Coastal storm causing no major problems

A strong coastal storm approaching North Carolina is causing few major problems in the area, officials said.

Craven County emergency management reports no major flooding and has received no reports of problems in the Adams Creek area along the Neuse River.

A tree came down and blocked a lane on Belltown Road in Havelock today, but no damage or flooding has been reported in the city.

Winds have peaked at 41 mph at Cherry Point and Beaufort and 45 mph at Cedar Island. As bands continue to circulate on shore around the area of low pressure, the potential exists for gusts up to 50 mph in the area, according to the National Weather Service in Newport. The worst of the weather is expected this morning, according to the weather service.

Wind and flooding advisories for the area have been extended until 8 p.m. today. The winds and water levels should begin decreasing by later today, according to the weather service. However, the rain chances will remain with possible thunderstorms this afternoon as the system approaches the coast.

About two inches of rain could fall on the area, with possible higher amounts in some spots from thunderstorms.

A chance of rain continues through Friday, but winds will be decreasing, and Saturday's forecast calls for light winds and only a slight chance of rain with high temperatures in the lower 80s.

Craven and Carteret county schools opened two hours late today. Officials worried that high water on roads could impact bus routes, but just a few roads in the county have water, and all roads in Havelock are clear.

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor the storm. An advisory from the center earlier today indicated that the storm could become tropical before it moves on shore near Wilmington later today. Either way, the effects of the storm on the area will be about the same, according to the hurricane center.

At noon, radar images showed a clear center of circulation to the storm, but it lacked the intense thunderstorms around the center that often indicate a tropical system.