Raleigh North Carolina News

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Ida was upgraded to a hurricane on Friday afternoon as it moved over warm waters near the Gulf States. Winds are expected to be 120 mph when Ida arrives on Louisiana’s coast. Forecasters say the storm is expected to bring significant damage to the region. The storm is expected to be at or near major hurricane strength when it makes landfall near Louisiana late Sunday. The mayor of New Orleans…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville-based helicopter pilot Joel Boyers had just finished helping his fiancee earn her pilot’s license on Saturday morning, and they were heading home to celebrate, when he received a frantic call from a woman in Pennsylvania. Her brother’s home in Waverly, Tennessee, was underwater and he was trapped on a roof with his daughters. Could Boyers help? “I thought, ‘How would I feel if I told her I’m not even going to…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Tropical Storm Ida could make landfall in the United States as a major Cat. 3 hurricane. Ida formed in the Caribbean on Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to be at or near major hurricane strength when it makes landfall near Louisiana or Mississippi late Sunday or Monday. Model plots show the system could begin impacting the central coastline of the Gulf Coast as…

By The Associated Press MEXICO CITY — A strengthening Tropical Storm Nora was rolling Thursday toward a possible hurricane hit on Mexico’s Pacific Coast over the weekend and later on the Baja California Peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm could bring dangerous flash floods and mudslides through the weekend as it parallels the coast, likely grazing the point below the Puerto Vallarta region on Saturday and then possibly the Los Cabos resort…

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Ida formed Thursday in the Caribbean and could become a major hurricane by the time it reaches the northern U.S. Gulf Coast over the next several days, forecasters said. Both the Cuban and Cayman governments have issued tropical storm warnings following the formation earlier of Tropical Depression Nine, which strengthened into Ida Thursday afternoon, according to information on the website of the U.S. National Weather Service. Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Tropical Storm Ida formed in the Caribbean on Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to be near major hurricane strength when it makes landfall near Louisiana or Mississippi late Sunday or Monday. According to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, model plots show the system could affect the central coastline of the Gulf Coast late this weekend or early next week. The Storm was previously Tropical…

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with star forward Andrei Svechnikov on an eight-year contract, which is set to keep the No. 2 overall draft pick from 2018 with the franchise through the 2028-29 season. The team said Thursday the deal will pay the 21-year-old Svechnikov an average annual value of $7.75 million per season. The team has scheduled an online news conference for Svechnikov with team president and general manager…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center A tropical system could develop into a tropical storm or tropical depression in the next two days, possibly impacting the United States by early next week, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. Model plots show the system, currently moving through the Caribbean, could affect the central coastline of the Gulf Coast late this weekend or early next week. Before reaching the U.S., the system is forecast to track northwest between…

McEWEN, Tenn. — Catastrophic flooding in Middle Tennessee left at least ten people dead and dozens missing Saturday as record-shattering rainfall washed away homes and rural roads, authorities said. Business owner Kansas Klein watched in horror from a bridge Saturday morning as cars and entire houses were swept down a road in Waverly, a town of about 4,500 people that Klein, 48, has called home for more than half his life. Two girls who were…

NEW YORK — This time, Barry Manilow didn’t make it through the rain. Unlike the Grammy-winning recording artist’s 1980 hit, “I Made It Through Rain,” the superstar-laden “Homecoming Concert” in New York City’s Central Park was canceled because of dangerous weather as Hurricane Henri approached the Northeast on Saturday. Manilow began performing “Can’t Smile Without You,” as part of a medley of his hits when the announcement interrupted his performance, ordering concert-goers to immediately leave…

NEW YORK — Henri was downgraded to a tropical storm ahead of its expected landfall Sunday in the Northeast. Here’s everything to know about this weekend’s weather that’s tropical in name, but far from its titular home: Is Henri still a hurricane? Not at the moment. The National Hurricane Center downgraded it to a tropical storm early Sunday. What’s the difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm? It’s all about the wind. Specifically, the…

By Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter A Raleigh church plans to assist Lt. Governor Mark Robinson’s office in providing relief for people impacted by flood damage in western North Carolina. Members of Echo Church are collecting donations and supplies for their neighbors in the western part of the state. Adele Barcia, 61, who lives in Canton, said she was in shock when raging waters flooded her home. “The water rescue got us off that porch because there were…

By Keely Arthur, WRAL reporter Canton, N.C. — As rescue and recovery efforts continue in western North Carolina, the scope of the devastation from catastrophic flooding is becoming clearer. On Friday afternoon, officials in Haywood County confirmed that two more victims died in the devastation, floods and mudslides caused by Fred, bringing the total number of deaths to four. On Saturday, Judy Mason, 73, Charlene Mungo, 83, were confirmed to have died. On Friday, the…

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tropical Storm Henri, Tropical Storm Grace and a brand new tropical wave are all top of mind for meteorologists.Henri is the closest one to North Carolina. The system is located 190 miles off the coast and moving north-northeast at 12 miles per hour. It has maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour and will likely become a hurricane Saturday. The good news for us: Henri will stay out to sea. The…

By FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ, Associated Press TULUM, Mexico — Hurricane Grace rapidly strengthened into a major Category 3 storm Friday night as it bore down on a second landfall in Mexico, this time taking aim at the Gulf coast after crashing through the country’s main tourist strip. The storm had lost punch as it zipped across the Yucatan Peninsula, but it emerged late Thursday over the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico and began gaining energy. The…