North Carolina
North Carolina underwater after fifth historic flood in two decades
Coastal regions of North Carolina were still underwater on Tuesday after another historic flood, marking the fifth time in 25 years that residents have faced this kind of weather.
Torrential rains poured into the southeastern part of the state earlier this week, leaving parts of Brunswick County submerged and prompting widespread road closures, including the heavily traveled U.S. Highway 17.
The storm, which unleashed more than 18 inches of rain in just 12 hours on Monday in Carolina Beach, came after the National Hurricane Center issued advisories about the storm on Sunday. The NHC warned of the storm’s “life-threatening” flash flooding impact in a social media post on Monday as meteorologists continued to track the storm, which had a high chance of forming into Tropical Storm Helene, the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Although it reached tropical storm strength, the storm never attained the necessary structure to be classified as a tropical storm, Dan Brown, the branch chief of the NHC’s hurricane specialist unit, previously told Newsweek.
Still, the storm has continued to leave a devastating impact on the area.
According to Brunswick County emergency officials, emergency crews delivered food and water to those trapped as they waited for the water to rescind. No fatalities have been reported, though local authorities have confirmed significant damage to infrastructure, with many roads washed out or severely compromised.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Wilmington, North Carolina, also commented on the severity of the floodwaters on Monday.
“Roads are flooded at least 3 feet deep in parts of Carolina Beach,” NWS Wilmington posted on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a photo that showed floodwaters rising halfway up a van. “No cars or trucks are designed to safely travel in floodwater this deep. Please stay off the roads.”
Newsweek reached out to Brunswick County emergency officials via email for comment
Meteorologists at NWS Wilmington said Monday’s downpour qualifies as a “1,000-year flood,” a rare event.
Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office/ AP
This is not the first time this region has faced floods of this magnitude, with past floods from hurricanes Diana (1984), Floyd (1999) and Florence (2018) dumping historic amounts of rain on the same area.
According to Tim Armstrong, a meteorologist with NWS, the recurring disasters, amplified by climate change, are part of a troubling pattern for coastal communities.
He explained that the “warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold,” leading to intensified storms that can unleash massive downpours, even when they’re not powerful hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November, has already been highly active. Due to near-record sea surface temperatures, NOAA predicts more storms on the horizon.
While the storm has now moved into southeast Virginia, concerns remain for residents of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Floodwaters closed the vulnerable North Carolina Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island, and erosion continues to threaten homes in Rodanthe, where sea levels have steadily risen over the past decade.
Armstrong, who previously spoke to Newsweek, said it’ll take time for the floodwaters in Carolina Beach to drain, but calm weather is forecast for the next few days, which will aid in clean-up.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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