(Published September 28‚ 2004)

Flooding and even tornadoes are possible this morning as Tropical Depression Jeanne slowly moves through the Upstate.

Three to 6 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible for York County, meaning a flood watch and wind advisory are in effect through this afternoon. The potential for flooding is heaviest in the western part of the county, where the center of the storm is forecast to rumble straight through at about 8 a.m.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Tomko said "all of the I-77 corridor really needs to be watching the weather with this storm. We have a real risk of tornadoes." Lancaster County was under a tornado watch Monday night.

Thunderstorms and gaps in the storm bands that allow heat buildup make tornadoes possible, Tomko said. Rain bands will extend from Cherokee County to Lancaster County.

Lake Wylie was four feet below full Monday and should be able to handle the rain after dams have been opened for weeks, said Duke Power spokesman Tom Williams. Anyone living close to the lake or its tributaries needs to stay vigilant for rising waters.

Potential flood areas are construction and development sites near the lake and lake-feeding creeks, said Eric Greenway, York County planning director.

The College Downs area in southwest Rock Hill is flood prone, as are some portions of Cherry Road, said Cotton Howell, York County emergency management director.

Members of the S.C. Army National Guard area armories in York, Chester and Lancaster counties are not expected to be activated for flood response, said guard spokesman Lt. Col. Pete Brooks. "Unless a massive tornado or something on that scale happens, local authorities usually handle it," Brooks said.

Truckers stopping at Grand Central convenience store and truckstop in Great Falls in southern Chester County said Georgia and western South Carolina rain was brutal, said clerk Johnnie Knight late Monday.

"One lady came through from Anderson and said it was just terrible," Knight said.

Rock Hill police were poised to close roads or assist stranded residents or drivers if necessary, Chief John Gregory said, but he cautioned residents not to be lulled into a false sense of safety by previous forecasts of torrential rains that didn't pan out.

"We've been through the drill so many times in the past few weeks," Gregory said. "But I can't stress enough for people not to try and drive through standing water. Some might think an SUV is a tank, but it's not."

Charlotte-based Duke Power, which manages 11 lakes along the Catawba River, urged residents who live along the river basin to be prepared for possible flooding.

"It's such a large storm coming up that it could impact our entire service area," spokesman Tom Williams said. "People need to be prepared for potential flooding."

The weather is expected to clear this afternoon, Tomko said.

Andrew Dys •329-4065

adys@heraldonline.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.