Raleigh North Carolina News

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Strong, rotating winds triggered a tornado warning for much of central North Carolina on Thursday, including Wake County. The storm hit areas close to the RDU International Airport and then headed northeast. “We want you to get inside, in the most interior room possible,” said WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell. The tornado warning was canceled for Durham and Wake counties at 4:20 p.m. Franklin and Granville counties were…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Strong, rotating winds triggered a tornado warning for parts of Granville county, northwestern Wake County, southeastern Durham County and Franklin County on Thursday afternoon until 4:30 p.m. The storm is likely to hit areas close to the RDU International Airport. “We want you to get inside, in the most interior room possible,” said WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell. If a tornado warning is issued in your area, here…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Strong, rotating winds triggered a tornado warning for parts of Granville county, northwestern Wake County and southeastern Durham County on Thursday afternoon until 4:15 p.m. The storm is likely to hit areas close to the RDU International Airport. “We want you to get inside, in the most interior room possible,” said WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell. If a tornado warning is issued in your area, here is advice…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — A tornado watch has been issued for most of central North Carolina including Wake, Durham and Johnston counties. The watch is in effect until 8 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Areas in central and western North Carolina are under Level 2 risk for severe storms for Thursday, with damaging winds being the biggest threat. Winds could gust up to 60 mph across central…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — A tornado watch has been issued for most of central North Carolina including Wake, Durham and Johnston counties. The watch is in effect until 8 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Areas in central and western North Carolina are under Level 2 risk for severe storms for Thursday, with damaging winds being the biggest threat. Winds could gust up to 60 mph across central…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — Three tornado warnings went into effect on Thursday afternoon across central North Carolina. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 12 miles southeast of Fayetteville, moving northeast at 70 mph at around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Officials warned that residents in the areas of Sampson County, eastern Cumberland County, Moore County and central Johnston County should take cover until 1:45 p.m. “It’s a very…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 12 miles southeast of Fayetteville, moving northeast at 70 mph at around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Officials warn residents in the areas of Sampson County, eastern Cumberland County, Moore County and central Johnston County to take cover. The tornado warning expires for those four counties at 1:45 p.m. The rotating thunderstorm will remain over rural areas of…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — A front moving in from the east will bring strong to severe storms into North Carolina on Thursday afternoon. Areas in central and western North Carolina are a Level 2 risk for severe storms, with damaging winds being the biggest threat. A tornado watch has been issued for communities south of Wake County including Sanford, Fayetteville and Lumberton. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Cumberland,…

A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle, toppling trees and power lines and leaving homes and businesses damaged as the vast weather front raced across several states. In Florida, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday morning that two were killed and two injured when a tornado touched down in the western Florida Panhandle. The sheriff’s office…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — After some cooler days, spring warmth returns Wednesday, but severe weather is possible by Thursday afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 60s on Wednesday. The day will be cloudy but mostly dry, with just a small chance for rain. Thursday will be warmer, with a high in the low 70s. Storms will be possible Thursday afternoon and evening, and some could become strong to severe. There…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — After a chilly start on Tuesday, temperatures will swing upwards for the week — ushering in the threat for severe weather on Thursday. Highs will be in the mid to upper 70s for Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday will be a mostly dry day, but storms will be possible Thursday afternoon and evening, and some could become strong to severe in the early evening hours. The air will…

By Kat Campbell, WRAL meteorologist On TV and online, our team of meteorologists often reference a threat for severe weather on a scale of 1 through 5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Spring is the top severe weather season in NC, so it is important you understand what these threat categories mean to better assess your risk and prepare ahead of bad weather. Severe weather is officially defined as a…

By The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — A tornado that killed a man near New Orleans this week was the metro area’s second strongest on record and left an 11.5-mile track northeast through three parishes, the National Weather Service said Thursday. Its winds hit 160 mph (257 km/h) Tuesday night in the suburban St. Bernard Parish community of Arabi, making it an EF-3 tornado, according to a preliminary report released Thursday. That put it behind…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — The National Weather Service at 8:12 a.m. canceled a tornado warning for Johnston County. A tornado warning was canceled earlier for Harnett County, where the storm appeared to be strongest, although no damage reports or indications that a tornado touched the ground were confirmed. Halifax County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 8:30 a.m. Thursday will be a mostly cloudy day with scattered to widespread rain…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Raleigh, N.C. — The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Johnston County until 8:15 a.m. Thursday. At 7:50 a.m. the system was moving 25 mph northeast, leaving Harnett County and headed toward southwestern Johnston County. People in areas north of Benson need to be alert, including near the intersection of Interstate 40 and N.C. Highway 210, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. There were no reports of the…