Residents in the Carolinas continued to wait as Tropical Storm Jeanne made a slow trek across Florida on Sunday.

S.C. emergency officials said there was little else to do but wait.

"It doesn't merit much more than watching right now," said John Legare, spokesman for the state Emergency Management Division.

Some of the storm's outer bands were over the South Carolina Lowcountry Sunday afternoon, bringing rain to already saturated ground. River flooding was reported on the Santee near Jamestown and was expected to continue through midweek as Jeanne was forecast to turn north and track across Georgia then the Carolinas.

All but eight counties in the northeast corner of the state were under a flood watch through Monday.

The 400-mile wide Jeanne hit Florida on Sunday as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved over land.

Forecasters and emergency officials asked residents to continue monitoring the storm because changes in the track and strength could bring a variety of severe weather to the state. Whenever tropical systems come into the state on the inland side, there is a chance of tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding, Legare said.

"We're looking for a really bad day Monday," said Rich Thacker, senior forecaster with the National Weather Service in Charleston.

The Beaufort County School District said Sunday that all its schools would be closed Monday in anticipation of heavy rains and winds and the potential of tornadoes.

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center showed Jeanne's center crossing South Carolina along Interstate 85 in the Upstate.

Rain tied to Jeanne could reach North Carolina on Monday, with the worst of it falling in eastern North Carolina, said forecaster Bob Ussery of the National Weather Service office in Raleigh.

"The worst time should be Monday night," Ussery said. "This one is rolling up the coast and could move out fast," he said.

The weather service warns that 3 to 6 inches of rain is possible in eastern North Carolina, while a half-inch to an inch could fall in already drenched parts of western North Carolina beginning Monday afternoon. The remnants of two hurricanes have come through the area since Sept. 8, causing flooding and mudslides. The latest storm resulted in at least 10 deaths.

Jeanne will also bring strong winds and the possibility of tornadoes in eastern North Carolina, Ussery said.

On Sunday, Gov. Mike Easley activated 240 North Carolina National Guard personnel for duty, effective Monday morning. In addition, state emergency officials have been in contact with local officials for preparations throughout the weekend, according to a news release.

Ten generator teams will be staged in Stanly County, and emergency officials will shift resources as the storm's track becomes more certain, according to the news release.

"I know that we are all storm weary, but we must pay as close attention to Jeanne as we have to the past six storms," Easley said, telling residents to watch weather reports and follow advice of local emergency officials.