Strong storms moved through our area on Monday, which was a WRAL Weather Alert Day.Â
Tornado safety | Live updates from WRAL meteorologists, including during tornado warnings, on WRAL News+ | Download the WRAL weather app and keep notifications on | Track storms with the DualDoppler5000 | ReportIt: Send us weather pics | Triangle webcams: See conditions near you
The latest:
10:30 p.m. There were downed powerlines in Raleigh at Vardaman Street near Upchurch Street.
9:40 p.m.: The severe weather threat passed central North Carolina, ending the WRAL Weather Alert Day.
9:30 p.m.:Â Â ReadyNC reported 34,618 power outages.
It includes the following outages:
- Guilford: 9,244
- Mecklenburg: 4,222
- Wake, 2,695
- McDowell: 1,512
- Richmond: 1,159
8 p.m.: ReadyNC reported 44,835 power outages.
It includes the following outages:
- Guilford: 9,4982
- Mecklenburg: 6,189
- Wake: 4,255
- Davidson: 1,704
- Orange: 1,554
7:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Edgecombe, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties until 8:45 p.m. Monday.
7:30 p.m.:Â Durham County Emergency Service Director Mark Lockhart said another tree fell on a house on Monday along Milton Road near Summerfield Drive in Durham. Lockhart said no injuries were reported.
7:15 p.m.: Several counties are reporting downed trees, including Durham, Orange and Wake counties.
6:40 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is now out for most of the viewing area until 7:45 p.m.
6:30 p.m.: Durham County Emergency Management has responded to a fallen tree on a house on Red Oak Avenue on Monday evening. One person was taken to the hospital.
6:10 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is out for Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties, among others, until 6:45 p.m.
5:30 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is underway for Lee, Moore and Hoke counties until 6:15 p.m.
5 p.m.: The tornado watch has been dropped for all counties in our area except for Northampton County. The watch lasts until 7 p.m. for all our coastal counties.
4:50 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Moore County until 5:30 p.m.
3:55 p.m.: WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said the tornado threat is shifting east, as evidenced by the tornado watch footprint shrinking. The damaging wind threat is not over and could last until the front passes around 9 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: Several counties were dropped from the tornado watch, which is now confined to eastern North Carolina.
1:30 p.m.: A new tornado watch has been issued for Wake County and everywhere in eastern North Carolina. This watch extends through 8 p.m.
12:25:Â WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth says storms are just crossing into western Wake County. These storm bands have winds of 50 mph.
12 p.m.: No warnings in effect, but that could change as the cells gain strength. It may make for tough driving conditions this afternoon.
“What’s likely to happen this afternoon is we’ll get a flow of moisture coming in,” WRALÂ meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. “We need moisture and lift in the atmosphere to create these storms and it looks like we’re going to get a reinforcing shot of that moisture as we get into the afternoon.”
11:30 a.m.: Parts of our areas are seeing heavy downpours and storms with lightning. The biggest threat from this storm remains damaging winds.
“If you hear thunder you need to be inside,” said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth.
11 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Chatham, Lee, Moore and Orange counties until 11:30 a.m. The tornado warning in Moore County has expired.
10:40 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for northern Moore County until 11 a.m., including the Robbins area. Watch WRAL News+  as meteorologists track the storm. Learn how to stay safe in a tornado warning and download the WRAL weather app to get notifications.
10 a.m.: We already know that most schools in our area are closed today, but some towns and cities are also making changes. Orange and Moore counties are closing government offices at 12 p.m. along with the city of Fayetteville. The town of Angier issued a state of emergency due to threats of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential power outages.
Timing Monday’s storms
The strongest storms will come Monday afternoon, moving into central North Carolina around lunchtime, and this is the “main event,” according to WRAL meteorologists.
“Once we get closer to lunchtime, that’s when we see the beginning of our severe threat, which will last for much of the afternoon,” Gardner said. “It’s the straight-line winds that will be the biggest issue today.”
Strong storms from the west will slide into our area throughout the afternoon. There could be tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings, damaging winds, thunder, lightning and heavy downpours, especially from noon until 3 or 4 p.m.Â
“As we go beyond noon, you see a messy situation on radar unfolding, and that’s something that’ll be with us until at least 4 or 5 p.m. in the afternoon,” Gardner said.
After dinnertime, we’ll still have some scattered showers, but we’ll be cooling off, and the severe weather threat will come to an end.
Severe weather should no longer be a concern after 5 or 6 p.m. Monday. Still, some gusty and cooler rain showers will be around until about 8 or 9 p.m.
Wind damage, tornadoes possible
Wind damage is our largest threat today. Download the WRAL weather app to have a way to get alerts.
The storms could bring damaging wind gusts up to 55-75 mph. Tornadoes are a real possibility as well. If there is a tornado warning, move to a basement or the lowest level of your home, away from windows.Â
In the event of a tornado warning, WRAL meteorologists will track the storm. If it’s in your area, you can watch on WRAL News or from a device using WRAL News+ once you’re in a safe location.
While hail is possible with Monday’s storms, this would be more likely with discrete supercells and not necessarily the main line of storms.
Spokesperson Jeff Brooks said Duke Energy is ready for the severe weather.
“We have thousands of line and tree workers located across the state, and all of those will be in play tomorrow should we need them,” Brooks said.
Rare Level 4 risk for severe weather
A rare Level 4 risk out of 5 has been issued for our area by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. This is reserved for when widespread severe thunderstorms are expected.
The last time our area was in a Level 4 risk was in March of 2021.
“For the first time in five years, our area is under a Level 4 risk out of 5,” WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. “This indicates that severe storms could be widespread, including damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.”
Several school districts, including the Wake County Public School System, Orange County Schools, Durham Public Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, are closed on Monday due to the storm threats. All closings. Â
Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings throughout the day Monday.Â
About the Author
