Wilmington North Carolina News

Central and eastern North Carolina won’t have snow for Christmas, but residents will need to be weather aware. The National Weather Service is calling for gusty winds, thunderstorms – some of which could be severe – and even some tornadoes.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp PNC Arena, home of the Carolina Hurricanes (Photo: Ed Clemente / MGN) RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The home of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes sustained $250,000 in damages after a water leak was discovered in the room where video replays are controlled for the overhead scoreboard. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports some team employees returned to PNC Arena in Raleigh earlier this month to find the leak in the CanesVision…

BOILING SPRING LAKES, NC (WWAY)–Stephanie Bodmer and her husband Robert Gosnell have brought an iconic landmark in Brunswick County back to life. The couple purchased the Boiling Spring Lakes Motel in December of 2018. In September of 2018, the motel was flooded with over a foot of water in Hurricane Florence. Nearly two years later the ‘Mom and Pop’ motel has opened their doors, something Bodmer’s late father would be proud of. “He always asked…

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Contractors were out in Wilmington on Friday planting trees in areas hit hard by Hurricane Florence.  The city says they are planting 285 trees, which are wind resistant, predominantly large-canopied trees of different sizes that best fit available spaces. Funding for the trees comes from charges paid by developers that cut down trees rather than save or replant them, or fines paid for illegally cutting down trees without a permit, according to…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Damage left behind from Hurricane Dorian of a school in Ocracoke in Sept. 2019. (Photo: Ocracoke School Campus) OCRACOKE, NC (AP) — A new school is set to be built on a North Carolina barrier island that was hit by a hurricane last year, leaving the former building heavily damaged. News outlets have reported that Hurricane Dorian struck the Outer Banks’ Ocracoke Island in September 2019, sending more than 5 feet…

The threat for severe weather dropped from a Level 2 to a Level 1 risk overnight, lessening our chance for tornadoes and damaging storms Monday morning.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Hurricane Iota is now a dangerous Category 5 storm that is likely to bring catastrophic damage to the same part of Central America already battered this month by powerful Hurricane Eta. Iota rapidly intensified overnight into a mighty system over the western Caribbean, headed toward Nicaragua and Honduras. – Advertisement – The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Air Force hurricane hunters flew into Iota’s core and measured…

Floodwaters from a nearby river overtook recreational vehicles at a North Carolina campsite Thursday, killing four people and leaving a child missing, an official said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp ST. PETERSBURG, FL (AP) — Just as the remnants of Tropical Storm Eta finally blow out to sea, another storm is brewing that could follow its path of death and destruction into Central America this weekend. Hurricane experts are closely watching the Caribbean, where Tropical Depression 31 could be named Iota by Saturday. – Advertisement – They expect it to power up quickly, to near major hurricane strength on approach to…

Flooding in western NC on Nov. 12, 2020. (Photo: WSOC) RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Flood warnings remain in effect Friday morning for much of central North Carolina and along rivers across the state, after a cold front interacting with moisture from Tropical Storm Eta caused widespread heavy rainfall yesterday across North Carolina. While many rivers across western and central NC will crest Friday or are currently receding, rivers across eastern North Carolina will continue to…

The aftermath of Thursday’s storms and flooding disrupted traffic patterns along the busiest north-south route through North Carolina, Interstate 95.

While there was not flooding on Interstate 95 in Johnston County, the North Carolina Department of Transportation believes water from underneath the roadbed pushed it up, causing the pavement to buckle.

The aftermath of Thursday’s storms and flooding is still disrupting traffic patterns along I-95.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Green Hill near Quail Ridge (Photo: Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook) BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is warning drivers of flooding on roads from heavy rain Thursday. According to an alert from the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, there is water across the road in the 1500 block of  Ocean Highway W. in Shallotte. – Advertisement – There is also water across roadway at Anglers Marine. The 400…

Heavy rain and flooding conditions worsened throughout the day on Thursday, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, but much of the rain should be out of the area by this evening.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp HIDDENITE, NC (WSOC/AP) — A fire department in North Carolina says that it’s responding to reports that more than 30 campers need to be rescued from a flooded campground in Alexander County. The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that the Hiddenite Family Campground sits along the South Yadkin River and is about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte. – Advertisement – According to WSOC, authorities are still searching for more people who were…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Some cars risked their luck and drove through the flooded highway in Brunswick County. (Photo: WWAY) BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The State of North Carolina and FEMA has approved $2.58 million to reimburse the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Hurricane Florence-related road and culvert repair in Brunswick County. The grant brings the total to more than $70.5 million to reimburse NCDOT for Hurricane Florence-related expenses. FEMA’s total share for…

Up to 10 inches or rain fell over the past 24 hours in some parts of central North Carolina, and high water closed more than 150 roads for some part of the day, according to Department of Transportation spokesman Jamie Kritzer.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Bladen County Schools (Photo: WWAY) BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Bladen County Schools is releasing students early today due to road closures and flooding. All students are being released at 1:30 p.m. – Advertisement – According to a news release from Bladen County Schools, with the rainfall and water on the roads, buses will be driving extra slow for safety so please allow extra time for your child to arrive home….

