North Carolina Cities Mopping Up After Storm Brings More Than A Foot Of Rain

People were told to stay home and schools remain closed Tuesday in parts of coastal N​orth Carolina hard hit by a storm that dumped at least 20 inches of rain on some spots.

E​mergencies were declared Monday in Carolina Beach and Southport, both towns along the coast south of Wilmington. Streets were covered with water and people rescued from homes and cars submerged in waist-deep water.

Tuesday morning brought a fresh look at the impacts. Photos shared by the sheriff in Brunswick County, where Southport is located, showed broken and washed out roads and some still covered in water.

"​Please avoid travel unless urgent," Southport Police wrote in a social media update.

Some s​chools and government offices remained closed.

T​he storm had the potential to turn tropical, but didn't organize enough to be named. People in its path had other ideas.

"We need our own name for this storm," Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee said on Facebook. "Anonymous 2024 just doesn't do it justice."

The fact that the storm didn't get a name didn't lessen its impacts. And it didn't do much to ward off tourists who didn't cancel their beach trips despite the weather.

“We’ve developed a communication dialogue. We communicate cones of uncertainty, expected path, time of arrival, strength on the Saffer-Simpson scale. People know what to expect. But suddenly we’re having storms that don’t fit on these scales,” Barbee told The Associated Press.

Here are our headlines as the no-name storm battered the North Carolina coast Monday:

W​inds Gust Up To 77 MPH On Carolina Coast

T​he top wind speed was clocked at 8:18 a.m. EDT at Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal just inshore from Kure Beach, according to the National Weather Service. Here's a look at some of the other highest gusts:

-​67 mph, Wrightsville Beach

-​64 mph, Masonboro Island South

-​62 mph, University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Marine Science

-​59 mph, Wilmington Airport

R​oads Washed Out In Southport, North Carolina

P​hotos and video posted by Southport police and fire departments showed some roads washed out and others covered in water.

S​outhport Fire Battalion Chief Ralph Treadway told us in a phone call around 3:30 p.m. EDT that there were no reports of anyone missing or injured, but several people have been rescued. A local middle school is being used for a shelter.

T​he town is also in a state of emergency and residents were told to shelter in place.

S​outhport is in Brunswick County, south of Wilmington.

R​escues Continue In Flooded Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee says rescues with high water vehicles are ongoing in his community.

"The county sent in a number of flood recovery vehicles. Large military style transports capable of driving (through) flood waters," Barbee wrote in a social media update shortly before 4:30 p.m. EDT. "They have been picking up stranded residents and tourists who can not get out on their own."

He said a number of families were taking shelter at City Hall, and the Red Cross had arrived to help.

"There are abandoned cars in the roadways," Barbee said in an earlier update.

"Please stay clear if you can."

R​oads, Ferries Shut Down

The nearby Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry suspended operations due to the weather and was not expected to resume until Tuesday morning.

S​tate Of Emergency In Carolina Beach, 'Life Safety' Is Priority

Barbee says his town is in a state of emergency.

"Rapid fire rescue calls continue from residents unable to get out of their homes and businesses. County resources have arrived with high clearance vehicles capable of reaching some areas. 911 is your friend," Barbee wrote in a social media update just before noon.

"We are all concerned about our properties including myself and almost everyone here at (the Emergency Operations Center). The priority now is life safety ... If you are safe stay put please!"

Some Roads Flooded At Least 3 Feet Deep

The National Weather Service in Wilmington says roads in Carolina Beach are covered by at least three feet of water after as much as 10 to 15 inches of rain fell in some areas.

“No cars or trucks are designed to safely travel in floodwater this deep,” the agency wrote in a social media post.

M​ore Than A Foot Of Rain In Parts Of North Carolina

Isolated areas around Carolina Beach recorded more than 12 inches of rain from midnight through Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. The top spot as of about 10:30 a.m. EDT was Ocean Boulevard at Carolina Beach, with 15.10 inches.

T​he NWS is warning of considerable flash flooding that will worsen to the west across Brunswick County over the next few hours.

'​You Almost Expect This' In Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Town Council member Joe Benson told The Weather Channel this morning that residents in Carolina Beach were ready, no matter what the storm brings.

"Folks here, you almost expect it annually," Benson said. "And so those I talked to across town, they're prepared before the season begins."

H​e said the city's pumps are working properly.

“So that's helping to mitigate what could have been or could be a worse situation," Benson said.

B​enson also asked that people stay home and stay off the roads if possible.

(​More: Watches Vs. Warnings - It All Comes Down To Timing)

N​o Name Doesn't Mean It's Not Dangerous

From weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce:

Regardless of what we call it, the impacts are the same. Right now the most impactful thing is heavy rain. Some totals have been over 6 inches, and we’re also seeing some strong wind gusts.

The system should come ashore later today, but it’ll spread heavy rain into the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic early this week

(​MORE: 2024 List Of Hurricane Names)

Roads Covered In Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Webcams in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, showed deepening floodwater around 10 a.m. EDT. According to StarNews Online, this street is “notorious for flooding.” The National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina, shared the image with a warning to “not drive through flooded roads.”

School And Government Closures

With the storm approaching, schools in Charleston, Horry and Georgetown counties in South Carolina announced closures for Monday, shifting students to eLearning. Students in Williamsburg County will stay home Monday but staff are being asked to report if they can. Coastal Carolina University is also closed with only essential staff asked to report to work.

Several government offices, including those in Horry County, are shut down. The city of Myrtle Beach and city of Conway offices remain open.

Rain, Wind And Flooding Along The Coast

Coastal communities in the Carolinas face threats of flash flooding, urban flooding and minor river flooding. By early morning, minor flooding was reported in Garden City, South Carolina. Rough surf was spotted along Surfside Beach, South Carolina, on Sunday.

Wind gusts have already reached 30-plus mph onshore in some areas and the offshore storm is producing sustained winds of 50 mph. Residents should follow safety advisories and stay aware of new local alerts and emergency notifications. As always, it’s a good idea to make sure your phone has the latest version of The Weather Channel app with push notifications enabled.

Based in New York, Weather.com reporter Tim Harris is a digital journalist with a broad reporting portfolio that spans environmental science, lifestyle topics and breaking news.