Storms hit as strong front arrives
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Powerful storms blew through the Triangle Tuesday evening, sparking flash floods and knocking out power.
The heavy rain made for a soggy and slow drive on major highways but flash flooding was the big issue for secondary roadways.
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In Durham, part of Liberty Street near Goose Creek forced cars to turn around because the water was too deep at one point. The creek also overflowed onto Holloway near Alston, temporarily shutting the road down.
In Wake County, flash floods forced Avent Ferry Road to close for a short time, along with Bowden Street in Cary off N.C. Highway 54.
In Raleigh, fast rising water left a few drivers stranded on Millbrook Road near Departure. Chaka Swanson lives right there on Millbrook and watch the cars get stranded. She and her neighbor even ran out to help push one car out of the water.
"By the time we got done with the first car, the fire truck and police came," said Swanson.
Emergency crews were busy with rescues like that and with clean up. The storm even blew down a few trees. One spot was on Upchurch Street in Apex near Williams Street.
Time lapse video from Raleigh Durham International Airport showed the storms moving through. ABC11 Chief Meteorologist Chris Hohmann said 4.18 inches of rain fell at RDU Tuesday, which is a record for the day. The temperature at RDU plunged from the 90s to 70 degrees following the storms.
Several flight were delayed or canceled during the height of the storms. Both inbound and outbound flights were affected.
The National Weather Service reports trees down in Hillsborough, and Stovall, Granville County. A car was also reportedly stranded in high water in Durham at Meriweather Drive and Carver Streets.
Overall, Duke Energy's power outage map showed hundreds of customers all over the area were without power at one point.