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp USS Battleship North Carolina (Photo: WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Battleship North Carolina won’t open to visitors until 10 a.m. on Friday because of expected flooding. Extensive rain combined with a king tide and the morning high tide is forecast to impede access to the ship before 10 a.m. – Advertisement – High tidal flooding is expected to continue over the next week. “It is always recommended that visitors monitor…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Satellite image of Hurricane Eta on Nov. 3, 2020. (Photo: WWAY) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tropical Storm Eta is dumping torrents of blustery rain on Florida’s west coast as it slogs over the state after making landfall north of the heavily populated Tampa Bay area. The National Hurricane Center in Miami predicts that after coming ashore Thursday morning, Eta will move northeast across Florida. – Advertisement – Eta briefly gained…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp ST. PETERSBURG, FL (AP) — Eta regained hurricane strength Wednesday morning as Florida braced for a second hit from the storm. The storm’s maximum sustained winds increased to around 75 mph off Florida’s southwest coast. – Advertisement – Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane watch for a 120-mile stretch that includes Tampa and St. Petersburg. The storm has been in the Gulf of Mexico since crossing…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (AP) — The final weeks of this historic hurricane season have brought an unusual collection of storms. Tropical Storm Eta is parked off the western coast of Cuba. – Advertisement – Subtropical Storm Theta became the 29th named Atlantic storm of the season. It is chugging east toward Europe on the cusp of hurricane status. The last time there were two named storms churning at the same time…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (AP) — Tropical Storm Eta is posing serious threat to South Florida, where torrential rains are falling on already saturated areas and the water has no place to go. Widespread flooding has shut down public transportation people are being evacuated from particularly low-lying areas. – Advertisement – Even if the storm doesn’t strengthen into a hurricane, Eta could dump an additional 6 to 12 inches in places already…

We’re in for unusually warm temperatures and a risk for isolated flooding this week.

A volunteer works on a door. (photo: Peyton Furtado) NEW HANOVER AND PENDER COUNTIES (WWAY) — Though Florence hit North Carolina more than two years ago, many like Cynthia Henry in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow counties are still living with the destruction. “It was not safe. I was terrified of a fire every night.” – Advertisement – After the storm, the damage was so bad, Henry could only live in her bedroom: “There…

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A local meteorologist is currently deployed out west to provide weather forecasts for firefighters fighting the wildfires in Colorado. Terry Lebo is the incident meteorologist (IMET) at the National Weather Service office in Wilmington. The video seen below is from the Williams Fork fire located west of Denver. While there are no homes at risk, NWS says this portion of the fire was in monitor-only status for safety reasons. “There was nowhere…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — The heart of powerful Hurricane Eta began has moving ashore in Nicaragua with devastating winds and rains that have already destroyed rooftops and caused rivers to overflow. And more days of rain are in the forecast. Eta is a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph and it made landfall after grinding for hours just off the coast. – Advertisement – Authorities in Nicaragua and Honduras…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — New Hurricane Eta is quickly gaining force as it heads for Central America, threatening massive flooding and landslides across a vulnerable region. Eta had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph early Monday and it was located about 115 miles east of the Nicaragua-Honduras border, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving west at 9 mph. – Advertisement – Forecasters say the storm could grow into…

Dangerous wind gusts are possible until 7 p.m. on Thursday as Tropical Storm Zeta moves across the state. At around noon, wind gusts over 50 mph were reported in both Raleigh and Durham.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Satellite image of Hurricane Zeta on Oct. 27, 2020. (Photo: WWAY) NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zeta re-strengthened into a hurricane early Wednesday as Louisiana braced for the 27th named storm of a historically busy Atlantic hurricane season. Landfall is expected south of New Orleans with life-threatening storm surge and strong winds expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast beginning around midday. – Advertisement – The city has been housing evacuees…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Gulf Coast residents are steeling themselves for yet another hurricane. Zeta emerged from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday as a tropical storm after making landfall just north of the ancient Mayan city of Tulum. It’s predicted to become a hurricane again over the Gulf and make landfall again Wednesday night. A hurricane warning stretches from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Mississippi-Alabama state line. Zeta is the 27th named storm of a…

Temperatures will be mild to warm this week before a round of tropical moisture moves in by Wednesday.

