Torrential rain sparked Flash Flood Emergencies in Polk County, Tennessee, and Fannin County, Georgia, near the state line early Thursday. The flooding developed as storms formed along the southern edge of a powerful cross-country system moving toward the East Coast.
Police in McCaysville, Georgia, urged residents in several neighborhoods to evacuate immediately shortly before 3 a.m. local time. County officials reported swiftwater rescues as widespread flooding sent water into multiple homes.
McCaysville declared a state of emergency shortly after 5 a.m.
Floodwaters also caused a propane tank to ignite at a business in McCaysville.
The Ocoee River climbed into major flood stage after roughly 5 to 8 inches of rain fell across the region within a 12-hour period.
Helicopters from the Georgia State Patrol were placed on standby to support possible evacuations, according to the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency.
Officials in Copperhill, Tennessee, said early Thursday that the city was closed and urged residents to avoid downtown and all areas near the river.
Polk County, Tennessee, also announced that all schools would be closed Thursday.
Cross-country storm to bring heavy rain to the I-95 corridor Thursday
Rain and thunderstorms will sweep across the East Coast throughout Thursday, ending a more than two-week run of dry, sunny weather in parts of the Northeast.
Much of the Interstate 95 corridor could receive more than 1 inch of rain, while localized totals of 2 to 3 inches are possible along the coast from Virginia through southeastern New England.
Rain is expected to persist into Friday before gradually diminishing from south to north during the day.
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On Friday, a Level 1-of-4 flash flood risk will cover parts of Suffolk County on Long Island, along with areas of eastern Connecticut and southeastern Massachusetts. A Level 2 threat is forecast for Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, as well as portions of southeastern Massachusetts.
Showers could continue across southern New England into Saturday morning.
Much of the Northeast is experiencing its longest dry spell of the year. New York City, Philadelphia and Boston have each gone more than two weeks without measurable rain, while drought conditions continue across New England, especially in Maine.
The incoming rainfall may provide some relief from the region’s dry conditions, though the heaviest downpours could produce minor flooding.
Periods of heavy rain could persist across the Northeast through Saturday morning.
Flooding continues to affect parts of the Southwest
Severe thunderstorms swept across the South on Tuesday, leading to Tornado Warnings in northern Louisiana.
FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic recorded video of a tornado that touched down in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, late Tuesday morning.
At the same time, communities across parts of the Southwest continued to recover from flooding that struck over the weekend.
Several roads remained closed because of lingering floodwaters and damage caused by the historic flooding.
Police in Flagstaff, Arizona, said they were investigating a second death as potentially weather-related after a body was discovered Monday in a stormwater drainage area.
Evacuations remained in effect for communities near the San Juan River in New Mexico and Colorado.
