Live updates: Tornado warnings expire in Triangle, storms still in overnight forecast
This story was last updated at 8:30 p.m. on March 18, 2021.
Severe weather rolled into the Triangle on Thursday evening. Isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and hail up to the size of golf balls were possible.
Tornado warnings issued for Wake, Durham and Orange counties have expired, and the risk for widespread severe weather had “diminished,” the National Weather Service said at 8:40 p.m. on Twitter.
“The threat for widespread severe weather is winding down as the atmosphere stabilizes. However, there could be scattered showers and storms tonight, with brief heavy downpours and lightning,” the service said.
All of central North Carolina faced the possibility of severe weather Thursday evening as a storm system moved in from the west, according to the National Weather Service.
Here are the latest updates:
Storm damage in Orange County
Strong winds in Cedar Grove in Orange County damaged homes in the Pentecost Road area, according to reporting from WRAL.
At least three homes were damaged with one sustaining roof damage, forcing the family to evacuate, WRAL reported.
No injuries have been reported.
Cedar Grove is about 8 miles northwest of Hillsborough in the northern part of the county.
Tornado watches and warnings
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of central and eastern North Carolina, including Raleigh, until 9 p.m. Thursday.
Tornado warnings issued previously have now ended.
Northern Franklin County and east Warren County were under a tornado warning until 8:30 p.m.
A tornado warning issued earlier for parts of Durham and Orange counties expired around 7:15 p.m.
A tornado warning for Granville County ended at 7:45 p.m. Warnings in Vance and Halifax counties ended at 8:15 p.m.
NWS advises those in the path of a tornado to take cover immediately. Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Thunderstorms will move across the rest of central North Carolina through 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, with the risk for damaging wind gusts and large hail. With these storms, an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out, says NWS.
NC Governor issues state of emergency
Gov. Roy Cooper issued a state of emergency shortly before 5 p.m.
“This state of emergency will allow movement of trucks and equipment to respond to emergencies, rapidly restore power outages and clear debris after the storm passes,” he said in a statement.
Storm forecast for Wake, Durham, Orange counties
Forecasters said the timing of possible storms was pushed back after fog and cool air hit the region on Thursday morning.
“That’s just putting a delay, if you will,” National Weather Service Nick Petro said in a forecast video. “We’re not out of the woods. The severe risk is still there.”
The Raleigh and Durham areas have been downgraded from a Level 4 to a Level 3 “enhanced risk” for severe storms, but the threat of dangerous conditions remains.
“It still means there is a pretty good chance of seeing severe weather really throughout the region today ... just know that the risk for damaging winds really hasn’t decreased that much,” said Don Schwenneker, meteorologist for ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.
In addition to strong winds, the Triangle could see flash flooding, lightning, large hail and “strong to violent” tornadoes, according to forecasters. Storms also could cause power outages and damaged trees.
In Raleigh, a quarter-inch of rainfall is expected during the day Thursday, with more possible at night and during storms, the weather service said.
The potential for powerful storms forced Durham, Wake and Johnston school districts to cancel in-person instruction on Thursday. To the southeast, UNC Wilmington said it planned to halt afternoon classes.
The risk of severe weather is part of a strong front that unleashed tornadoes across the Deep South on Wednesday.
This story was originally published March 18, 2021 at 7:11 AM.
