National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy Rain

August 3rd - 4th, 2021

    

 

    

Map of rain totals for August 3rd - 4th, 2021.

 

 

Overview

 

A stalled front off the coast and an area of low pressure move up the coast along the front, set the stage for heavy rain over eastern North Carolina Tuesday August 3rd into Wednesday August 4th.  Light rain overspread the area on Tuesday but the rain became heavy at times by Tuesday evening especially toward the Crystal Coast.  Rain continued overnight Tuesday and by Wednesday morning, many along coastal areas from Onslow County (Jacksonville) to Carteret County (Morehead City) to the Outer Banks (Hyde and Dare Counties) measured 3" to as much as 8" in a 24 hour period!  The rain tampered off from west to east slowly during the day Wednesday the 3rd, but heavy rain lasted into a good chunk of the afternoon over Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands.

Total rainfall for this event ranged from around 2" to 3" inland near areas such as Greenville, Kinston and Williamston, to as much as 4" to just under 10" along the immediate coast including places such as Jacksonville, Morehead City, Downeast Carteret county Ocracoke and Hatteras Island. what made this rainfall especially impactful was the fact most of our area was already quite saturated from previous rains.  For a 24 hour period ending on Monday August 2nd, parts of our area received 1" to 6" of rain!

Using the tabs below scroll through for more information and graphics.

 

 

Rain/Flood Reports

 

The table below shows the rainfall reports in our area.  The heaviest rain fell from Tuesday the 3rd through the afternoon of Wednesday the 4th or roughly over a 24 to 36 hour period. Below the rainfall reports you can see the various flooding impacts across Eastern North Carolina in our storm reports table. 

 

Total Rainfall Reports

 

 36 Hour Rainfall Reports (8/3/21 to 8/4/21)

000
NOUS42 KMHX 051656
PNSMHX
NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193>196-198-199-203>205-060228-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1028 AM EDT THU AUG 5 2021


LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER             

...NORTH CAROLINA...

...BEAUFORT COUNTY...
PANTEGO 0.4 WSW              2.11 IN   0620 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
WASHINGTON 1.0 SSW           2.07 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CHOCOWINITY 0.2 W            2.00 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
WASHINGTON (OCW AWOS)        1.83 IN   0955 AM 08/05   AWOS                 
PCS PHOSPHAT (COOP)          2.55 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COOP                 
BUNYAN RAWS                  2.21 IN   1013 AM 08/05   RAWS                 

...CARTERET COUNTY...
NEWPORT                      5.29 IN   1158 PM 08/04   COOP                 
CAPE CARTERET 4.2 NW         3.19 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CEDAR POINT 0.9 WSW          4.29 IN   0527 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CEDAR ISLAND RAWS            7.01 IN   0925 AM 08/05   RAWS                 
BEAUFORT 3.8 N               7.75 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
HARKERS ISLAND 3.2 NE        6.60 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CEDAR ISLAND 0.6 SSE         7.12 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BEAUFORT 15.1 N              9.55 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CEDAR ISLAND 0.3 SSE         2.34 IN   0650 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
OCEAN 0.5 S                  5.76 IN   0730 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEWPORT 10.6 ENE             5.72 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEWPORT 1.0 N                5.29 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BEAUFORT 1.5 NNW             5.62 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MOREHEAD CITY 0.1 E          7.56 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
PINE KNOLL SHORES 1.4 E      5.66 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEWPORT 5.6 SW               5.03 IN   0630 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MOREHEAD CITY 2.9 WNW        5.91 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
ATLANTIC BEACH 0.6 W         7.73 IN   0731 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BEAUFORT 3.7 NNW             7.36 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BEAUFORT 3.4 NNW             7.74 IN   0720 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MOREHEAD CITY 5.7 W          6.78 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
EMERALD ISLE 2.1 E           4.93 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
INDIAN BEACH 0.0 W           5.78 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CAPE CARTERET 1.0 NNW        3.98 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MOREHEAD CITY 5.1 WNW        6.95 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BEAUFORT 0.5 W               5.94 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MOREHEAD CITY 0.6 NW         7.33 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BEAUFORT 5.3 N               6.89 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SWANSBORO 3.7 NNE            3.17 IN   0750 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEWPORT 1.7 SSE              6.18 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MOREHEAD CITY 6.0 WNW        4.58 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CEDAR POINT 0.4 WSW          4.20 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
CAPE CARTERET 1.5 NE         4.93 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
PINEY ISLAND (NBT AWOS)      4.87 IN   1010 AM 08/05   AWOS                 
NEWPORT 10.3 SW              6.33 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS
BEAUFORT (MRH ASOS)          5.08 IN   0958 AM 08/04   ASOS                             

