NC Weather: Tornado warning issued for Durham, Orange, Person counties

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Parts of the ABC11 viewing area are under a Category 3 “enhanced” risk for severe weather Thursday.
Current Warnings and Watches:

Tornado warning: Parts of Durham, Orange and Person counties until 1:15 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Durham, Wake, Orange, Person, and Granville counties until 1:45 p.m.

Tornado watch: Entire Central North Carolina until 7 p.m.

Watch the video player above for live updates about these active warnings.

Weather Forecast

What’s the difference between a watch and a warning

Some schools even dismissed early as severe weather moved in to the area.

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SEVERE WEATHER TIMELINE

Light and moderate rain moved into central North Carolina in the early morning hours. These showers will remain in the area until about noon.

Expect a second (and stronger) round of weather to move into the area in the afternoon.

The afternoon storms could bring heavy rain, damaging wind and isolated tornadoes.

It will be moving west to east, and the highest risk for severe weather is between 3 and 8 p.m.

Areas west of Interstate 95 are under a Flood Watch through late Thursday night.

The storms will last through the afternoon and evening. They will move out of central North Carolina overnight.

After the storms, temperatures will briefly cool down — with a chance for below-freezing temperatures overnight Friday into Saturday morning. We will warm up by Monday and another chance of showers arrives Tuesday.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Alamance-Burlington Schools — Dismissing early
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools — Dismissing 2 hours early
Cumberland County Schools — Dismissing 1 hour early
Durham Public Schools – Dismissing 2 hours early

Franklin County Schools — Dismissing 2 hours early
Granville County Public Schools – Dismissing 2 hours early
Harnett County Schools – Dismissing 2 hours early
Hoke County Schools — All after-school activities cancelled
Johnston County Public Schools — All after-school activities cancelled
Moore County Schools — Dismissing 90 minutes early
Person County Schools — Dismissing 2 hours early
Roxboro Community School — Closing at 12:50 p.m.
Sampson County Schools — All after-school activities cancelled
Wake County Public School System — Dismissing 2 hours early