State Rainfall Record Shattered

https://twitter.com/NWSWPC/status/1041074511091851265 Tropical Storm (formerly Hurricane) Florence has battered North Carolina with damaging winds and flooding storm surge since Thursday.  Heavy rainfall continues to be the major concern, however.  River levels are incredibly high in some parts of the Tar Heel State, flooding many communities.  It should come as no surprise, either.  Rainfall totals have exceeded two feet in some cases. https://twitter.com/NWSMoreheadCity/status/1041014350297919488 In the days before the storm made landfall, Florence was forecast to bring potentially record-breaking rainfall. https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1039974922959953923 Florence delivered, unfortunately.  By Saturday morning, several North Carolina communities witnessed rain totals that were greater than the state tropical rainfall record.  Until Florence, the record for tropical rainfall was 24.06 inches.  This occurred during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. In neighboring South Carolina, rainfall totals were nearing ten inches by midday Saturday.  The record for tropical rainfall in South Carolina is 18.51 inches.  This occurred during Tropical Storm Jerry in 1995. With the slow movement of Florence, final rainfall totals will likely be higher.  Follow WeatherNation on social media (Facebook and Twitter) for the latest updates. - Meteorologist Joe Astolfi