A strong weather front moved through the area on Wednesday kicking off thunderstorms and resulting the National Weather Service issuing a tornado warning for Bladen County briefly at 8 a.m.
Heavy rains inundated farm fields and yards and causing water to pond on area roadways. Many area residents awoke to find yards and driveways flooded.
A flood warning for the Cape Fear River has also been issued. The warning issued by the National Weather Service indicates the Cape Fear River is forecast to reach 25.9 feet by Saturday. The warning also indicates that at 25 feet, flood waters will reach the top of the navigational lock at the Lock and Dam.
The forecast for Wednesday calls for a high of 75 degrees with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The Christmas Eve forecast calls for a high of 80 degrees with a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms.