ROCKINGHAM — Rain began falling early Wednesday and more is expected throughout the weekend as the second named tropical system made landfall.
Tropical Depression Bertha, which made landfall around 8:30 a.m. near Charleston, South Carolina, as a tropical storm, was downgraded to a tropical depression in the early afternoon.
The storm has been moving north and at 5 p.m. was just south of the North-South Carolina state line south of Anson and Union counties.
It is expected to continue its northward track across North Carolina into the evening as it moves into southwestern Virginia around 2 a.m.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds had dropped to 30 mph, with higher gusts along the coast and east side of the center, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Richmond County and other counties in central North Carolina are under a flash flood watch until 2 a.m.
Rainfall totals are expected to be 2-4 inches and up to 8 inches in isolated areas.
In addition to the rain, isolated tornadoes and damaging winds are possible, according to the National Weather Service.
After Bertha passes through, there is still a high chance of showers and thunderstorms through Saturday night before clearing on Sunday.
The first named storm, Tropical Storm Arthur, passed along the North Carolina coast on May 18.
Hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1.