The National Hurricane Center upgraded Hurricane Epsilon to a Category 3 storm Wednesday evening, noting that it was quickly gaining strength as it approached Bermuda.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Satellite image of Hurricane Epsilon (Photo: WWAY) MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Epsilon, the 10th of this very busy Atlantic season, is moving toward Bermuda and could hit the island on Thursday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for Bermuda, and residents have been urged to closely monitor the storm’s progress. – Advertisement – Epsilon had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph Wednesday morning and was still about…

Property owners at Safe Harbor South Harbor Marina express concern over delayed repairs following Hurricane Isaias (photo: Sydney Bouchelle/WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The White House and FEMA have granted the state’s request for a major disaster declaration for 15 North Carolina counties that were hit hard by Hurricane Isaias. “This declaration from our federal partners will help us rebuild stronger and smarter, so our communities can recover from the damage done by Hurricane Isaias,”…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp HENDERSONVILLE, NC (WLOS) — A drive home turned dangerous for a North Carolina family over the weekend. The family was driving home from Jacksonville when a tornado passed over the interstate. Family members said it was two minutes they will never forget, and they caught it on camera. – Advertisement – “I asked Annie my wife to get the phone and record it just in case something happened to us,” said…

FAIR BLUFF, NC (WWAY) — Thursday marks the four year anniversary of Hurricane Matthew, the storm that turned one southeastern North Carolina town into a ghost town. Fair Bluff, once a picturesque town featured in movies and on postcards, has fallen on hard times. – Advertisement – “Just looking at everything now, it’s hurtful. It’s hurtful,” Kim Bennett, a Fair Bluff native, said. “It looks like a movie set. It looks like a ghost town…

“It won’t be a completely dry weekend, but it won’t be a washout,” Gardner said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Delta has made landfall south of Cancun along the northeastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, blowing down trees and knocking out power in some of the area’s resorts. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says the center of Delta came ashore around 5:30 a.m. local time as a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. – Advertisement – About 2,000 people took refuge…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Satellite image of Hurricane Delta on Oct. 6, 2020. (Photo: WWAY) MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Delta is getting bigger fast and speeding up as it takes aim at Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. It’s now a Category 2 hurricane with top winds of 110 mph. Forecasters now expect Delta to slam into beach resorts from Tulum to Cozumel with an extremely dangerous storm surge of up to 9 feet and even higher…

Tropical Storm Delta formed Monday and could bring rain to North Carolina later this week.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Tropical storms Gamma and Delta (Photo: WWAY) MEXICO CITY (AP) — Deadly Tropical Storm Gamma has stalled just north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, while a potentially more threatening Tropical Storm Delta has formed in the Caribbean. Forecasters say Delta will hit western Cuba and eventually the U.S. Gulf Coast, likely as a hurricane. – Advertisement – The track is widely uncertain five days out, but the U.S. National Hurricane Center says…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Deadly wildfires in California have burned more than 4 million acres this year, a new record for the number of acres burned in a single year. The previous record was two years ago when wildfires destroyed 1.67 million acres. – Advertisement – California fire officials said the state hit the fearsome milestone Sunday with about two months still left in the fire season. Lightning strikes in mid-August…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Glass fire in Napa County, CA (Photo: CBS News) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Expected powerful winds didn’t materialize, allowing fire crews a chance to make some gains against a blaze in California’s wine country. But fire officials say winds of up to 30 mph (48 kph) are forecast to push through the hills of Napa and Sonoma counties into Saturday. – Advertisement – The Glass Fire, which exploded in size earlier…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Flames are devouring swaths of brush and trees in Northern California amid unseasonably hot and dry weather. High winds that spread new fires this week in the Napa and Sonoma wine country and in far northern California have been reduced to breezes but vegetation is still ripe for burning in high temperatures amid very low humidity. – Advertisement – The National Weather Service says Wednesday that the…

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Several members of a New Hanover County church have returned home after spending several days in the Gulf Coast assisting residents impacted by Hurricane Laura. Last week, 10 members of Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church made the 15-hour trip to Alexandria, Louisiana, where they assisted 14 homeowners in need of help removing trees brought down by the powerful storm. They also assisted in putting tarps on three damaged roofs….