RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Severe thunderstorms making their way eastward from the Rockingham area have triggered a series of warnings and watches Monday evening. Thousands have also been left without power as the storm has moved through the area.
Tornado Warning Areas
A tornado warning was issued just before 6:30 p.m. when a storm capable of producing a tornado was spotted eight miles west of Siler City.
Until 7 p.m., northwestern Lee and southwestern Chatham counties are under the warning.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Areas
At 7:53 p.m., the National Weather Service in Raleigh issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:00 p.m. for all of Franklin, Johnston, Wayne, Wilson, Nash, Edgecombe counties as well as northeastern Wake and southern Halifax counties.
Along with damaging winds, large hail and “continuous cloud to ground lightning” are also threats with this storm.
We previously reported that a severe thunderstorm warning for eight North Carolina counties would be in effect through 8:00 p.m. That has since expired
The impacted counties included Moore, Lee, Hoke, Harnett, Cumberland, Montgomery, Richmond, Anson and Scotland, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
With that warning, up to 70 m.p.h. wind gusts were possible, creating a threat for damages to homes. The weather services advised that “considerable” tree damage is expected.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Areas
At 7:56 p.m., the severe thunderstorm watch was updated, and the number of North Carolina counties impacted was reduced to 14 — Cumberland, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson.
The watch remains in effect through midnight.
We previously reported that a widespread severe thunderstorm watch was also issued by the NWS at approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday as a band of storms moves across the region.
A total of 26 counties were under the watch through midnight. Those impacted counties include these central N.C. counties: Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Nash, Orange, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson.
The watch has since expired for Chatham, Durham, Hoke, Lee, Moore and Orange counties.
According to the NWS, Person County and five others west of the Triangle — Alamance, Davidson, Forsyth, Guildford and Randolph — are under a tornado watch through 9 p.m.
