A weakening tropical storm system is moving across the northeastern United States Friday, after drenching much of the east coast and contributing to five deaths in North Carolina.
Forecasters say the system is producing heavy rains and high winds. Flash flood warnings are in effect in the northeastern states of Connecticut and Massachusetts Friday.
State police in the southeastern state of North Carolina say the rain caused a sports utility vehicle to skid off the road killing four people Thursday. Police say a fifth person died in a separate accident after his truck plunged into a rain-swollen river.
Wilmington, North Carolina, reported more than 57 centimeters of rain in the past week.
The storm sparked flooding, prompted tornado warnings and caused traffic accidents as it moved through the Washington area early Thursday, dumping nearly 12 centimeters of rain.
The system includes remnants of what had been Tropical Storm Nicole.
Before being downgraded, Nicole pounded parts of the Caribbean with torrential rains, killing eight people in Jamaica.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
