Richmond County Schools on 2-hour delay due to flood threat; RCC on normal schedule

HAMLET — Students may get to sleep in a little tomorrow.

Richmond County Schools announced this evening that the district will be operating on a two-hour delay on Tuesday due to heavy rains and the potential for localized flooding associated with Potential Tropical Cyclone 8.

According to RCS, students at Richmond Senior High School and the Ninth Grade Academy will still report to their first block.

Richmond Community College is currently operating on a normal schedule and high school students who will miss classes because of the delay are advised to contact their instructors and make arrangements for missed work.

The county and region are currently under a flood watch until 8 a.m. Tuesday. Forecasters are calling for an average of 2-5 inches of rain across the region, with isolated areas receiving up to or in excess of 7 inches.

Lee Berry posted a photo of his rain gauge in Ellerbe showing just more than 1.5 inches. RO contributor Betty Gallo McIntyre said she emptied 4.5 inches from her gauge between Rockingham and Cordova around 6:30 p.m.

Emergency Services Director Bob Smith did not have a current total as of 7:30 p.m.

WECT-TV is reporting flooding has led to road closures along the coast, including sections of U.S. 17 and N.C. 211 in Brunswick County and U.S. 74 in Columbus County. There are also multiple secondary roads that are closed in those areas.

According to WECT, more than 18 inches of rain had fallen at Carolina Beach by 2 p.m.

A wind advisory is also in effect until 2 a.m.

The National Hurricane Center published its final public advisory on this storm at 5 p.m. At that time, the storm was 45 miles west of Cape Fear, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, moving north-northwest at 7 mph.