Tropical Storm Michael moves through North Carolina, Virginia

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Michael brought life-threatening flash flooding and powerful winds as it crossed through North Carolina and Virginia Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The eye of the storm was 20 miles north-northwest of Raleigh, N.C., as of the NHC's 5 p.m. EDT update. The storm was moving northeast at 24 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

When it made landfall Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle, Michael was packing 155 mph winds, 2 mph shy of a Category 5 storm.

A storm surge watch was in effect for Ocracoke Inlet, N.C. to Duck, N.C., Thursday, the NHC said.

A tropical storm warning was in place for South Santee River, S.C. to Duck N.C. and Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

On the forecast track, the center of Michael will move across eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia this evening, and move into the western Atlantic Ocean Thursday night.

Heavy rainfall was projected for areas in the storm's path. The NHC forecasts up to 7 inches for north-central North Carolina, into south-central to southeast Virginia. Isolated areas could get 9 inches and life-threatening flash floods.

Isolated tornadoes are possible Thursday in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Tropical-storm force winds extend outward 230 miles from the eye of the storm.