Hurricane Sally: Flash Flood Watch Begins Thursday In NC

CHARLOTTE, NC — As Hurricane Sally made landfall along the Gulf Coast Wednesday, the North Carolina was on alert for the impact of the storm's remnants, which are expected to dump up to 6 inches of rain in parts of the state by the weekend.

A flash flood watch for much of the greater Charlotte metro area will go into effect Thursday, Sept. 17 at 8 a.m. through Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.

"Widespread heavy rain showers and a few thunderstorms are expected to develop across the watch area beginning late tonight, continuing through much of Thursday before tapering off late Thursday night," NWS said in a hazardous weather bulletin. "Storm total rainfall of 4 to 6 inches is expected across much of the Watch area over a 24 to 30 hour period."

Early Wednesday morning, Sally hammered parts of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as a Category 2 hurricane, delivering what the National Hurricane Center described as historic and catastrophic flooding.

What the storm will mean for North Carolina, however, is still unknown.

"Forecast uncertainty remains higher than normal, but there is confidence that portions of NC will receive heavy rainfall from the remnants of Sally Thursday through Friday," North Carolina Emergency Management said Wednesday morning. A large portion of the state will receive 3-6 inches of rain, with some local rainfall amounts up to 9 inches "where the heaviest rains set up," the agency said.

Here's the National Weather Service's forecast for the region through Sunday:

Today (Sept. 16)
Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 8 mph.
Tonight
Showers likely, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 66. East northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday (Sept. 17)
Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 2pm. High near 71. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Thursday Night
Showers before 2am, then rain likely after 2am. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 66. North wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Friday (Sept. 18)
Rain likely, mainly before 8am, then a chance of showers after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night
A chance of showers before 10pm, then a chance of rain, mainly between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday (Sept. 19)
Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Sunday (Sept. 20)
Sunny, with a high near 69.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 52.