Richmond County under flash flood watch; flood warning issued along Pee Dee River in S.C.

ROCKINGHAM — The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for much of south central North Carolina, including Richmond County.

The watch goes into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday and will remain until 8 p.m. Thursday.

According to the NWS: "A slow-moving cold front will result in multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms through Thursday night. Many areas over the western Piedmont have already received 1-3 inches of rain, resulting in increases in creeks and streams. Additional rainfall of up to 2-4 inches will lead to localized flash flood and minor flooding on main stem rivers.”

Other counties included in the watch are: Alamance, Anson, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Scotland and Stanly. Marlboro and Chesterfield counties are also under a flash flood watch.

A 50-60 percent chance of showers is also expected on Friday before clearing for mostly sunny skies on Saturday.

There is also a flood warning for the area along the Pee Dee River near Cheraw in northern Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

The river is expected to rise above flood stage, which is 30 feet, late Thursday morning and continue to rise to near 35.4 feet early Friday afternoon, according to the NWS.

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, the river was at 9 feet.

The NWS lays out the hazards associated with certain levels:

• At 20 feet -River bottomland downstream from Cheraw will begin to flood.
• At 30 feet - The higher bank begins to flood. Large areas of farmland and river bottomland near Cheraw will be flooded. Portions of Riverside Park become flooded.
• At 33 feet - Southeast of Wallace, water spreads onto Old River Road between Community Road and Highway 912.
• At 35 feet - Southeast of Wallace, Old River Road between Community Road and Highway 912 will become flooded and may need to be closed.
• At 36 feet - Extensive overflow of the left bank will occur and large areas of farmland near Cheraw will be flooded. Livestock and farm equipment should be moved to higher ground.

That warning will be in effect starting Thursday morning and lasting until it is canceled.