Raleigh North Carolina News

ABC11 Chief Meteorologist Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker sat down with North Carolina Emergency Management Director William Ray to talk about severe weather. The pair talked about what it takes to keep North Carolinians safe, how state officials stay prepared, what families can do before storms strike and much more. You can watch their conversation in the above video player or read some of Ray’s comments below: “I think a lot of people, I think, have…

Friday, April 7, 2023 8:58PM WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — The weather was wet and dangerous in central North Carolina on Friday. From lightning to foods, below are some of problems the weather caused in the ABC11 viewing area. Lightning sparks fire A lightning strike caused a home to catch fire in Wake County, according to the Garner Fire Chief. The homeowner said he was sleeping Friday morning when lightning struck the heating unit in…

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — The Durham Rescue Mission has added a Saturday event following decreased turnout Friday at their annual Easter Community Dinner and Basket Giveaway due to severe weather. Saturday’s drive thru event will feature Easter basket giveaways from 10 a.m. to noon. Friday, organizers and volunteers hurriedly carried in tables and chairs as strong rain and winds hit the Triangle. “The weather’s putting a lot of twists and turns in what we’re doing…

By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer Raleigh, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes single-game playoff tickets are on sale. The Canes are due to make their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. The playoffs start on April 17. While the Canes’ time, date and first-round opponent aren’t yet known, fans can buy tickets to their first and second playoff games at PNC Arena. Fans can also buy tickets to the third and fourth games in Raleigh if those…

Thursday, April 6, 2023 11:07AM RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The warm temperatures will subside later this afternoon and bring with it a severe weather risk. There is a level 1 of 5 severe risk of isolated severe storms mainly along and north of U.S. 1. This includes the Triangle and Rocky Mount areas. Damaging winds and hail are possible from 4 p.m. Thursday to around 2 a.m. Friday. ABC11 special report ‘First Alert to Severe…

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 10:05PM CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — Severe weather can strike even in the most inopportune times. What happens if you’re at an outdoor venue taking in a show when a severe thunderstorm or tornado moves toward you’re location? The way you and the venue prepare and respond could be the difference between safety, injury or even death. The managers at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre understand that their response and training are vitally…

GLEN ALLEN, Mo. — A large tornado tore through southeastern Missouri before dawn on Wednesday, killing at least five people and causing widespread destruction as a broad swath of the Midwest and South kept a wary eye out for further storms that could spawn additional twisters and hail. Wednesday’s severe weather was the third in a series of massive storms over the last two weeks that have spawned dozens of tornadoes, mainly in the South…

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 4:30PM The ABC11 First Alert Weather Team has important information to share about staying safe during turbulent weather. Spring and summer in North Carolina can be great times to get outside and enjoy nature, but nature is not always receptive. Dangerous severe storms can pop up and create life-threatening situations. That’s where your First Alert Weather Team comes in. Chief Meteorologist Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker, Kweilyn Murphy, Steve Stewart and Robert…

Saturday, April 1, 2023 2:00PM RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The Dreamville Festival announced it will open gates to concertgoers two hours later than originally planned due to a severe weather risk. Gates will now open at 2 p.m. instead of 12 p.m. There is a level 1 of 5 risk of isolated severe storms for most of central NC Saturday, including Raleigh. The best potential will be from late morning into early afternoon. Damaging winds…

Hundreds of people were inside the theater for a sold-out metal concert featuring Morbid Angel, Skeletal Remains, Revocation ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team Saturday, April 1, 2023 3:54AM BELVIDERE, Ill. — At least one person has died and 28 others are injured after the roof collapsed during a sold-out concert at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois, as severe storms raced through the area Friday evening. The Boone County sheriff’s office confirmed multiple ambulances were called…

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A tornado plowed through Little Rock and surrounding areas on Friday afternoon, reducing rooftops to splinters, toppling vehicles and tossing debris on roadways as people raced for shelter. More than 350,000 people were at risk as what the National Weather Service called a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” tore through business districts and neighborhoods in Little Rock and North Little Rock. Passengers and airport employees at…

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado emergency for Little Rock and surrounding areas, warning that 350,000 are in danger from a “confirmed large and destructive tornado.” Forecasters say the tornado was seen Friday afternoon in Little Rock and North Little Rock. There were no immediate reports of injuries. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Massive storms brewing over at least 15 states in the…

Friday, March 31, 2023 11:02AM RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Only one more day until Dreamville Festival begins and preparations are wrapping up, but tomorrow’s threat for rain may deter people away despite this being a rain or shine event. Chopper 11 flew over Dorothea Dix Park and it appears everything is in place for the 50-thousand fans expected to show up each day. Dix Park will be closed to the public today. Organizers have released…

The names Fiona and Ian will no longer appear on the annual lists of names available for tropical systems. The World Meteorological Organization retired those names, citing the damage they did during the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.  Each year, the WMO outlines a list of 21 names in alphabetical order (there are no Q, U, X, Y or Z names) to be used as storms form in the Atlantic. Those lists rotate every six years. When a…

By Brian Murphy, WRAL sports investigative reporter The home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State’s men’s basketball team will remain PNC Arena after the hockey team and the bank agreed to an extension of their naming-rights agreement. WRAL reported in September that the sides were negotiating an extension. PNC has been the name of the Raleigh arena since 2012 after PNC Financial Services acquired assets of RBC Bank. The arena was called the RBC…