Raleigh North Carolina News

By CURT ANDERSON and FREIDA FRISARO, Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Iota became the thirteenth hurricane of the Atlantic season early Sunday, threatening to bring another dangerous system to Nicaragua and Honduras — countries recently clobbered by a Category 4 Hurricane Eta. Iota was already a record-breaking system, being the 30th named storm of this year’s extraordinarily busy Atlantic hurricane season. Such activity has focused attention on climate change, which scientists say is causing…

By Adam Owens, WRAL anchor/reporter Lillington, N.C. — Despite the sunshine on Saturday, families and communities across central North Carolina are still dealing with flooding from Thursday’s storms. Footage from the sky show neighborhoods still covered in water and people walking through waist-high water levels. Among the hundreds of roads still closed statewide is a bridge in Harnett County – and the detour to get around it is more than 25 miles long. The rising…

Flood warnings are in effect for areas along the Neuse River as it crests this weekend. As of 9 a.m., the Neuse River poses a flood risk to areas like Smithfield as it crests at 22.3 feet (flood stage is 15 feet and major flood stage is 20 feet). Goldsboro, which also sits downstream, is also at a moderate chance of flooding which is likely to increase into a ‘major flood’ stage Sunday morning. Meteorologist…

By Keely Arthur, WRAL reporter Goldsboro, N.C. — Parts of eastern Carolina were hit hard by Thursday’s major flooding event, which caused damage to homes – and businesses that had already been impacted by the pandemic. Some parts of Wayne County are underwater, including an athletic park. “The folks at Eastern Carolina Athletic Park are, unfortunately, very familiar with flooding,” said Chad Pate, the park’s manager. During Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, water rose to about…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Just as the remnants of Eta finally blew out to sea on Friday, another storm formed that could follow its path of death and destruction into Central America this weekend, and Tropical Storm Theta was moving closer to Europe. Hurricane experts were closely watching the Caribbean, where Tropical Storm Iota formed Friday afternoon. Forecasters warned that Iota could power up quickly, to near major hurricane strength, as it approaches Central America…

By CURT ANDERSON and FREIDA FRISARO, Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Just as the remnants of Eta finally blew out to sea on Friday, another storm is brewing that could follow its path of death and destruction into Central America this weekend, and Tropical Storm Theta was moving closer to Europe. Iota reached tropical storm strength Friday afternoon. Forecasters warned that it could power up quickly, to near major hurricane strength, as it approaches…

By Adam Owens, WRAL reporter Micro, N.C. — While there was not flooding on Interstate 95 in Johnston County, the North Carolina Department of Transportation believes water from underneath the roadbed pushed it up, causing the pavement to buckle. A northbound lane between Exits 102 and 105, near Micro, was expected to remain closed through the weekend. “It is highly likely all this rain has caused this problem,” said DOT spokesman Andrew Barksdale. DOT crews…

Hurricane experts are closely watching the Caribbean, where Tropical Depression 31 could be named Iota by Saturday.

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) — Hurricane Eta slammed into Central America as a Category 4 Storm leaving behind a path of destruction in Honduras. “People have lost their homes. People have lost everything. And there’s no food. There’s not even access to get to those things,” said Nelson Amador with Five Star Coffee Roasters. Amador knew he had to do something. “My heart is Honduras…my family lives there,” he said. Originally from Honduras, Amador grew…

By TOM FOREMAN Jr., Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Floodwaters from a nearby river overtook recreational vehicles at a North Carolina campsite Thursday, killing four people and leaving a child missing, an official said. In addition to the deaths at the Hiddenite Family Campground in Alexander County, a motorist was killed in the county while traveling on a road that was washed out by rising water, said Doug Gillespie, county director of public services. “Just…

HIDDENITE, N.C. — Flooding from heavy rains across North Carolina prompted Gov. Roy Cooper to declare a state of emergency on Friday as searchers looked for a 1-year-old and an adult who disappeared when high water swept through a campground. In addition to the statewide declaration, states of emergencies have been declared in Burke, Catawba, Iredell, Yadkin and Alexander County, where flood waters from the South Yadkin River inundated the Hiddenite Family Campground, killing three…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Just as the remnants of Eta finally blew out to sea on Friday, another storm was brewing that could follow its path of death and destruction into Central America this weekend, and Tropical Storm Theta was moving closer to Europe. Hurricane experts were closely watching the Caribbean, where Tropical Depression 31 could get a name – Iota – later Friday or Saturday. Forecasters warned that it could power up quickly, to…

By Nia Harden and Julian Grace, WRAL reporters Smithfield, N.C. — The aftermath of Thursday’s storms and flooding disrupted traffic patterns along the busiest north-south route through North Carolina, Interstate 95. At noon, a northbound lane remained blocked near Micro, between between Exit 102 (Micro Road) and Exit 107 (US-301). According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the roadbed was damaged between Exits 102 and 105, and traffic was detoured overnight from mile marker 97 to 107. On…

Just as the remnants of Eta finally blew out to sea on Friday, another storm was brewing that could follow its path of death and destruction into Central America this weekend, and Tropical Storm Theta was moving closer to Europe.