Raleigh North Carolina News

The Raleigh City Council will consider Tuesday approval for the rezoning of 80 acres around Lenovo Center, which would clear the way for the Carolina Hurricanes to begin a $1-billion redevelopment that proponents say could transform that part of the city. The project is to be split into four phases over the next 20 years, provided the assessed value of the improvements exceed $200 million in each phase.  Plans for the first phase include two…

By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer Carolina Hurricanes fans have unique traditions, including the post-win “Storm Surge” celebration and the embrace of the “bunch of jerks” label after a hockey broadcaster’s criticism. These customs, along with pregame tailgating, contribute to the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the Hurricanes as they prepare for their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. Here’s a look at their traditions: ‘Storm surge’ celebration after a win The Carolina Hurricanes’ “Storm Surge” is a…

By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer Carolina Hurricanes fans have unique traditions, including the post-win “Storm Surge” celebration and the embrace of the “bunch of jerks” label after a hockey broadcaster’s criticism. These customs, along with pregame tailgating, contribute to the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the Hurricanes as they prepare for their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. Here’s a look at their traditions: ‘Storm surge’ celebration after a win The Carolina Hurricanes’ “Storm Surge” is a…

The National Weather Service offices in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Paducah, Kentucky, concluded that a tornado in mid-March traveled nearly 118 miles. March 14 tornado in Arkansas and Missouri In Missouri alone, this outbreak caused more than a dozen tornadoes. In Arkansas, it produced 15 tornadoes. This tornado’s path was extremely long, but the record for longest tornado in Arkansas was back in 2008. It traveled almost 122 miles. That’s according to the Midwestern Regional…

By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes announced single-game playoff tickets will go on sale this week. Tickets for the general public go on sale at noon ET Thursday, April 10. Season-ticket holders will have the opportunity to buy playoff tickets first on Wednesday, April 9. People can get text updates about playoff tickets by texting “PLAYOFFS25” to 919-705-0896. It’s unclear which team the Canes will match up against…

Less than 10 days into April, the United States has seen more than 100 reported tornadoes. Since I started this job in 2014, I’ve oftentimes visited schools, rotary clubs, assisted living centers, etc. One of the questions I get most often is either a) “how do tornadoes form?” or b) “why do tornadoes target certain parts of the country?” Tornadoes in NC vs. other states As many of you know, we’re not immune to tornadoes….

Non-profit Valley Strong Disaster Relief (VSDR) is shifting its focus toward clean up and repair in western North Carolina after closing their supply distribution site in March. Silverados, a dive bar and former music venue based in Black Mountain, provided aid to local communities for over five months following the effects of Hurricane Helene Co-founder of VSDR Ian Monley was initially out of town at an antique festival when Helene reached the area. “At first,…

By 2050, more than 2.5 million Americans could be living in areas at risk of a severe coastal flood, including tens of thousands along North Carolina’s coastline, according to a new analysis released Wednesday by Climate Central. The nonprofit climate research group used federal elevation and population data to map the land, homes and people that could be within reach of a 100-year coastal flood event, defined as a flood with a 1% chance of…

By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes announced single-game playoff tickets will go on sale next week. Tickets for the general public go on sale at noon ET Thursday, April 10. Season-ticket holders will have the opportunity to buy playoff tickets first on Wednesday, April 9. People can get text updates about playoff tickets by texting “PLAYOFFS25” to 919-705-0896. It’s unclear which team the Canes will match up against…

Colorado State University (CSU) is calling for an above-normal level of activity for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast is based on warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Atlantic and other ocean conditions. 2025 hurricane season forecast (Colorado State University) Forecast parameters Forecast for 2025 Average for 1991-2020 Named storms 17 14.4 Named storm days 85 69.4 Hurricanes 9 7.2 Hurricane days 35 27 Major hurricanes 4 3.2 Major hurricane days 9…

By Scott Mason, WRAL reporter From sharpening skates and fixing steel to painting the goaltenders’ facemasks, 46-year-old Jorge Alves is with the Carolina Hurricanes to ensure they get what they need on a typical day at Lenovo Center. “The air-brushing is actually the easiest part,” Alves said. Alves, the son of Portuguese immigrants, grew up playing hockey in Massachusetts. However, a higher calling brought him to North Carolina, where he served in the Marine Corps…

The North Carolina Forest Service on Wednesday lifted a burn ban for all counties as wildfire conditions improve in the western portion of the state. The ban was lifted on all open burning effective 8 a.m. on April 2. The ban went into effect on March 21. Steve Troxler, the state’s agriculture commissioner, credits the recent rain for improving conditions. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, WCNC Charlotte reports the Black Cove Complex fire in Polk County was 97%…

The risks from continued wildfires that have already burned thousands of acres in western North Carolina, forcing mandatory evacuations in some counties, are “expected to get worse, not better” as the year goes on, a top state official said Tuesday. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler oversees the state’s forestry service that’s coordinating the wildfire response. He said Hurricane Helene is to blame for the worse-than-normal fires in the western part of the state, since there are…

Months ago, a washed-out bridge damaged during Hurricane Helene’s flooding temporarily blocked Matthew Rogers from returning to his beloved North Carolina cabin. The lakeside property in Flat Rock that has been in his family for around 40 years – and has come to represent healing and hope, Rogers says – became a casualty of the recent wildfires in the state. After seeing the home he affectionately named the Cabin of Hope now smoldered to the…

Hendersonville, North Carolina (CNN) — Months ago, a washed-out bridge damaged during Hurricane Helene’s flooding temporarily blocked Matthew Rogers from returning to his beloved North Carolina cabin. The lakeside property in Flat Rock that has been in his family for around 40 years – and has come to represent healing and hope, Rogers says – became a casualty of the recent wildfires in the state. After seeing the home he affectionately named the Cabin of…