Fast-moving downpour cripples rush hour on flooded Glenwood Ave

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- The storm that blew through northwest Raleigh brought rain that came down hard and rose fast on Glenwood Avenue.

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"I got hung up right in the middle of the intersection, water was rising up to the doors," said Anthony Swartz who was a block away from home when his Hyundai Elantra was overcome by the flash flood.

"The waves were hitting it and washing down the debris. But there's debris in the vehicle from the waves coming in," he said.

Umar Waheed was trapped inside his Jaguar SUV when a wave of water washed all the way up onto his hood.

"It was raining so hard and nobody was moving and the water was about 2 1/2 feet," Waheed said.

Raleigh Fire Rescue teams responded to the scene going car to car to ensure everyone got out safe. Raleigh Police shut down eastbound Glenwood Ave until the water receded.

"I think the storm came up and surprised a lot of people in rush hour traffic. And people got caught in it again."

But for Waheed, who has lived in Raleigh for more than 30 years, this storm and subsequent flooding on Glenwood was different than anything he's seen before.

"I've never seen it this bad," he said. "I've seen Crabtree (creek) flood, I've seen Glenwood flood. But there's nothing like this."

Eastbound Glenwood Ave. reopened to traffic right around 9 p.m. No one was injured. Although several vehicles caught in crossfire of the storm won't be road-ready any time soon.