The storm flooded roads, downed trees and stranded residents across the central part of the state. It is headed northeast toward Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

Chantal brought heavy, flooding rain and dangerous beach conditions to the Carolinas over the weekend, setting off life-threatening flash flooding Sunday in central parts of North Carolina that killed at least one person and prompted dozens of rescues.

Tropical Storm Chantal might have had the perfect recipe for catching people unawares: It formed rapidly (only reaching tropical storm status on Saturday) over a holiday weekend and moved slowly while dropping torrential rain.