Author: WeatherPreppers

By Peta Sheerwood, WRAL meteorologist Heavier showers and the possibility of thunderstorms return on Tuesday, when, for a second straight day, temperatures won’t get out of the 60s. Track rain with the DualDoppler5000. Conditions will also be breezy Tuesday, with winds from the northeast up to 30 mph. A chance of rain is in the forecast each day through Sunday, and temperatures will be well below normal until the weekend. According to WRAL meteorologist Peta…

Rain is in the forecast each day this week, and temperatures will be well below-normal for mid-June. “We’re going to feel like we’re in Seattle the next several days,” WRAL meteorologist Peta Sheerwood said. “We’ll have to wait for the weekend before we see dry conditions.” Track rain with the DualDoppler5000. Monday will be one of the coolest and rainiest days of the week, with a high in the mid 60s in Raleigh. Rain will…

BEIJING — Rainstorms have killed five more people in a southern Chinese region already reeling from heavy flooding over the past week. The government of Zunyi city, south of the metropolis of Chongqing, said Saturday that five people had died and eight others were missing after storms that began late Thursday night. A statement on the government’s website said at least 13,000 people had been evacuated, more than 2,000 homes damaged and multiple sections of…

Hundreds of Arizona residents under an evacuation notice were allowed to return home Friday but were told to remain ready to leave at a moment’s notice as a wildfire burns … Click to Continue »

Solicitor Ed Clements is seeking the death penalty against Frederick Hopkins Jr., the man accused of killing two Florence police officers and shooting five others. At a Thursday hearing, Clements, … Click to Continue »

Central North Carolina and the Triangle viewing area were hit hard in some locations by strong storms, wind and lightning Thursday evening. The end result was flooding in some low-lying areas, trees down and power outages. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Orange, Durham, Chatham and Wake counties that ran from around 7 p.m. until after 8:30 p.m. The line of storms extended as far west as Albemarle in Stanly County up through Asheboro,…

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Less than two weeks into the hurricane season, North Carolina is launching a new initiative to make sure you and your family are prepared for a severe storm amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Know Your Zone is the name of the campaign led by the NC Dept. of Public Safety and NC Emergency Management. RELATED: Storm Ready 2020: Preparing in a Pandemic The agencies are partnering with 20 coastal counties to encourage everyone…

By Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL meteorologist Central North Carolina is under a level 1 risk for severe weather Thursday, with showers and storms increasing in intensity through the evening. Up to 3 inches of rain could fall through midnight, with the greatest impact coming along and east of Interstate 95. The National Weather Service has posted a flash flood watch for a stretch of North and South Carolina that includes Raleigh, Fayetteville and Columbia, S.C. Track…

It’s usually a good sign when the room is empty, but today it’s just a mirage. The dozens of unoccupied stations inside the Situation Room at North Carolina’s Emergency Operations instead reflect the new reality of remote management: public safety, transportation, health officials and National Guard officers coordinating the state’s response to global pandemic that’s killed more than 110,000 Americans. Now, a new front is opening against a familiar opponent, but fighting severe weather this…

North Carolina has been hit by hurricanes for two years in a row and we’ve already had a tropical storm, Arthur, brush our coast this year. But what’s in store for the rest of the season? There’s no way to know if North Carolina will be struck again, but the forecast is for another active season in the Atlantic Basin. The National Hurricane centers is forecasting a total of 13-19 named storms-that’s tropical storm strength…

By Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL meteorologist Central North Carolina is under a level 1 risk for severe weather Thursday, with showers and storms increasing in intensity through the afternoon and early evening. Up to 3 inches of rain could fall through midnight, with the greatest impact coming along and east of Interstate 95. Track the rain with the DualDoppler5000 Storms popped up before noon in the Sandhills, where thunder and lightning were reported near Dunn. “As…

COVID-19 has been impacting all areas of life, and hurricane season is here amid a pandemic. This hurricane season is expected to be above average so it could get busy at the national hurricane center in Miami. But with so many places working on limited crews because of social distancing, some wonder if this will impact the number of forecasters eyeing the tropics. Ken Graham — director of the national hurricane center — says they…

Since we are still dealing with COVID-19 during hurricane season your hurricane kit might look a little different this year. Some of the items you will need to stay safe and healthy are still in high demand –like hand sanitizer, soap and toilet paper. Since some of those items are hard to find, start making your kit now. It’s never too early to be prepared. The other addition you will need this year is a…

