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.

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.

Tropical Storm Chantal has formed off the southeastern U.S. coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says tropical storm warnings have been issued for portions of the Carolinas.