Central NC remains under Level 1 & Level 2 severe weather threat, strong winds and hail possible

By WRAL Severe Weather Center

Raleigh, N.C. — Storms could move in as early as 4 p.m. Friday and may be accompanied by strong winds and small hail.

According to WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell, the entire viewing area is under a Level 1 risk for severe weather, and areas from the Triangle northward, including Durham and Roxboro, are under a stronger Level 2 risk.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for some counties northeast of the Triangle, including Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Nash, Person, Vance, and Warren, through midnight.

According to meteorologist Mike Maze, strong winds and hail will be possible, and there is a small chance for isolated tornadoes. The thunderstorms should move in sometime after 4 p.m. and will continue into the evening.

“The main threats are damaging wind gusts, large hail and perhaps an isolated tornado,” Maze said. “Even though Raleigh is not in the watch and neither are our southern counties, we still have the threat for severe weather for the entire viewing area roughly through midnight. After midnight, there will be showers that will gradually die down.”

Before the severe weather, much of Friday was sunny and quiet. Depending on where you are, storms could be more isolated, and not everyone will see storms.

Reports of hail are coming into the WRAL newsroom from many areas around central North Carolina.

WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said not a lot of rain is expected Friday evening, but you’ll want to have your umbrella handy for the commute home. There is a 30% chance for rain starting at 3 p.m., and the chance increases to 40% later in the evening before storms and rain taper off around 9 p.m.

Saturday we have another threat for severe weather, according to Maze.

“Right now it’s a Level 1 threat but may be upgraded to Level 2 at some point,” he said. “The threats are the same and the main focus of storms may be more in the evening and overnight.”

There is a Level 1 risk in place Sunday along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor, but that could change throughout the weekend.

“Sunday, if there is a severe threat it would be focused in the eastern counties and it should remain a Level 1 threat,” Maze said.

“No day is going to be a washout this weekend and not everybody is going to see rain,” Campbell added. “These are more along the lines for hit-or-miss summer-time thunderstorms.”

Gardner said only one-quarter inch of rain is expected in total, so pollen counts will likely remain high throughout the weekend.

Looking ahead to next week, it will be hot and mostly dry, although there will be a chance for a shower on Wednesday.

According to Campbell, although pollen counts typically peak for about three weeks, this week was probably the worst of it.

Campbell said that pine pollen is the yellow pollen that gets all over everything, but it may not be what’s making your eyes water.

“Some of the pollens that cause the biggest issues are the ones that you really can’t see,” Campbell said.