Heavy rain across Raleigh and surrounding areas leads to flooding, headaches for drivers, businesses

A stretch of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh was submerged by flash flooding. And in Zebulon, a road nearly washed away.

A stretch of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh was submerged by flash flooding. And in Zebulon, a road nearly washed away.

A stretch of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh was submerged by flash flooding. And in Zebulon, a road nearly washed away.

A stretch of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh was submerged by flash flooding. And in Zebulon, a road nearly washed away.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The heavy rain that moved through the area Monday night led to dangerous flash flooding from Durham to Raleigh to points further east.

A stretch of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh was submerged by flash flooding. That turned the evening commute into a big mess for many drivers across the Triangle, while some businesses in low-lying areas had to spring into action with the rising water.

“When you saw that your business stuff is getting damaged and you can, it’s nothing in your control that you can stop,” said Anna Asif, owner of Crown Royal Drive, a car dealership.

The heavy rain may be out of the Triangle for now, but for business owners like Asif, the hard work is just getting started.

“There was water all over, so we all came here to rescue the cars as much as we can, but it was all flooded on the lane over there, most of the cars are all damaged right now,” Asif said.

Anna Asif shared this image of her dealership’s cars inundated by floodwater on Monday. Courtesy of Anna Asif

ABC11 was there during the worst of that flash flooding, where cars at Asif’s business became submerged in the rising water. Along Capital Boulevard, where the automotive business is located, cars struggled to pass through the dangerous conditions.

“And within a few minutes, it was all flooded over,” Asif said. “The cars, you see the cars over there, they were all covered. It was in the building inside. Like two, three steps were covered.”

Asif said they have insurance, but they’re still hoping to salvage what they can.

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“But we all rushed. Thanks to our coworkers as well, they all came, and we are trying to see how much we can save,” Asif said. “And of course, the damage is there, and we can’t do much about it.”

Asif added that the business has only been in its location on Capital Boulevard near the food bank for about six months, but they have never seen flooding close to what happened Monday night.

The heavy rain created headaches across the Triangle. In downtown Raleigh, near Smoky Hollow, ponding along Harrington Street and Peace Street held up traffic.

Part of Clyde Pearce Road was shut down in Zebulon.

In Zebulon, part of Clyde Pearce Road was shut down after the roadway was badly damaged and nearly washed away in the flooding.

In Durham, flood-prone areas swelled with water early Monday evening as heavy rain crossed the Bull City.

Four people in inflatable tubes overshot the take-out and called once their location was lost.

And in Harnett County late Monday night, a rescue effort on the Cape Fear River was underway after four people in inflatable tubes overshot the take-out and called once their location was lost.

The four people were on land, and not in immediate danger, an official told ABC11, but rescue crews were working at the scene to bring them to safety.