Heavy rain, thunderstorms and isolated flooding for the rest of the day, level 1 risk continues

Most of central North Carolina, including the Triangle, is under a level 1 risk for severe weather all day Friday.

Heavy rain was falling in Raleigh at 4 a.m. and is expected to increase in coverage and intensify by midday. Downpours will be heavy at times, but they should be scattered and move through quickly.

The most rain is in the counties in the south of the viewing area. A pocket of heavy rain and lighting is headed toward Bailey and Nash county this afternoon.

WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the heaviest rain will come after lunchtime, when a second round of storms move through.

“We already have seen so much rainfall,” Gardner said. “And we’re looking at in the next 24 hours easily another half inch or inch in some parts of the viewing area.”

None of the storms this afternoon are going to bring us tornados or reach severe thunderstorm criteria, Gardner said, which is 58mph winds. 

Lightning and thunder are likely, but heavy rain, isolated flooding and winds up to 40 mph are the biggest threats from the storms. Anyone could see a storm at anytime.

“Regardless of which counties are included, we cannot rule out the chance of a severe thunderstorm anywhere in the area all day,” said WRAL meteorologist Zach Maloch.

Friday will be a hot and humid afternoon, with a high in the low 80s.

Saturday will also be under a level 1 risk, with severe more likely in the afternoon and evening. The day, however, won’t be a washout. It will be another hot day in the 80s.

Sunday will be cooler and drier after a cold front passes, leaving highs in the mid to upper 70s, and the new work week will start unusually mild as well.

We have yet to see a 90 degree day this year, which is rare for late May and early June, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

Tropics update

The National Hurricane Center is watching an area in the central Atlantic that has a low chance of organizing over the next 2-5 days.