The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Bladen County through Monday at 8 p.m. because of heavy rain that is expected Sunday and Monday.
The watch area also includes Columbus, Brunswick, Pender, Robeson and New Hanover counties as well as seven counties in South Carolina. A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.
“Historic and life-threatening flooding is expected across the watch area,” the National Weather Service said. “Road washouts and failures are expected. Streams and rivers will continue to rise and will leave their banks to flood nearby roads, property and structures. Many earthen dams will overflow and/or fail completely. Evacuations may be needed in the hardest hit and most flood prone areas.”
The change from a flood watch to a flash flood watch came at 11:50 a.m. Saturday because of more heavy rain expected Sunday and Monday following a deluge Friday that brought anywhere from 3 to 6 inches to Bladen County.
After a lull Saturday when an inch or less of rain is forecast, the National Weather Service is expecting a combined 3 to 6 inches of rain in Bladen on Sunday and Monday.
Also, a flood warning has been issued for the Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock and Dam No. 3 and at Elizabethtown Lock and Dam No. 2 until further notice.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Huske Lock and Dam No. 3 was at 38 feet. Flood stage is 42 feet. The National Weather Service expects the river to rise to near 49.2 feet by early Monday afternoon.
At the Elizabethtown locks, the flood stage is 25 feet. The river is expected to rise to 27.1 feet early Tuesday morning. A current stage reading was not available.
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