The National Weather Service has extended flood warnings for central and eastern North Carolina, and will continue to monitor conditions throughout the week. Storms have dropped as many as eight inches of rain in the Piedmont. Flood waters in the area will likely recede Tuesday evening. But forecasters say major rivers are likely to rise in eastern North Carolina through Friday.
Governor Roy Cooper says he's asking emergency management teams in the coastal plain to prepare.
“We know that there are going to be flood waters,” Cooper said. “We've already seen some of those in Piedmont and Wilson, North Carolina, and there will be flooding downstream. The severity of that, we just don't know yet.”
State emergency management officials are warning of possible flooding along the Neuse River near Clayton and Smithfield, and the Tar River in Tarboro and Greenville.
Gauges in those areas indicate the rivers will crest above flood stage, but several feet below the levels caused by Hurricane Matthew in October.
There have been no injuries or deaths reported in this week's storms, but authorities in Raleigh say firefighters have had to rescue a handful of people from their flooded vehicles.
Crabtree Valley Mall closed Tuesday morning because of the rising water, but a few department stores and restaurants reopened by early afternoon. Some schools released students early.
Forecasters expect flood conditions to continue through the work week in areas near major rivers and streams.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.