Heavy rain, damaging winds and lightning possible Wednesday

By WRAL Severe Weather Center

Raleigh, N.C. — Wednesday will be partly cloudy and hot before a chance for thunderstorms moves into central North Carolina.

An approaching cold front could bring rain and possible storms to the area, especially from the Triangle northward. The best chance for storms will be from 7 to 10 p.m. in the northern part of the viewing area.

Almost everyone will stay dry until dusk on Wednesday, although there could be some showers closer to the Virginia line. Skies will be partly cloudy, but rain shouldn’t impact the Triangle until after the evening commute.

The storms will mainly be contained from the Triangle to the north and east, where a Level 1 risk for severe weather is in place.

WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the biggest risks include heavy rain, lightning and damaging wind gusts. Small hail is possible.

Gardner said everyone will still be dry at 5 p.m., with showers more likely in Durham and Roxboro by 8 p.m. then passing through the Triangle even later. According to Gardner, the threat for storms should be over by midnight, but some showers could linger into Thursday morning.

Before the storms, highs will be in the low 80s Wednesday. Due to the approaching cold front, Thursday will be much milder, with highs in the upper 60s.

Some pollen will continue to build this week, though it won’t be as thick as last week, according to Gardner. Cool lows in the 40s that move in Thursday through the weekend will help to decrease the pollen count.

Even though low temperatures could fall into the mid 40s overnight, the average last frost of the season is over and it’s okay to plant your summer garden, Gardner said.