Tornado Watch issued for most of central NC until 9 p.m.

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By WRAL Severe Weather Center

A Tornado Watch has been issued for most of the WRAL viewing area until 9 p.m.

“This includes all of the Triangle, Fayetteville, the Sandhills, Johnston County, Nash County and Halifax County,” said WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado. A Tornado Warning means severe weather is imminent or occurring.

“You should be reviewing your safety plan and if a warning is issued, that is when you should be implementing your safety plan,” advised Campbell. “We do not have any Tornado Warnings in effect [in the WRAL viewing area] but there are two tornado warnings in effect in the state.”

Tornadoes, damaging winds and hail are all possible in central North Carolina, including the Triangle, on Thursday. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (NWS SPC) has most of the WRAL viewing area under a Level 3 risk for severe weather.

A Severe Thunderstrom Warning has also been issued for Halifax County until 5:30 p.m.

Thursday afternoon, the NWS SPC removed the southeast corridor of the state from a Level 4 risk. That’s a significant change from Wednesday, when all of central and eastern North Carolina was placed under a Level 4 risk.

Damaging wind gusts 75 mph or greater, downed trees and isolated power outages are all possible. Tornadoes are more likely to occur in our southern and eastern counties.

“We’re still under a Level 3 risk, which is serious,” WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. “Our risk for tornadoes is a little bit lower.”

“This is the line [of storms] that we are going to be watching that we’re going to be watching for the next several hours moving from west to east,” said WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze.

The key in what we will see depends on the placement of the emerging warm front.

Campbell said the warm-front has pushed through, bringing temperatures in Raleigh to 70 degrees.

“These warmer temperatures ahead of the line of storms will only help to energize our atmosphere,” said Campbell.

Campbell said in addition to the warming temperatures, there has also been sunshine popping up in counties south of Raleigh.

“Any sunshine or warmer temperatures will add fuel ahead of these storms,” she said.

A line of showers and a few storms will move through our western counties between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. That line should depart our eastern counties by 8 p.m.

Futurecast shows the timeframe for the strongest storms has shifted back a bit, and now appear as if they won’t move into our area until around 6 p.m. Storm cells will generally move northeast, impacting the I-95 corridor through about 11 p.m. This line carries the largest chance for damage.

Storm warnings are possible over Durham and Southern Pines between 3 and 4 p.m. Wake County and Fayetteville will be in play through the normal time of the evening commute – through about 9 p.m.

Damaging winds pose the biggest threat.

“We’ve backed off to a medium risk for tornadoes today,” Gardner said. “Hail is possible, but flooding with this system is unlikely.”

The Storm Prediction Center is warning about the chance for egg-sized hail at least 2 inches in diameter, locally damaging winds up to 75 mph and several strong tornadoes, which could blow at more than 100 mph on Thursday.

Travel and outdoor activity during those hours could be dangerous. With the forecast in mind, Durham Public Schools announced that all students would learn remotely, so they can be at home during the hours of greatest risk.

Most of the Triad and points west in North Carolina are under a Level 2 risk.

Other schools followed with plans for remote learning or early dismissal on Thursday.

Wake County officials canceled all first- and second-dose coronavirus vaccinations scheduled for Thursday. The appointments have been rescheduled for Friday at the same times and locations. All scheduled Friday appointments also will be held.

The county also suspended free public testing on Thursday. Tests will resume on Friday. City crews in Raleigh were clearing blockages of inlets, grates and culverts to remove debris.

It will be especially important to keep devices charged beforehand, have an emergency plan in place for your household and download the WRAL Weather app to receive severe weather alerts.

If there is a tornado warning in the viewing area, WRAL meteorologists will be tracking the storm on air. You can watch on TV or right in the app. There were 23 tornado reports and 43 reports of hail in the southeast on Wednesday.

Thursday’s high will be warm, in the mid 70s. The day will begin with cloudy skies, a light breeze and a small chance for showers, then showers and storms will become more likely later in the afternoon and into the evening.

There is a 30 percent chance for rain on Friday, and highs will stay around 60 degrees.

“We will have a cold rain tomorrow, and one of the models suggests some wet snowflakes mixed in across our northern counties tomorrow morning,” said Maze.

The weekend looks mostly sunny and dry but colder, with highs in the mid to upper 50s for both Saturday and Sunday.