A 24-hour system moving through eastern North Carolina, on top of two weeks of continual rain, has flooded many roads across the county. The water may continue to rise, according to officials.

“This is absolutely the most water we’ve seen outside of a hurricane,” said Woody Jarvis, Belhaven’s town manager.

Monday, a northeasterly wind was pushing more water into the town, flooding main roads into and out of Belhaven and causing continued hardship for town residents and business owners, Jarvis said.

“We have more water than we were thinking we’d get. It’s in several of the businesses. I haven’t had any confirmed reports of it being in houses, but I’m sure it is,” Jarvis said. “This is going on two weeks that several of the businesses have not been able to open. It’s really, really hard on some of our businesses.”

Beaufort County Emergency Management Director John Pack updated county commissioners at their regular meeting Monday night. Pack said he’d checked the flood gauge at the U.S. Highway 17 bypass bridge on his way to the meeting, and it read above flood stage.

“Water’s going to stay high,” Pack said.

Pack said the National Weather Systems had revised its estimates as to when Beaufort County would see receding water and sunshine. While the rain will let up, northeasterly winds will continue to push water up the Pamlico and Pungo rivers until Thursday, he said.

Pack thanked fire chiefs throughout the county and others who have orchestrated welfare checks for shut-ins, as well as performing eight animal rescues. He said several of those included moving chained dogs in chest-deep water and two horses that were standing in water.

Throughout the county, low-lying areas are being undated with the continued rain and rising creeks and rivers. According to Beaufort County Fire Marshal Curtis Avery, Aurora (around Hickory Point), areas around Blounts Creek, Whichards Beach Road, many of the roads feeding into the end of River Road outside of Washington, with McCotters Marina Road under four feet of water, as well as East Main Street surrounding Jack’s Creek bridge.

County officials said the highest water, however, is in Pamlico Beach, an area that was hit hard during Hurricane Irene in 2011.

In Washington, continual pumping of Jack’s Creek has prevented flooding in the neighborhoods north of the East Third Street/Park Drive pumping station, though the area surrounding Inner Banks Outfitters and Backwater Jack’s restaurant can be compared to past hurricane levels, according to Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford.

Farther east, widespread flooding of local roads has led to the National Guard and a swift-water rescue team being called into Swan Quarter and shelter opened on Main Street, according to an advisory from Sarah Johnson, county public information officer.

“While N.C. Highway 264 is clear, many local roads are flooded with deep water,” the advisory reads.

All ferry routes to Ocracoke Island and visitor access is still prohibited as Ocracoke Village has standing water on many streets and several areas along N.C. Highway 12 have suffered dune breaches, resulting in overwash from high seas.

A National Weather Service coastal flood warning for areas adjacent to the Pamlico Sound and the Neuse, Pamlico and Pungo rivers remains in effect until 8 p.m. Monday.

County officials warn residents to stay off the roads if possible, but those who must drive should drive slowly through standing water — wakes from vehicles cause unnecessary property damage to those homes and businesses in flooded areas.