Severe weather threat over for tonight, but widespread rain likely tomorrow

By WRAL Severe Weather Center

Raleigh, N.C. — The severe threat for central North Carolina has been dropped as air continues to stabilize but widespread showers are likely to fill back in on Thursday morning.

WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said the severe weather threat materialized close to the North Carolina mountains on Thursday night with three tornado warnings within an hour. A tornado watch was also issued for the Foothills on Wednesday night.

A cold front sitting over central N.C. on Thursday morning will be the focus for additional moisture and will lift to create another band of showers and isolated storms, Campbell said.

“The morning commute looks messy,” said Campbell.

Showers will continue to push east through midday on Thursday with a period of drier weather in the afternoon or evening. Between 1-2″ of rain will be possible between today and Thursday at noon.

Campbell said the eastern part of the WRAL viewing area could see additional showers on Thursday night as the cold front continues to slowly push east.

Eastern N.C. is under a Level 1 threat for severe weather on Thursday with the main concern being damaging wind gusts and some heavy rain. Locally, Campbell said the main concern for Thursday is localized flooding.

Friday through Sunday will be cooler and windy behind the cold front. Another cold front will pass through late Saturday and will really cool down central N.C. Sunday’s highs may only reach the 50s, Campbell said, with lows nearing freezing by Monday morning.

Saturday’s cold front will be moisture-starved so we only have a 20 percent of rain for now with more clouds.

Eager to get the garden going?

Wondering if it’s okay to start planting? Temperatures will stay spring-like for a while, but cooler temperatures are ahead. We’re expecting cooler than average temperatures next week, according to meteorologists.

Our average last freeze comes in mid-April.