Fay May Not Deliver Needed Rains To North Carolina

RALEIGH -- Tropical Storm Fay may not provide immediate drought relief for western North Carolina, but forecasters predict rain could still fall in the region.

National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Outlaw said Tuesday the weather watchers need to be patient.

Outlaw said one forecast track shows the storm moving over Memphis, Tenn., in a week. Another forecast shows it over central South Carolina and moving northeast.

Hopes were high that Fay would bring relief for drought-ravaged sections of North Carolina and South Carolina.

But a high pressure weather system is blocking Fay's movement and is expected to hold it over Florida and Georgia this week.

Outlaw said there is such a wide range of possibilities that, "we're just going to have to wait."

North Carolina farmers said they need a soaking rain to boost tobacco and soybean crops.

Forsyth County farm agent Tim Hamrick told WSJS that some farmers are still trying to recover from last year's poor yields.