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Cooler temperatures coming after remnants of Laura bring severe weather to NC
North Carolina will see some rain and severe weather this weekend not directly from Hurricane Laura but from a cold front that the storm’s remnants will strengthen.
The center of the storm’s remnants are expected to pass just north of our state, but the southern section, which will cross over parts of NC on Saturday, is expected to have the greatest potential for severe storms.
Thursday night, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. advisory that Laura was a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds at 35 mph.
By Saturday afternoon, impacted sections of NC could expect 30-40 mph wind gusts, heavy rain and isolated tornadoes. Most of western and central North Carolina will be under a Level 2 risk for severe weather.
What’s left of Laura will be closest to North Carolina on Saturday, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, and that’s when a cold front will strengthen and bring possible severe weather to our region midday Saturday through Saturday evening.
Gardner said the heaviest rain may be closer to the Virginia line.
After the cold front passes, the Triangle will experience much milder temperatures, with temperatures in the mid 80s starting Sunday and for the new work week.
Before the cold front passes, it will be hot, with triple digit heat indexes in some places. Friday will be sticky and hot in Raleigh, with a high of 94 degrees, and Saturday will feature a high in the upper 80s.
