Outer bands of Alberto puts WNC under flash flood watch

Jennifer Bowman | The Citizen-Times

Show Caption Hide Caption Subtropical Storm Alberto moves north in Gulf Subtropical Storm Alberto is approaching the Florida panhandle and is expected to make landfall sometime Monday. It had maxium sustained winds of 65 mph early Monday and can create dangerous waves for people not in its path. (May 28)

ASHEVILLE — Western North Carolina is under a flash flood watch through Wednesday morning and could see heavy rain from the outer bands of subtropical storm Alberto.

The National Weather Service said rapidly increasing rainfall rates from tropical showers and embedded thunderstorms will begin Monday and last until at least Tuesday night.

Alberto strengthened Sunday night and reached the Florida Panhandle Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm center's path was projected to travel through Alabama and weaken to a tropical depression before reaching Tennessee.

Though not in the path of the storm's center, WNC is expected to be hit by its outer bands. Rainfall totals could reach 3 to 6 inches by Thursday, the NWS said.

About 3.6 inches were forecast for Asheville.

Locations along the eastern and southern slopes of the southern Appalachians could see 6 to 8 inches.

"The resulting heavy rainfall will impact many locations that are already saturated by heavy rain that fell over the past two weeks," the NWS said.

A flood warning is in effect for the French Broad River at Blantyre in Henderson and Transylvania counties through Friday afternoon. The NWS said Monday the river may have overtopped the railroad tracks near Fodderstack Mountain and River Ridge roads, while the intersection at River and Big Willow roads was inundated with several inches of water.

A flood advisory is in effect for the French Broad near Fletcher in Buncombe and Henderson counties until Friday afternoon.

More: Some residents should evacuate ahead of subtropical storm Alberto, officials say

In Polk County, officials encouraged residents in already waterlogged areas to evacuate ahead of Alberto. The voluntary evacuation area was expanded Sunday to Page Farm Road and the Brookwood subdivision.

County officials are asking residents call 828-333-9017 to inform officials if they are staying or evacuating. The notifications will help officials account for residents and will help law enforcement make plans to check on evacuated properties, according to a release from the American Red Cross.

A shelter for evacuees opened at 5 p.m. Sunday at Polk County Middle School, 321 Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring.

Two people died Monday in Polk County after a traffic accident occurred on U.S. 176 involving a car and a tree.

U.S. 176 was shut down between Thomson Road in Saluda and Harmon Field Road in Tryon. Officials said the area should be avoided as travel has become dangerous.