Fast-moving thunderstorms bring wind, hail; more severe weather likely Thursday

Central North Carolina and parts of Eastern North Carolina were hit pretty hard with thunderstorms which rolled through Wednesday night.

More is expected to come Thursday, WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.

The first blast began Wednesday around 6 p.m. over Person County, where lightning, hail and winds of up to 60 mph were recorded. From Oxford and Timberlake to Wake Forest and Rocky Mount, hail as large as quarters fell.

Morning storm chance followed by cooler temperatures, blustery winds

The second round comes as Thursday dawns and the cold front arrives over the Triangle.

“Our cold front arrives in the morning and, ahead of that front, there should be some spotty showers and storms, and some of these could have strong, gusty winds,” Maze said.

Between 7 and 9 a.m., central North Carolina is under a Level 1 threat with the greatest danger coming from damaging wind gusts. It’ll

“I actually think that the wind is going to be the bigger issue” on Thursday, Campbell said.

Boone could see winds of up to 55 mph and Raleigh could get gusts of up to 40 mph through midday.

Thursday afternoon is expected to be nice with highs in the lower to mid 80s. Winds will pick up with some gusts possible as high as 35-40 mph.

Behind the front, temperatures cool significantly, from highs in the 80s on Wednesday to the mid-60s on Friday and for the weekend.

The chance for rain showers returns Sunday and builds to about 50% coverage by late afternoon.