...CRAVEN COUNTY...
TRENT WOODS 1.2 ENE          3.17 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 2.6 SW              3.96 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 8.8 W               3.54 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 5.3 SW              3.20 IN   0645 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
TRENT WOODS 1.0 NNE          3.38 IN   0653 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 4.9 SW              3.17 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
TRENT WOODS 0.9 WNW          3.49 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 7.3 ESE             3.17 IN   0650 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN (EWN ASOS)          3.29 IN   0954 AM 08/05   ASOS                 
JAMES CITY 2.5 S             4.12 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 5.2 SE              3.22 IN   0825 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
JAMES CITY 2.0 S             2.87 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 4.6 SW              3.08 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
TRENT WOODS 1.3 SSE          3.81 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
PERRYTOWN (COOP)             3.81 IN   0730 AM 08/05   COOP                 
NEW BERN 1.4 WSW             3.05 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN RAWS                3.25 IN   0917 AM 08/05   RAWS                 

...DARE COUNTY...
RODANTHE 1.0 SSE             7.20 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
FRISCO (HSE ASOS)            6.99 IN   0951 AM 08/05   ASOS                 
BUXTON 0.3 ENE               6.06 IN   0820 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NAGS HEAD 1.3 SE             3.28 IN   0645 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MANTEO 2.8 NW                2.92 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
NAGS HEAD 0.2 NW             3.05 IN   0904 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
KILL DEVIL HILLS 2.2 NNW     2.22 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SOUTHERN SHORES 0.5 NNE      2.65 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
DARE CO GNRY RAN (2DP AWOS)  2.97 IN   0956 AM 08/05   AWOS                 
DARE BOMB RANGE RAWS         3.12 IN   0928 AM 08/05   RAWS                 
DUCK                         2.63 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
MANTEO (MQI AWOS)            2.19 IN   1015 AM 08/05   AWOS                 
KILL DEVIL HILLS (FFA AWOS)  1.43 IN   1015 AM 08/05   AWOS                 

...DUPLIN COUNTY...
ROSE HILL 0.1 NNW            1.33 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
WALLACE 6.2 ENE              2.27 IN   0645 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             

...GREENE COUNTY...
AYDEN 6.5 WNW                1.84 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             

...HYDE COUNTY...
OCRACOKE 0.2 ESE             6.19 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
ENGELHARD 0.8 NW             3.72 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SWAN QUARTER FERRY TERMINAL  3.08 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COOP                 
FAIRFIELD RAWS               2.67 IN   0917 AM 08/05   RAWS                 
OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE          1.86 IN   0925 AM 08/05   HADS                 

...JONES COUNTY...
NEW BERN 5.2 SW              2.19 IN   0700 PM 08/04   COCORAHS             
NEW BERN 4.4 SW              3.23 IN   0410 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             

...LENOIR COUNTY...
KINSTON 7.0 SW               2.21 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
KINSTON 3 N                  2.51 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COOP                 
KINSTON 1.2 NW               2.33 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
KINSTON 4.4 WNW              1.72 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
KINSTON 5.1 WNW              1.56 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
LA GRANGE 0.9 SW             1.26 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             

...MARTIN COUNTY...
WILLIAMSTON 8.9 SSE          2.18 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
JAMESVILLE 6.1 SW            2.51 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
WILLIAMSTON 1 ENE (COOP)     2.27 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COOP                 
ROBERSONVILLE 0.0 NNW        2.61 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             

...ONSLOW COUNTY...
HUBERT 4.9 SE                5.02 IN   0711 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
JACKSONVILLE (COOP)          2.46 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COOP                 
SWANSBORO 2.8 WSW            4.60 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SWANSBORO 3.3 NW             4.07 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SWANSBORO 1.4 N              4.31 IN   0830 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
JACKSONVILLE 1.0 NW          3.80 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
2 WNW NEW RIVER STATION      3.55 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
RICHLANDS 2.8 NW             3.24 IN   0900 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
HOLLY RIDGE 4.9 ENE          3.78 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SNEADS FERRY 1.2 SSW         3.86 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
HOFFMAN RAWS                 4.73 IN   1010 AM 08/05   RAWS                 
HOLLY RIDGE 3.7 E            3.92 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
SANDY RUN RAWS               4.03 IN   0919 AM 08/05   RAWS                 
JACKSONVILLE 1.2 NE          4.55 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
JACKSONVILLE 4.5 NW          4.64 IN   0742 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
RICHLANDS (OAJ AWOS)         3.38 IN   0956 AM 08/05   AWOS                 
JACKSONVILLE 3.3 W           3.26 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
JACKSONVILLE (NCA ASOS)      3.04 IN   1011 AM 08/05   AWOS                 

