Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are hitting portions of the Carolinas Monday morning as a system that could become Tropical Storm Helene draws closer.

The rain from the system had moved into southeast Virginia on Tuesday. Along North Carolina's Outer Banks, the storm closed vulnerable coastal highway North Carolina 12 on Ocracoke Island and threatened several homes in Rodanthe, where erosion and rising sea levels have destroyed more than a half-dozen beachfront homes this decade.

Some parts of southeastern North Carolina received around 23 inches of rain as schools and public offices stayed closed on Tuesday.