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| South Carolina hit with major flooding amid unrelenting Joaquin-fueled rains | South Carolina hit with major flooding amid unrelenting Joaquin-fueled rains |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Forecasters warned wind gusts topping 35mph could down trees and power lines across the Carolinas and Virginia in the coming hours after flooding from days of record-setting rain along the heavily populated US east coast washed out bridges and homes. | Forecasters warned wind gusts topping 35mph could down trees and power lines across the Carolinas and Virginia in the coming hours after flooding from days of record-setting rain along the heavily populated US east coast washed out bridges and homes. |
| The National Weather Service (NWS) is reporting major flooding in the South Carolina capital of Columbia, the result of the dangerous rainstorm drenching parts of the east coast. | The National Weather Service (NWS) is reporting major flooding in the South Carolina capital of Columbia, the result of the dangerous rainstorm drenching parts of the east coast. |
| Police say officers and firefighters have been rescuing stranded motorists around Columbia. Fire officials said Sunday morning that they had made more than 50 swift-water rescues, and they’re responding to dozens more calls for help. | Police say officers and firefighters have been rescuing stranded motorists around Columbia. Fire officials said Sunday morning that they had made more than 50 swift-water rescues, and they’re responding to dozens more calls for help. |
| The police department said there are too many road closures in the area to name and that emergency dispatchers are working hard to keep up with the call volume. Columbia mayor Steve Benjamin sent a message on Twitter asking residents to: “Please, please stay off of the roads!” | The police department said there are too many road closures in the area to name and that emergency dispatchers are working hard to keep up with the call volume. Columbia mayor Steve Benjamin sent a message on Twitter asking residents to: “Please, please stay off of the roads!” |
| At least five weather-related deaths have been reported since rains began spreading over the eastern seaboard, which has appeared to dodge the full fury of Hurricane Joaquin churning hundreds of miles out in the Atlantic. | |
| Related: Obama declares state of emergency in South Carolina over floods | |
| President Barack Obama had declared a state of emergency in South Carolina and ordered federal aid to bolster state and local efforts as flood warnings remained in effect for many parts of the east coast through Sunday. | |
| The steady downpour drew its moisture from a slow-moving low-pressure system over the south-east that has linked up to a finger of tropical moisture from Joaquin. Heavy rain was expected to continue overnight in parts of northern Georgia as well and could cause some significant river and stream flooding, the NWS said. | The steady downpour drew its moisture from a slow-moving low-pressure system over the south-east that has linked up to a finger of tropical moisture from Joaquin. Heavy rain was expected to continue overnight in parts of northern Georgia as well and could cause some significant river and stream flooding, the NWS said. |
| The low-pressure system also was expected to whip up stiff northeasterly winds in the Blue Ridge mountains of the Carolinas and western Virginia with gusts up to 35mph through Sunday, the NWS said. With tree roots already loosened in waterlogged soil, increased winds held the prospect of toppling trees onto power lines or property. | The low-pressure system also was expected to whip up stiff northeasterly winds in the Blue Ridge mountains of the Carolinas and western Virginia with gusts up to 35mph through Sunday, the NWS said. With tree roots already loosened in waterlogged soil, increased winds held the prospect of toppling trees onto power lines or property. |
| “We’re not out of the woods yet,” North Carolina emergency management director Mike Sprayberry said late on Saturday. | “We’re not out of the woods yet,” North Carolina emergency management director Mike Sprayberry said late on Saturday. |
| High winds toppled a tree that hit a vehicle and killed a passenger on Thursday near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Three people died in separate weather-related traffic incidents in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday, the highway patrol said. A drowning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, also was linked to the storm. | High winds toppled a tree that hit a vehicle and killed a passenger on Thursday near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Three people died in separate weather-related traffic incidents in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday, the highway patrol said. A drowning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, also was linked to the storm. |
| The Greenville-Spartanburg airport in South Carolina recorded 2.3in of rain on Saturday, smashing the previous record of 0.77in set in 1961, according to John Tomko, National Weather Service meteorologist at Greenville-Spartanburg. | The Greenville-Spartanburg airport in South Carolina recorded 2.3in of rain on Saturday, smashing the previous record of 0.77in set in 1961, according to John Tomko, National Weather Service meteorologist at Greenville-Spartanburg. |
| “This one is extraordinary in that it’s such a prolonged event,” he said. | “This one is extraordinary in that it’s such a prolonged event,” he said. |
| Downtown Charleston was closed off to incoming traffic Saturday as rain flooded roads and left some motorists stranded as flood waters engulfed their cars, including a white BMW with water to the engine. At least two bridges were washed out in other parts of the state | Downtown Charleston was closed off to incoming traffic Saturday as rain flooded roads and left some motorists stranded as flood waters engulfed their cars, including a white BMW with water to the engine. At least two bridges were washed out in other parts of the state |
| “Where we normally are dealing with flooding for a few hours, we’re dealing with it in days here,” Charleston police chief Greg Mullen said. “We’re seeing areas flood today that did not traditionally flood.” | “Where we normally are dealing with flooding for a few hours, we’re dealing with it in days here,” Charleston police chief Greg Mullen said. “We’re seeing areas flood today that did not traditionally flood.” |
| Flooded roads were closed throughout the mid-Atlantic region and power companies reported scattered outages in several states. | Flooded roads were closed throughout the mid-Atlantic region and power companies reported scattered outages in several states. |
| In New Jersey, storms dislodged an entire house from its pilings in a low-lying area of Middle Township. No one was in the residence. Flood watches and warnings also are in effect in Delaware and parts of New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. | In New Jersey, storms dislodged an entire house from its pilings in a low-lying area of Middle Township. No one was in the residence. Flood watches and warnings also are in effect in Delaware and parts of New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. |
| The weather service issued a warning for residents living along the coast to be alert for rising water. A combination of high water and high waves could cause beach erosion and damage docks and piers. | The weather service issued a warning for residents living along the coast to be alert for rising water. A combination of high water and high waves could cause beach erosion and damage docks and piers. |
| In Ocean City, Maryland, spokeswoman Jessica Waters said moderate high tide flooding Saturday forced street closures in low-lying areas but caused no major damages or injuries. | In Ocean City, Maryland, spokeswoman Jessica Waters said moderate high tide flooding Saturday forced street closures in low-lying areas but caused no major damages or injuries. |
| Meanwhile, the Atlantic seaboard was spared what could have been much worse damage had Joaquin not continued on a path well off the US coast. And some people found ways to enjoy the wet weather, cavorting in kayaks and canoes in some flooded areas. | Meanwhile, the Atlantic seaboard was spared what could have been much worse damage had Joaquin not continued on a path well off the US coast. And some people found ways to enjoy the wet weather, cavorting in kayaks and canoes in some flooded areas. |
| Steven Capito spent the day surfing by the Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk, Virginia, where two- to three-foot waves crashed ashore. Ordinarily, he said waves from the Chesapeake Bay would barely lap his ankles. | Steven Capito spent the day surfing by the Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk, Virginia, where two- to three-foot waves crashed ashore. Ordinarily, he said waves from the Chesapeake Bay would barely lap his ankles. |
| “It’s kind of a fun novelty to be out here in the bay,” said Capito, who lives in Virginia Beach. “You only get to do it a couple of times a year and it’s nice and warm.” | “It’s kind of a fun novelty to be out here in the bay,” said Capito, who lives in Virginia Beach. “You only get to do it a couple of times a year and it’s nice and warm.” |