...PAMLICO COUNTY...
REELSBORO                    3.81 IN   0500 PM 08/04   COOP                 
MERRITT 1.5 WSW              3.57 IN   0600 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
ORIENTAL 4.3 NNW             3.40 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
LOWLAND 0.2 SE               5.72 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
ORIENTAL 5.2 NE              4.21 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GRANTSBORO 4.6 SSW           4.13 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
ORIENTAL 2.1 WSW             3.86 IN   0900 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             

...PITT COUNTY...
GREENVILLE (COOP)            2.43 IN   1158 PM 08/04   COOP                 
WINTERVILLE 2.8 WNW          2.09 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
FOUNTAIN 0.1 NE              1.23 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
WINTERVILLE 3.5 W            2.31 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 5.0 SE            2.32 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 7.1 SSE           2.38 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 7.3 SSE           2.43 IN   0743 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 2.0 SE            2.57 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 4.4 SSE           2.23 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
WINTERVILLE 1.0 ENE          2.39 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 4.3 SSE           2.22 IN   0800 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 1.4 SE            1.58 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
0.9 NW EAST CAROLINA UNIVERS 2.20 IN   1000 AM 08/05   HADS                 

...TYRRELL COUNTY...
COLUMBIA 0.8 NNE             4.63 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
GUM NECK (COOP)              2.39 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COOP                 
COLUMBIA                     2.25 IN   0925 AM 08/05   HADS                 

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
POCOSIN LAKES RAWS           3.26 IN   0917 AM 08/05   RAWS                 

...MARITIME STATIONS...
FRISCO 3.3 NE                7.04 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COCORAHS             
BAYBORO 3 E                  3.37 IN   0700 AM 08/05   COOP                 
&&         
&&

 

 

 Local Storm Reports

000
NWUS52 KMHX 061552
LSRMHX

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1152 AM EDT FRI AUG 6 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     FLOOD            4 SE CYPRESS CREEK      34.70N 77.66W
08/03/2021                   ONSLOW             NC   911 CALL CENTER

            SOME WATER ON BURGAW HWY (NC 53) NEAR THE
            COUNTY LINE. THE ROAD WAS STILL PASSABLE.

1015 PM     FLOOD            3 NE WILDWOOD           34.78N 76.79W
08/03/2021                   CARTERET           NC   911 CALL CENTER

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM 3 NE
            WILDWOOD. WATER COVERING THE ROAD IN SEVERAL
            SPOTS ALONG MILL CREEK RD. THE ROAD WAS
            STILL PASSABLE.

0800 AM     FLASH FLOOD      OCRACOKE VILLAGE        35.11N 75.98W
08/04/2021                   HYDE               NC   PUBLIC

            MORE THAN 3 FEET OF WATER ALONG BACK ROAD
            NEAR OCRACOKE COFFEE COMPANY. ROAD
            IMPASSABLE DUE TO DEEP WATER. VIDEO POSTED
            ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

0745 AM     FLOOD            1 WSW NEWPORT           34.78N 76.88W
08/04/2021                   CARTERET           NC   NWS EMPLOYEE

            WATER RUNNING OVER ROBERTS ROAD NEAR THE
            CURVE BY CEDAR KEY. ROAD PASSABLE, WATER
            DEPTH ABOUT 5 INCHES.

0930 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 WSW WILDWOOD          34.73N 76.86W
08/04/2021                   CARTERET           NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM 2 WSW
            WILDWOOD. ENTRANCE TO NEIGHBORHOOD COVERED
            WITH WATER, 2 TO 3 FEET DEEP. ENTRANCE NOT
            PASSABLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.

0930 AM     FLASH FLOOD      BOGUE INLET PIER        34.66N 77.04W
08/04/2021                   CARTERET           NC   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM BOGUE
            INLET PIER. EMERALD ISLE PUBLIC WORKS
            CLOSING REED DRIVE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST SEA
            VIEW DRIVES DUE TO HIGH WATER.

0932 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 ESE MERRIMON          34.95N 76.63W
08/04/2021                   CARTERET           NC   PUBLIC

            MERRIMON ROAD FLOODED JUST BEFORE MERRIMON
            CHURCH. WATER ACROSS THE ROAD IN FIVE PLACES
            OUTSIDE JONAQUINS SUBDIVISION. DOT HAS
            BEEN NOTIFIED. REPORT VIA FACEBOOK.

