Claudette strengthens into Tropical Storm once again

By WRAL Severe Weather Center

Raleigh, N.C. — Claudette has strengthened back into a Tropical Storm.

No damage has been reported from Claudette’s impact on NC overnight, and the storm’s impact on central NC may soon come to an end as the storm races off to the north and east.

“The center of circulation was 55 miles south of Raleigh around 2 a.m., but as of 4:30 a.m., it had moved closer to Goldsboro,” said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth.

“We’ll have improving conditions all across North Carolina as we move into the afternoon hours,” said Wilmoth. “We’ll have some sunshine.”

Storms shouldn’t impact Monday morning’s commute, but we may still see some wet roads.

“For the morning commute, expect a cloudy start, damp roads from all the rain we’ve seen, but not a lot of rain, so minimal impact,” said WRAL meteorologist Zach Maloch.

By Monday afternoon, we’ll see partly cloudy skies with hot and humid temperatures. Monday’s high is 92 degrees.

Storms and floods as Claudette passed over the state on Sunday

A Tropical Storm Warning was issued for the North Carolina coast and most of the state’s coastline — from Cape Lookout to the Virginia border — experienced a storm surge. The National Hurricane Center says tropical storm conditions are possible overnight Sunday night and Monday morning at North Carolina beaches.

The system brought flooding and heavy rains to North Carolina. The rain and storms made their way through the Triangle on Sunday afternoon as 20 North Carolina counties ended up under alerts related to flooding, including Wayne and Sampson counties.

A tornado warning was issued for Union County until 3:30 p.m. No tornadoes were ever reported or confirmed in the state, as of Sunday night.

Nearly 1,000 people were without power in Siler City on Sunday evening.

Damage down south

Claudette has already torn through southern states, including Louisiana and Alabama, causing major destruction and leaving flood waters in its wake.

Officials say the storm demolished or badly damaged at least 50 homes in a small town just north of the Florida border and a suspected tornado “pretty much leveled” a mobile home park.

Claudette is the first named storm to make landfall in the United States during the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season