Steady rain, strong winds pose threats for trees, flood-prone areas
GREENSBORO — The remnants of Ida didn’t cause many problems Wednesday, but steady rain and strong winds will pose threats for soggy trees and flood-prone areas in the Triad today.
“It’s still a chance that we could get some flash flooding if we get heavy rains,” said Phil Badgett, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
“It looks like the threat of heavy rain going into (tonight) should really start to taper off Friday night,” Badgett said.
Sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph are expected through Friday, Badgett said.
High winds combined with saturated soil could lead to downed trees through this evening.
The usually hard clay that bolsters roots loosens, and leaves weigh down trees, making them apt to fall.
Through late Wednesday evening, the storm system had hovered over the Triad and caused few problems, local authorities said.
“It’s been almost a non-event, which is fortunate,” said David Douglas, assistant fire chief with the Greensboro Fire Department. “It means that people have minded their manners or we haven’t had much weather.”
About 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a white oak about 70 feet tall fell across three lanes of traffic on Interstate 40/85 southbound at Mile Marker 139 near Burlington, causing the Highway Patrol to close the lanes for about an hour.
Trooper J.R. Zachary said a group of women was riding in a 2008 Honda Odyssey in the right lane when the tree crashed in front of them. Branches damaged the van’s windshield and hood, but everyone escaped uninjured.
Other downed trees blocked some roads temporarily in Greensboro, Gibsonville and McLeansville on Wednesday night.
But those incidents and flooding have been limited.
“It’s actually been slower because of the holiday,” said Lt. Hope Newkirk of Greensboro police.
“We’ve been checking typical locations where it floods, and we’ve seen no serious issues.
“We’ve got extra units ready to assist with power outages or other incidents, but they haven’t been needed.”
As of 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Duke Energy reported more than 600 homes were without power in Guilford County. About a dozen were without power in Rockingham, 66 in Alamance, 68 in Forsyth and 288 in Randolph County.
Since the rain moved into the area Tuesday, 2.7 inches had fallen in the Greensboro area as of 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com
Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: Strong winds knocked a sign for Fleming Road and barrels that were placed because of flooding Wednesday in Greensboro.
THE FORECAST
For Greensboro from the National Weather Service in Raleigh:
Wednesday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 53. North wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches are possible.
Wednesday night: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 47. Breezy, with a north wind between 18 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Thursday: Rain. High near 51. North wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
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- Current Condition: FAIR
- Current Temperature: 54°
- UV Idx: 3
- Forecast High/Low: H: 62° L: 43°
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