Windy, Rainy Night Across The Carolinas

The Upstate and Western North Carolina experienced a windy, sometimes rainy Wednesday night. Clearing skies and calming winds are forecast for Thursday.

Most of the accidents and storm damage occured during the day Wednesday, when the heavy rains came through the region.

In Henderson County, some river flooding was reported.

In Spartanburg County, work crews removed a large oak tree that fell on a pastor's home and a car in Inman.

The house on A Street is the home of Rev. Gordon Raynal of Inman Presbyterian Church. He says he stepped outside around 7:00am and heard the massive oak in his side yard creaking.

"I knew it was falling when I heard it groan and then pop," said Raynal. "It fell slowly at first because its roots were pulling up from the ground, then it just came crashing down."

He watched as the oak smashed through his porch and landed on top of his wife's car.

"It really didn't cause as much damage as I thought it would," said Raynal. "My wife and I were not hurt. We were very fortunate."

EARLIER REPORTS:
***Update 3:20 p.m.***
The French Broad River is nearing it's crest in some locations. Click here for video from Amboy Road in Asheville and more information on the river level.

Update 11:56 a.m.***

Flooding in the Arkwright community of Spartanburg County.

***Update 11:51 a.m.***

To get the latest information on outages across the Carolinas, how to prepare for an outage, and restoring service click here.
**Update 11:35 a.m.**

The Spartanburg Veteran's Day Parade is still on for Wednesday afternoon at 4:00pm.

**Update 10:35 a.m.**

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the French Broad River Wednesday. Low lying areas are expected to experience minor flooding along the French Broad River.

The French Broad River (check level here) is expected to reach the flood stage this afternoon or evening according to the City of Asheville and Asheville fire and Rescue. At this time, the Swannanoa River (check level here) is expected to crest nearly six feet below flood stage.

As of Wednesday morning, the lake level at the North Fork Reservoir is three feet below full. One of the City of Asheville's flood gates is open six inches to allow for additional water storage capacity in the lake. City officials will continue to monitor the lake level to ensure potential downstream flooding is minimized.

**Update 10:14 a.m.**

The Chesnee Veteran's Day Parade has been postponed Wednesday. It will be held Saturday morning starting at 11:00 a.m.

**Update 10:01 a.m.**

Asheville Police say weather conditions were poor this morning when a child broke away from his mother and was struck and killed by a vehicle. The four-year old boy was killed on Hendersonville Road near Jeffress Avenue.

**Update 9:00 a.m.**
A tree fell on a home and car on A Street in Inman Wednesday morning. No injuries were reported on the scene. Fortunately the tree is resting on the roof of the home and didn't cause any damage. The Homeowner is the pastor of Gordon Raynal, and the church is Inman Presbyterian Church of Inman. He tells us he saw the massive oak fall this morning. The tree smashed his wife's car and landed on his screened-in porch, causing damage.

Photo by Jason Parker

**Update 8:00 a.m.**
Anita Donley Anderson County Emergency Management reports there have been 15 to 25 trees down overnight some are in roads. She says there are power lines down and power outages in the city of Anderson. There is also are report of a tree fell in the backyard of a house in on Blue Ridge Avenue in Belton. No injuries are reported. Anderson County Emergency Management will be watching the weather for high winds that are expected in excess of 40 mph and they are anticipating trees to uproot.

Meteorologist Dan Bickford as been in consistent contact with the National Weather Service over the past few hours. There are no new reports of issues however, some rivers and streams will slowly rise as runoff continues, so some delayed flooding still possible. They’re also expecting the possibility of more downed tree reports, especially now that it’s light out, and then more trees possibly coming down today with the wet ground and gusty winds.

**Update 7:00 a.m.**
The North Carolina Highway Patrol says that they have no weather related accidents in Henderson County and Buncombe Counties.

In Hendersonville—Highway 25 South at the Fresh Market is closed. And the NCHP expects Highway 176 at Highway 25 may be closed later but it is still passable for now.

They ask people to watch for trees that may be down and allow extra time to get to your destination.
**Update 6:00 a.m.**

Heavy rain has closed many roads and caused dozens of accidents in the Upstate and Western North Carolina Wednesday morning. As of 6:00 a.m. South Church Street Extension was closed at South Irwin Avenue in the Arkwright Community of Spartanburg County. Watch video of flooding.

Water filled the intersection, so firefighters set up barricades to keep drivers away. In Hendersonville, NC, police closed South King Street where it meets South Main Street downtown on Wednesday morning. Police did not know how long traffic would be detoured.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol was investigating multiple accidents, incidents of trees blocking roadways, and flooded roadways all over the upstate Wednesday. To check roads in your area, click here.

Hundreds of Duke Energy customers were without power on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The highest number of outages were reported in Cherokee, Pickens, and Greenville Counties. If your power goes out, call 1-800-POWERON.
For your live VIPIR forecast, click here.