2 missing after canoeing on lake as Tropical Storm Chantal struck North Carolina

Two North Carolinians are missing after they paddled a canoe onto a lake as Tropical Storm Chantal lashed the southern states over the weekend.

The two men were seen launching their canoe from a boat ramp on Jordan Lake around 5 p.m. Sunday as the storm was dumping upward of 10 inches of rain in parts of the Tar Heel State, causing severe flooding across nearby Chapel Hill, Durham and Chatham County.

The two have not yet been identified, but earlier reports indicated they may be brothers.

Chantal was south of Lake Jordan as the boaters took to the water, but headed straight toward them — and soon passed directly overhead.

Their canoe was found that evening, prompting the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office to launch a search-and-rescue operation, but no other sign of them has turned up since, WRAL reported.

“We are doing everything we can to bring these individuals home,” said Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson in a statement.

“Our hearts are with their loved ones during this difficult time, and we are grateful for the assistance from our neighboring agencies,” he added, with officials also cautioning that Jordan Lake can quickly become dangerous.

“You can get white caps on Jordan Lake. That water can get very choppy. It looks calm now, but it’s treacherous,” said CCSO Chief Deputy Steve Maynor. “There’s debris in this water. Can’t see it until you hit it. It knocks your boat over, or kayak. Can damage a motorboat. We ask that you stay out of it.”

The search for the missing canoers resumed Monday morning, with boats being dispatched to scan the lake for any signs of the brothers.

Tropical Storm Chantal made landfall in South Carolina as a tropical depression around 4 a.m. Sunday, and spent the day barreling up the heart of the Carolinas.

About two months’ worth of rain was dumped in a matter of hours in some places, according to the Washington Post, leaving swaths of the unsuspecting countryside in chaos as rivers overflowed and tornadoes tore up trees and buildings.

Only one death has been reported so far after 83-year-old Sandra Portnoy Hirschman was found dead in her car in Chatham County. She apparently drove into floodwaters and was swept away, with her vehicle coming to a rest about 100 feet from the road, according to WTVD.

About 80 people had to be rescued from their homes by boat in Durham County when the Eno River overflowed, while dozens of evacuations were ordered throughout the region.

Orange County, where Chapel Hill is located, remains in a state of emergency as roads lay ruined and rivers and creeks continue to course dangerously as the floodwaters recede.

More than 100 roads have been flooded throughout the region, with many torn apart by the running waters and others covered in downed trees.

Chapel Hill saw severe flooding, with storefronts, homes and cars swamped in water.

Chantal began moving north through Virginia on Monday toward Washington, DC, Maryland and Delaware, and officials have cautioned that more flooding could be a danger across parts of its path.

New Jersey is also expected to see rainfall and winds from the storm beginning Monday, with up to 5 inches possible around Trenton and Princeton, NorthJersey.com reported.

Chantal is forecast to head out to sea over Delaware and southern New Jersey, but Long Island and Massachusetts’ coast could still be struck by 40 mph winds.

The storm’s damage comes less than a year after Hurricane Helene caused devastating flooding and more than 100 deaths across North Carolina and Appalachia.

Last week’s torrential rains and flooding have left at least 95 people dead so far, officials said Monday.

With Post wires