Tropical Storm Warning In NC As Zeta Remnants Advance

NORTH CAROLINA — A tropical storm warning was issued for the greater Charlotte metro region Thursday morning as Zeta began its assault on western North Carolina. Heavy winds and 1 to 3 inches of rain are expected throughout the region, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 8 a.m., the storm was about 50 miles west of Asheville, North Carolina, moving northeast and clocking sustained winds of about 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Zeta is racing toward the northeast near 39 mph," NHC said in an advisory. "An even faster northeastward motion is expected later today, followed by a rapid east-northeastward motion tonight and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will move across portions of the southeastern U.S. this morning, across the Mid-Atlantic states this afternoon, and emerge over the western Atlantic by tonight."

The storm also creates the risk of isolated minor river flooding.

"Areas of heavy rainfall, both in advance of Zeta and along the track of Zeta, will impact areas from the central Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and lower to middle Ohio Valley through Thursday," NWS said.

Here's the National Weather Service's forecast for the region through the weekend:

Today (Oct. 29)
Tropical storm conditions expected. Showers and thunderstorms before 3pm, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog before noon. High near 80. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tonight
A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 6 to 16 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday (Oct. 30)
Sunny, with a high near 66. North northwest wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night
Clear, with a low around 45. North northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Saturday (Oct. 31)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Sunday (Nov. 1)
Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 37.