 inches of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Delta this weekend, which could lead to localized flooding in some areas of the state, forecasters warn.

Wednesday morning, Delta was about 35 miles west of Cancun, Mexico, clocking winds of about 105 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to creep northwest in the coming days and by Friday and Saturday, dump up to 8 inches of rain along portions of the Gulf Coast.

Over the weekend and by early next week, prolonged heavy rain will move into the southeastern U.S., including North Carolina, the National Weather Service said.

Just how much rain North Carolina will receive from the storm isn't known yet, according to North Carolina Emergency Management.

"Early rainfall amounts will be highly sensitive to the eventual track of Delta and any eastward shift in track could increase the flooding threat across western North Carolina," NCEM said Wednesday. "Currently 1-3" of rain is expected across the mountains this weekend, which could lead to localized flooding issues, especially along the southern Blue Ridge."

Here's the National Weather Service's forecast through the weekend:

Today (Oct. 7)
Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 58. West southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Thursday (Oct. 8)
Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday (Oct. 9)
Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Saturday (Oct. 10)
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday (Oct. 11)
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Sunday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Columbus Day (Oct. 12)
A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.