Raw video of Grier Heights flooding

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Record rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay flooded areas across the Piedmont on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of many homes and apartments. A flood watch is in effect through Wednesday evening for much of the viewing area as more rain is on the way.

In Charlotte, firefighters had to rescue residents from flooded homes and apartments in several east Charlotte neighborhoods, including Grier Heights and Briar Creek. Heavy flooding was also reported at homes along Museum Drive near the Mint Museum of Art.

As of 2:30 p.m., the Charlotte Fire Department had responded to 69 flood-related calls, and 35 of those were for rescues or evacuations, according to Deputy Chief Rob Kinninburgh.

Firefighters used boats and rafts to help evacuate those flooded homes.

Raw video of Dunlavin Way rescues

"I got up at 5:15 this morning and heard waves hitting the side of the house," said Dunlavin Way resident Shelby Whitlow, who left her flooded home early Wednesday. "I woke my roommate up and said, 'It's bad.'"

Widespread flooding and evacuations were also reported in Cabarrus County, where more than 11 inches of rain fell in some parts of the county since Monday. Cabarrus County schools were closed Wednesday due to floodwaters, and Kannapolis City Schools were opening late.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and other systems in the viewing area are open.

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Areas around town underwater

Since the first bands of Fay began hitting the Carolinas on Monday, the town of Burnsville in Cabarrus County got 11.18 inches of rain. Harrisburg and Concord both got more than 10 inches, and Charlotte got 8.23 inches.

A flash flood watch is in effect through this evening for much of the viewing area, as another wave of rain is heading this way. The affected counties include Mecklenburg, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan and Union counties in North Carolina. South Carolina counties included in the watch are Chester and York.

The National Weather Service warns that water levels could continue to rise as more rain falls and the rain that fell north of the Charlotte area continue to move downstream. Click here for real-time creek and stream water levels near you.

Evacuations because of flooding started around 4 a.m., when Charlotte firefighters helped residents of the Doral Cavalier Apartments off Monroe Road to evacuate as waters rose in the low-lying complex. About 30 homes on Dolphin Lane in east Charlotte between The Plaza and Eastway were flooded, and firefighters were helping with voluntary evacuations there.

In Kannapolis, the Kannapolis Village Retirement Home on Pine Street was evacuated around 6:30 a.m. Residents were taken to Fred L. Wilson Elementary School, also on Pine Street.

Flooding blocked or closed several major thoroughfares, including Albemarle, East Independence and Monroe roads. Drivers were urged to use extreme caution on the roads.

"This is a dangerous situation for motorists in the morning commute," Charlotte fire Capt. Mark Basnight told reporters this morning. "If possible, stay home until the main part of the storm has passed."

The record-breaking rainfall of the past two days has almost completely erased our rainfall deficit for 2008. Tuesday was the wettest August day in history and the wettest single day since spring 2004.

The rain will continue Wednesday but will be much more scattered and not nearly as heavy. But any heavier downpours, especially in the mountains, could cause mare flash flooding and mudslides.

The remnants of Fay will move north into the Ohio Valley and west of the mountains, and this will slowly bring the moisture flow to an end. It will be slow, so scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue until late Wednesday night.

Clouds and showers will keep temperatures in the mid-70s. Things really start to dry out Thursday and Friday with just afternoon scattered storms and some sunshine.

(The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.)