Raleigh North Carolina News

By FELICIA FONSECA, Associated Press FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Fire managers across the Southwest are reckoning with strong winds that forecasters say could lead to explosive growth in wildfires this week. Hundreds of people were evacuated in numerous blazes that have scorched structures and signaled an early start to the fire season. A wildfire on the outskirts of Flagstaff continued its run Wednesday though dry grass and scattered Ponderosa pines around homes into volcanic cinder fields,…

By Kat Campbell, WRAL meteorologist Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina State University researchers are forecasting a busy Atlantic hurricane season that starts next month. In research published on Wednesday, NC State researchers are forecasting an above-normal season with the possibility of 17 to 21 named storms, 7 to 9 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes. Dr. Xie was one of my professors when I studied meteorology at NC State. He evaluates sea-surface temperatures, hurricane…

By The Associated Press EUTAW, Ala. — Only 7,600 or so people live in impoverished Greene County, and hundreds of them are clustered in a public housing community called Branch Heights. Officials are now trying to find housing for more than 100 residents who were displaced when a tornado hit the neighborhood late Wednesday. The hunt is complicated by the fact that the rural area, located about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Birmingham, doesn’t…

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press With towering pine trees and cool mountain breezes, a pocket of southern New Mexico draws thousands of tourists and horse racing fans every summer. It’s also a community that knows how devastating wildfire can be. It was a decade ago that fire ripped through part of the village of Ruidoso, putting the vacation spot on the map with the most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history when more…

By Keenan Willard WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter The latest report on this year’s hurricane season predicts another above-average number of storms will form in the Atlantic Ocean. Experts in North Carolina say the report comes as climate change is creating more powerful hurricanes, and making their behavior more dangerous as well. One of the first reports on the 2022 hurricane season has been released by Colorado State University. Researchers expect 19 named storms and…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — It will be another warm day in central North Carolina with temperatures reaching the low to mid 80s on Wednesday. After a mostly cloudy day on Wednesday, storms are possible on Thursday with parts of central North Carolina under a Level 1 risk for severe weather. The storms are coming from a system that will likely produce rounds of severe storms across Texas, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas…

Hundreds of millions of dollars in Hurricane Florence relief funds were distributed in North Carolina without the intended oversight in place, according to a report from N.C. Office of the State Auditor. The report said the state Department of Public Safety distributed more than $500 million from that fund with limited monitoring procedures. Another $783 million was distributed without making sure recipients could measure the results. The report said DPS required recovery fund recipients to submit monthly…

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer Climate change made the record-smashing deadly 2020 Atlantic hurricane season noticeably wetter, a new study says. And it will likely make this season rainier, too, scientists said. Human-caused climate change made the entire season — 30 named storms — drop 5% more rain. During the 14 storms that reached hurricane status the rainfall was 8% heavier, according to the study in Tuesday’s Nature Communications. “It doesn’t sound like a…

By The Associated Press EDISON, Neb. — A wildfire in southern Nebraska fueled by dry conditions and strong winds forced the evacuation of the small village of Edison, destroyed several homes and factored into the death of a rural fire chief who was killed in a crash while responding to the blaze. The Nebraska State Patrol called for a mandatory evacuation Thursday night of the Furnas County community of about 130 people about 187 miles…

Expect an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach said Thursday. Klotzbach and the university released their annual outlook, which is calling for 19 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. The reasons for the above-average forecast include the lack of El Nino and warmer than normal subtropical Atlantic temperatures. El Nino, Klotzbach explained in a tweet, generally increases vertical wind shear in the Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes. One…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — The threat of severe weather has passed in North Carolina Thursday evening. After several watches and warnings Thursday in the afternoon and early evening, all alerts have expired into the evening. A lightning strike in Johnston County caused a house fire Thursday evening. While authorities say the family was home when the strike happened, no one was injured in the fire. Hail was reported in Rocky Mount…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Level 1 and Level 2 risks for severe weather are in place across North Carolina for Thursday afternoon and evening. A Tornado Warning initially in effect for Wayne County was canceled shortly after. The Tornado Watch in central North Carolina was canceled earlier Monday evening. Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties are still currently under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Level 1 and Level 2 risks for severe weather are in place across North Carolina for Thursday afternoon and evening. A Tornado Warning has gone into effect for Wayne County until 7 p.m. Thursday. The Tornado Watch in central North Carolina was canceled earlier Monday evening. Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties are still currently under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Level 1 and Level 2 risks for severe weather are in place across North Carolina for Thursday afternoon and evening. A Tornado Watch has been issued until 9 PM. Storms were firing up on the DualDoppler5000 Thursday afternoon radar. Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Johnston and Wake counties are among the over 30 counties currently under the watch. The watch which contains parts central North Carolina and all the…

By Zach Maloch, WRAL meteorologist June 1, the start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is 55 days away and we are already getting the first extended range forecast for the season to come. Colorado State University releases one such forecast that helps breakdown what to expect. After seeing six straight hurricane seasons with above-normal activity (2016 – 2021) you would think we’d get a break, but that does not look to be the case….