1000 AM     FLOOD            3 SSW NEWPORT           34.75N 76.88W
08/04/2021                   CARTERET           NC   NWS EMPLOYEE

            NUMEROUS YARDS FLOODED ALONG HIBBS ROAD
            BETWEEN HIGHWAY 70 AND HIGHWAY 24. SOME
            HOMES ALMOST SURROUNDED BY WATER OR WATER UP
            TO NEAR THE HOUSE ITSELF.


1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE 35.09N 75.98W
08/04/2021                   HYDE               NC   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM 1 S
            OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE. SIGNIFICANT PONDING OF
            WATER ON SOME FLAT/POORLY DRAINED BEACH
            FRONT AREAS NEAR SOUTH POINT ON OCRACOKE.

1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      3 ENE OCRACOKE VILLAGE  35.13N 75.92W
08/04/2021                   HYDE               NC   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM 3 ENE
            OCRACOKE VILLAGE. 75% OF THE OCRACOKE
            CAMPGROUND IS UNDER WATER.

1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SW HATTERAS ISLAND FI 35.58N 75.47W
08/04/2021                   DARE               NC   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM 1 SW
            HATTERAS ISLAND FISHING PIER. PARTS OF
            HIGHWAY 12 FLOODED IN THE TYPICAL SPOTS
            INCLUDING THE PEA ISLAND SECTION OF THE
            SEASHORE IN WHAT IS CALLED THE CANAL ZONE.
            FLOODING ALONG THE ROADS AND ROADSIDE
            DITCHES IN ALL THE VILLAGES, AND IN SOME
            LOCATIONS BETWEEN THE VILLAGES. STAFF
            DESCRIBED THE ROADWAY FLOODING AS VERY
            DANGEROUS.

1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SSW CAPE HATTERAS LIG 35.24N 75.54W
08/04/2021                   DARE               NC   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLOOD REPORT FROM 1 SSW
            CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE. 100% OF THE CAPE
            POINT CAMPGROUND IS UNDER WATER. SIGNIFICANT
            PONDING OF WATER ON SOME FLAT/POORLY DRAINED
            BEACH FRONT AREAS NEAR CAPE POINT.




&&

$$

HEDEN/SGK

           
&&         
&&

 

 

Earlier in the week, some of the same areas received heavy rain.  This map below shows that at a 24 hour period ending at 8 AM Monday morning August 2nd, isolated areas saw more than 3" of rain!  This heavy rain certainly primed the area for flooding.

 

Rainfall Reports Ending Monday August 2nd, 2021

24 Hour Rainfall Totals Ending 8 AM Monday August 2nd

 

Most of this heavier rainfall that fell earlier in the week fell toward the coast, which primed these areas for flooding.

 

 

Pictures

 

Outer Banks NC 12 (Dare County)

 

Credit: NC DOT

 

Outer Banks NC 12 (Dare County)

 

Credit: NC DOT

 

Outer Banks NC 12 (Dare County)

 

Credit: NC DOT

 

 

Newport, NC

 

Credit: Francesca Quinn.

 

Morehead City, NC (Between 9th and 10th Streets on Sheperd)

 

Credit: Diane Bradshaw

 

Morehead City, NC

Arendell Street

 

Credit: Jessica Wratchford Poli

 


 

Videos

Coming Soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wet Summer

 

After having drought conditions in the spring with wildfire concerns, beginning in June and lasting into August multiple periods of heavy rain saturated the soils. Below are some graphics which show how far above normal the rainfall has been and these graphics include the heavy rain that fell between August 3rd and 4th.

 

 

7-Day Observed Precipitation

Ending At 8 AM Thursday August 5th 

 Anywhere on the map in red is above 5", and the pinks indicate more than 10" fell over a 7 day period from Downeast Carteret County through Ocracoke Island. These areas are already close to sea level, so the water does not drain very fast, leading to standing water for days. 

 

 

 

7-Day Percent Of Normal Precipitation

Ending At 8 AM Thursday August 5th 

By showing the percentage of normal, you can clearly pick out precipitation extremes.  Anywhere dark blue on this map is 200%+ above normal which is the majority of Eastern North Carolina.  Once you get into the purples, this is 400%+ to 600%+ of normal!

 

 

 

30-Day Observed Precipitation

Ending At 8 AM Thursday August 5th 

When looking back 30 days into early July, all of Eastern North Carolina saw in excess of 5", with a large majority receiving more than 10" of rain!

 

 

 

 

Radar

 

Coming Soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satellite

 

Coming Soon