Storms could bring strong winds and heavy rain to central North Carolina on Thursday, along with a risk of flooding, forecasters say. A flash flood watch starts at noon Thursday … Click to Continue »

A flash flood watch starts Thursday afternoon for Durham, Orange and Wake counties in central North Carolina. Storms could bring heavy rain and strong wind gusts, the National Weather Service says. … Click to Continue »

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — When a storm moves in, you have police and fire getting ready, and you have Emergency Medical Services. They are the folks who head out when someone needs medical help. And this whole COVID-19 situation is changing how they are training. “We are not getting into a classroom and compacted into a small area. That’s the smart and right thing to do right now,” said Jeffrey Hammerstein, the assistant chief…

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — The sound of rain is soothing enough to put the busiest minds to rest but, thanks to Hurricane Florence, the pitter-patter sounds now keep Beverly Dawson awake at night. “All the time. And I worry about two things. I worry about the fact there’s a good possibility that we could lose this house eventually because the river is so close,” Beverly Dawson explained. During Florence, the Lumber River nearly swallowed…

OCRACOKE, N.C. (WTVD) — We traveled to Ocracoke. It was ground zero when Hurricane Dorian hit in September. And for those who rode out the storm on the island, it was pretty scary. “One minute we felt dry and thought, ‘oh, we are going to maybe skate by on this one.’ Then, within minutes, we had a surge of water,” said Ann Warner, the owner of the well-known restaurant, Howard’s Pub. She says when the…

Hurricanes bring lashing winds and pounding rain. The combined cocktail can cripple communities. Roads are washed out and neighborhoods swallowed. It takes millions of dollars to fix Mother Nature’s destruction and the NCDOT is going into this hurricane season underwater itself, facing deep financial problems. “We have a lot of concern on that,” said NCDOT Chief Engineer Tim Little. The agency is facing a long list of financial problems. The coronavirus crisis is crushing the…

PENDER COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — Hurricane Florence might have been two years ago but the drawn out recovery process for some makes it feel like the storm was just yesterday. ABC11 visited Pender County where 70 percent of the county was under water and nearly 200 people are still not back in their homes. Ronald Darden was prepared to rebuild on his own. “Long slow process of doing it myself,” Darden sighed. He’s done farming…

We know the coronavirus crisis has dealt a devastating blow to small businesses here in the Triangle, but it really added salt to the wound for so many restaurants and resorts in our favorite coastal communities as many of them still trying to get back on track after two major hurricanes in two years. The doors are back open here for businesses along the North Carolina coast, but it’s far from business as usual. Jeff…

It is rather hard to believe we are only 10 days in and have already seen our third named storm – Cristobal.

As of Monday, the NHL was allowing teams to hold small, voluntary group workouts as the second phase of its return-to-play format officially began. While several teams planned to reopen … Click to Continue »

One person died, another is missing and dozens were rescued amid flash flooding in the northeastern Czech Republic, rescuers said Monday.

Tropical Storm Cristobal continued to weaken early Monday, after the lopsided storm crashed ashore in Louisiana and ginned up dangerous weather farther east, sending waves crashing over Mississippi beaches, swamping … Click to Continue »

A lopsided Tropical Storm Cristobal came ashore Sunday in Louisiana and ginned up dangerous weather much farther east, sending waves crashing over Mississippi beaches, swamping parts of an Alabama island … Click to Continue »

An evacuation order was lifted Sunday after firefighters gained the upper hand on a wildfire that destroyed three structures and threatened another 100 in a rural community in Northern California. … Click to Continue »

By GERALD HERBERT and KEVIN McGILL, Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Cristobal made landfall Sunday on the Louisiana coast, packing 50 mph winds and spinning dangerous weather as far east as northern Florida, where it spawned a tornado that uprooted trees and downed power lines. The lopsided storm moved ashore between the mouth of the Mississippi River and the barrier island resort community of Grand Isle, which had been evacuated a day earlier….

HOUSTON, Texas — Cristobal officially made landfall today in Southeast Louisiana just after 5:00pm central. Some of the greatest impacts from the storm have actually been felt in Florida, as the large but asymmetric storm has had the worst of it’s storms well east of the center of circulation. The impact in Texas will remain minimal, with the primary change being a westerly wind-shift that will lead to a 100 degree or greater Heat Index…