Hurricane Delta: What Storm Remnants Will Mean For North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — The remnants of gulf storm Hurricane Delta could dump up to 4 inches of rain on the Charlotte metro region this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms moving through the state could lead to localized flooding Saturday night, into Sunday, state forecasters warned Friday.

As of Friday morning, Delta was a Category 3 storm about 130 miles south-southwest of Cameron, Louisiana, clocking winds of about 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center of the hurricane would make landfall in southwestern Louisiana by Friday evening, before heading north.

By Saturday, the storm is expected to move through the Carolinas, leading to periods of heavy rain throughout the weekend.

"Heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of tropical cyclone Delta is expected across the region over the weekend," the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather outlook bulletin Friday morning. "The heaviest rainfall rates will likely occur Saturday night into Sunday. Despite the recent very dry weather, localized flooding will be possible, especially over the foothills where 2 to 4 inch rainfall totals will be possible."

Soggy conditions are expected to continue Sunday, according to forecasters, who said isolated thunderstorms could develop in the afternoon, particularly southeast of Interstate 85. "A brief tornado cannot be ruled out," NWS said.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast through the weekend:
Today (Oct. 9)
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Light east wind. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday (Oct. 10)
Showers likely, mainly after 11am. Patchy fog between 9am and 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday (Oct. 11)
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 74. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Columbus Day (Oct. 12)
A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.