Tornado Warning issued for Lee, Moore counties as severe storms move across central NC

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— Get prepared for a stormy weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for Lee and Moore counties until 5 p.m.

The Triangle and surrounding counties are under a Severe Weather Watch until 8 p.m. on Saturday, and the severe weather risk has been raised to Level 2.

Storms are currently in our western counties, and the line is moving east at 40-45 mph. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Alamance and Orange counties until 4 p.m. The National Weather Service reported the system was producing hail.

Storms are currently projected to begin in the Triangle around 6 or 7 p.m.

The main threat is damaging wind gusts. However, the storms aren’t likely to produce tornadoes.

Track rain with the DualDoppler5000.

“We have storm energy in place,” WRAL Meteorologist Peta Sheerwood said. “Once we head into the afternoon, that’s when we could begin to see some of these isolated showers roll through and some could be strong to severe.”

Other than the severe weather threat and rainy forecast, Saturday will be warm and overcast with a high in the 70s.

Showers, storms possible in central North Carolina on Saturday

The weather shouldn’t be anything like what Alabama and Georgia witnessed Thursday, when a series of tornadoes killed at least five people.

Sunday outlook

Severe weather risk for Sunday, March 28

There is another high chance for rain on Sunday and a Level 2 risk for severe weather in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will be in the 70s, but the humidity won’t be as high.

“It’s going to be windy at times,” Sheerwood said. “A few showers will be possible in the morning on Sunday, but we’re really watching the cold front off to the west for the afternoon.”

Sherwood says you need to be inside by the afternoon on Sunday as showers and storms develop. Damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and small hail will be possible. However, we won’t see much directional shear, which should keep the tornado risk low.

Futurecast shows powerful line of storms coming to central NC Sunday afternoon

By Monday, temperatures will be slightly cooler, in the mid 60s.

The warmth over the next four days will be comparable to normal temperatures in the region for the end of May.

It may appear that springtime warmth is here to stay, but WRAL meteorologists recommend waiting to plant delicate flowers and other seasonal additions to gardens. The average final spring freeze usually occurs between April 1 and April 10 in the Triangle. The average date of the last hard freeze is anywhere from March 21 to March 31.

With springtime comes an increase in pollen and allergies, and the chances of feeling that impact across the region will increase as the week goes on.