Florence sets new North Carolina rainfall record, beating the devastating Floyd in 1999

Hurricane Florence and its aftermath has broken a North Carolina record set in 1999 by Hurricane Floyd for rainfall from a tropical cyclone.

The storm has brought more than 30 inches of rain to at least one collection spot in Swansboro, shattering the mark of 24.06 inches of rain in Wilmington brought by Floyd, according to the National Weather Service. A second location in North Carolina has also broken the previous record. Hoffman, which like Swansboro is in Onslow County, has recorded 25.87 inches.

Two other rain collection locations for NOAA are approaching the 1999 mark as well — Newport/Morehead City is at 23.75 inches and Emerald Isle is at 23.66 inches.

Swansboro, a coastal town 19 miles east of Jacksonville, recorded 30.59 inches as of 4 p.m. Saturday. The numbers are considered preliminary.

The records are from 1950 to present.

North Carolina is the third state to set a storm-related record in the last 13 months. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dumped 60.58 inches at a spot in Nederland, Texas, according to NOAA and The Weather Channel. Last month, Hurricane Lane set a record by pouring 52.02 in Mountain View, Hawaii, according to The Weather Channel. Each mark set the record for those states, respectively.

South Carolina’s record for most rain in a single spot is 17.45 inches, set during Tropical Storm Beryl in 1994.

Two locations in Conway, S.C., have recorded 9.9 inches and 8.38 inches, respectively. One locale in Bucks Creek, S.C., has gotten 8.36 inches.

Preliminary rainfall totals from NOAA collection locations as measured from Thursday through 4 p.m. Saturday:

North Carolina:

Swansboro: 30.59

Hoffman: 25.87

Newport/Morehead City: 23.75

Emerald Isle: 23.66

Elizabethtown: 20.17

Croatan: 19.89

Trenton: 19.71

Cedar Point: 19.25

South Carolina:

Conway: 9.90

Conway: 8.38

Buck Creek: 8.36

Myrtle Beach: 7.61

North Myrtle Beach: 6.689

Mrytle Beach Airport: 6.74