Level 2 risk lowered, but hail, flooding continue throughout central NC

By WRAL Severe Weather Center

Raleigh, N.C. — Severe weather continues to pepper central North Carolina, with reports of hail and strong winds pouring in from throughout the area.

A storm with hail up to the size of a half dollar was located near Milton and Turbeville, moving southeast at 30 mph.

According to WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell, the entire viewing area is under a Level 1 risk for severe weather, however, areas from the Triangle northward, including Durham and Roxboro, which were under a stronger Level 2 risk earlier Friday, have been lowered back down to a Level 1 risk as of 9:30 p.m.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect north of the Triangle until midnight.

Strong hail was was visible for a long stretch Friday afternoon in Angier and across Harnett County.

Almost 400 strikes of lightning were recorded within 15 minutes, according to Campbell.

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 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.”

Flooding reports began rolling into WRAL Friday evening in many different locations, including Johnston County, where an entire road was blocked off by water.

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.”

“Tomorrow will be similar in some ways,” Campbell said, describing Saturday’s outlook. “Most of the viewing area is under a Level 1 risk for storms with strong winds, hail, and a small chance of a tornado.”

Campbell says the storms are more than likely going to develop later in the day.

“The first half of the day will only have a small chance for rain so try to get in your outdoor time early. Scattered thunderstorms will develop on an isolated basis early tomorrow afternoon and become more scattered by the evening and night. Similar to today these will be hit or miss and not everyone will see severe storms,” she said.

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.”

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.