10/11/2026
We have had over 8 inches of rain here so far and flooding in the area. Please stay home and safe
🚨 Tornado Threat Rising Across the Valley as Flooding Closes NC 18/US 64 in Burke
Burke County is urging people to stay off the roads after up to 8.5 inches of rain, and Hunting Creek has reached moderate flood stage in Morganton.
MORGANTON, N.C. (10/11/2026 7:00 AM) — Bristol Creek flooding has closed NC 18/US 64 at Chesterfield Fire and Rescue north of Morganton, and Burke County is asking people to stay home this morning.
Drivers going between Lenoir and Morganton will need another route, the county said. Chesterfield Fire, NCDOT, the State Highway Patrol and Burke County Emergency Management are on scene.
The county's Joint Information Center said travel anywhere in Burke is not advised until daylight lets crews check the roads. Put off routine Sunday morning trips, the county said, because backroads may have hazards no one has found yet.
OTHER ROADS AND CREEKS
Antioch Road is closed because swift water is rising fast across it.
Flooding has closed Bost Road at Spainhour Road, and water is across the road at Bost and Piedmont roads.
Bethel Park is flooded.
Hunting Creek near Roses Shopping Center in Morganton has reached moderate flood stage, up from 8.64 feet at 2 a.m. The weather service puts moderate flood stage there at 10 feet, enough to flood Coal Chute Road near the gauge.
A National Weather Service Flood Warning runs until noon for southern Burke County, including Morganton, Valdese, Drexel, Glen Alpine and Connelly Springs.
STORMS MOVING IN
The tornado threat is increasing this morning across Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Alexander, Iredell and Lincoln counties as a line of storms moves east out of Rutherford and McDowell counties.
Burke County said the line is expected to bring the heaviest rain of the event so far, raising the flash flood threat even higher. Wireless Emergency Alerts have gone out for a considerable flash flood threat, according to the county.
At 7:00 a.m., radar showed the line stretching from near Boone through Lenoir to just west of Hickory, and it will keep moving east across the area through the morning.
Keep emergency alerts turned on. If a Tornado Warning is issued, get to a basement or a small interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
RAIN TOTALS
Burke County weather stations reported these 24-hour totals at about 6:47 a.m.:
Enola Fire/Rescue: 8.54 inches
Jonas Ridge EMS Base: 7.58 inches
Chesterfield Fire/Rescue: 7.25 inches
Burke County 911: 6.38 inches
Brendletown Fire Station 1: 5.36 inches
Shortoff Mountain: 5.21 inches
Lake James State Park: 5.06 inches
Fire Marshal Station, Hildebran: 4.43 inches
South Mountains Fire Department: 4.38 inches
George Hildebran Fire/Rescue: 4.22 inches
Lake James was at 97.7 feet, 2.3 feet below full pond. Lake Rhodhiss was at 95.2 feet, 4.8 feet below full pond.
RESPONSE
Chesterfield and Oak Hill fire departments are answering flooding calls in their districts. Burke County 911 call volume is slightly above a normal Sunday, and extra staff have been brought in.
About 273 Burke County customers were without power.
OVERNIGHT
The storm set off two landslides in McDowell County overnight, on N.C. 226A and Bear Wallow Road, and about a foot of water closed Lytle Mountain Road in Sugar Hill. In Caldwell County, Wilson Creek and the Johns River went over flood stage before dawn, as CVNW reported earlier this morning.
STAY SAFE
Stay away from flooded parks, creek banks and low-water crossings. Never drive through flooded roads or around barricades. If rising water threatens your home, move to higher ground.
Report power outages to your electric company. Do not touch or move downed lines.
City of Morganton: 828-438-5277
Duke Energy: 1-800-POWERON
Rutherford Electric: 1-800-228-9756
Burke County storm information line: 828-764-9388. For emergencies, call 911.
This is a developing story. Burke County says more updates are coming as conditions change and roads are checked, and CVNW will update as we learn more.
If you're safe at home and can see flooding on a road near you, let us know in the comments which road so others can avoid it. Share this with anyone who may be heading out between Morganton and Lenoir, and follow Catawba Valley News & Weather for updates all morning.

