Florence is second wettest storm in 70 years

In this Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 photo, a stop sign peeks above floodwaters in Pender County on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

RALEIGH  – Hurricane Florence was the nation’s second rainiest storm in 70 years, a top rainfall meteorologist at NOAA and N.C. State calculated. According to Ken Kunkel, only last year’s Hurricane Harvey rained more over a 14,000 square mile area during four-days. Preliminary analysis found more than 17.5 inches fell in the 14,000 square miles of the eastern Carolinas stretching from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Florence, South Carolina. The amount is second to Harvey’s 25.6 inches.