A flood watch was in effect July 7 for several states, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "Storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 6 inches, is expected," the Weather Prediction Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update. "An elevated risk for flash flooding will continue."

On the heels of Tropical Depression Chantal, climatologists are warning that storms like it could become more common.

Dozens of residents needed to be rescued from rising water, and hundreds of roads were closed as the storm moved over the central part of North Carolina.