Isolated tornado, heavy rain possible as remnants of Ida move toward the Triangle
Tropical Depression Ida could batter the Triangle with strong winds as it rolls into the region on Wednesday.
Heavy rain, flooding and an isolated tornado are also possible for much of central North Carolina as remnants of the storm make their way from the Gulf Coast, according to the National Weather Service.
Wake, Durham, Orange and nearby counties are at a “slight risk” for severe weather, meaning there’s the potential for isolated or scattered thunderstorms in those areas, forecasters said.
Ida could bring strong storms to the region between noon and 8 p.m. Wednesday, with damaging winds posing the biggest threat.
“An isolated tornado is also possible,” the weather service said. “Additionally, locally heavy rain will result in a risk of minor flooding, mainly in poor drainage or urban areas.”
In Raleigh, wet weather is possible throughout the day, when up to a half inch of rain could fall. There’s a potential for more rain overnight, and skies are expected to clear by daytime Thursday, forecasters said.
“In the wake of Wednesday’s storms, the weather takes a drastic turn,” reports ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.
After days of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees, “humidity will fall and high temperatures will only reach into the low to mid-80s,” the TV station reported.
Ida was a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall Sunday in Louisiana. The storm, which caused flooding and damage along the Gulf Coast, continued its path northeast and started bringing rain to Western North Carolina late Tuesday, forecasters said.
Ida also was expected to bring storm conditions to the mountains and the Charlotte area, McClatchy News reported.
This story was originally published August 31, 2021 at 10:20 AM.
