Staff report
RICHMOND COUNTY — The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning through 1:15 a.m. Saturday for central Richmond County and all of Scotland County.
The warning comes after a series of thunderstorms that “several inches” of rain already had fallen since the rain began shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday.. At 10:15 p.m., “Doppler Radar indicated a thunderstorm producing heavy rain over central Scotland County. Up to several inches of rain has already fallen. Flash flooding is likely.”
Areas in the warning area include Laurinburg, Rockingham, Hamlet, Hoffman, Ellerbe, Dobbins Heights, the Sandhills Game Land and East Rockingham.
It’s believed that U.S. Route 1 North, just north of Highway 177, is under water. Law enforcement officials are on scene for traffic control purposes.
Work crews have been deployed to handle downed trees, including at least one in Ellerbe. State troopers indicted state Department of Transportation workers will be clearing “multiple trees down” in both counties.
Weather officials suggest that “excessive runoff from the heavy rain will cause flash flooding of creeks and streams, roads, low-lying and poor drainage areas.”
Of course, driving through areas in which water covers the road is strongly discouraged. Officials warn motorists to exercise additional caution at night, “when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.”
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