Severe Weather Expected Across NC Thursday

News, Press Release
severe weather

RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper reminds North Carolinians to make sure their families are prepared for the severe weather threatening a large portion of the state over the next 24 hours.

“With severe weather expected tomorrow, people should prepare to monitor emergency alerts and review their family emergency plan,” Governor Cooper said. “Everyone should pay attention to the forecast and remember to follow all recommended actions from their local public safety officials.”

The threat of severe weather is greatest along and southeast of the US 1 corridor; however, severe storms will be possible statewide tomorrow. Storms are likely to move into western North Carolina during the morning hours, and continue east across the state through the afternoon and evening. Some strong storms may continue overnight Thursday near the coast.

Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour and large hail of one to two inches in diameter are possible with these storms, as are the possibility of strong tornadoes. During a severe storm, the safest location at home or work is an interior room or closet away from windows.

Localized flooding is possible, particularly in southwestern counties Wednesday night through Friday and across areas where severe weather develops Thursday. Strong northerly winds could produce minor to moderate sound-side flooding across portions of the Outer Banks and areas adjacent to the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River on Friday and Saturday. Additional beach erosion and ocean overwash will also be possible along the northern Outer Banks.

The State Emergency Operations Center will continue to monitor the situation along with our local partners and is activated and ready to support local response through its SERT partners to any weather impacts.

Residents should download a weather app to their cell phone or use a NOAA Weather Radio to receive weather alerts like tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings.  It’s important to have an alert method that will wake you up if you are sleeping, so you can take protective actions if necessary.

Families should identify a safe place to take cover in their homes in the event of a tornado warning. That should be an interior room on the home’s lowest level, away from doors or windows. Everyone in the family should know the plan, and be prepared to act on it if a tornado warning is issued for your area.

If Your Power Goes Out

  • Report your outage immediately to your local electric company. Don’t rely on your neighbors to report your outage.
  • Stay away from downed power lines, flooded areas and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized. Immediately report downed lines to your local electric company.
  • Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed. Food will stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.
  • Pack refrigerated items, such as milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
  • Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
  • If using portable stoves, kerosene heaters, or lanterns, make sure that the area is sufficiently ventilated.

North Carolina and its State Emergency Response Team, along with local emergency management, are experts in responding to severe weather situations. Even as COVID-19 efforts are underway, the state is preparing for severe weather and encourages the public to do the same.

If you need additional preparedness information, please visit ReadyNC.org.

Western North Carolina included in severe weather forecast

News, WEATHER
severe weather

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. – The National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Morristown, TN has issued severe weather outlook for Cherokee and Clay counties starting Sunday afternoon and into Monday morning.

From NWS:

“…Periods of Heavy Rain and Possible Flooding for the Plateau, Central and Southern Sections of East Tennessee, and southwest

North Carolina for this Afternoon and Tonight…

…Severe Storms Possible from this Evening through Early Monday Morning…

A severe weather outbreak is possible across the Tennessee Valley region Sunday evening through early Monday morning. Damaging winds up to 70 mph will be the greatest threat from these storms but there is a risk of isolated tornadoes across the Plateau, southeast Tennessee, and southwest North Carolina. Hail up to quarter size is also possible.

Periods of heavy rain is also anticipated with the greatest risk of flash flooding across the Plateau, central and southern section of the east Tennessee, and southwest North Carolina. Stream flooding, roadway flooding, and flooding of low-lying areas are possible.

High winds will develop across the East TN mountains and adjacent foothills Today and continue into Monday morning. Southerly winds may gust up to 80 mph in some locations during that time. Windy conditions will also develop elsewhere late today through Monday morning with gusts up to 35-40 mph possible.”

The wind advisory said to expect southern winds between 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph expected from 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 12 to 10 a.m. on Monday, April 13. Tree limbs could be blown off trees and power outages could occur. The service recommends to secure outdoor objects and take caution if operating a “high profile vehicle.”

Also, at 2 p.m., a flash flood watch goes into effect and lasts until Monday morning. Two to four inches of rain is expected with heavier amounts possible. NWS advised, “Avoid low lying areas…and be careful when approaching highway dips and underpasses. If you come to a closed or flooded road…turn around! Don`t drown!”

Cities included in the severe weather forecast are Andrews, Marble, Topton, Hiawasse Dam, Murphy, Unaka, Violet, Shooting Creek, Brasstown, Hayesville, Tusquitee, Fincastle, La Follette, Elk Valley, Jellico, White Oak, Caryville, Royal Blue, Lone Mountain, Sandlick, Springdale, Arthur, Harrogate-Shawanee, Clairfield, Howard Quarter, Oak Ridge, Clinton, Maynardville, Norris Lake, Paulette, Rose Hill,  Sharps Chapel, Luttrell, Lenoir City, Loudon, Bearden, Knoxville, Lake Forest, Happy Valley, Maryville, Alcoa, Cades Cove, Harrisburg, Kodak, McMahan, Sevierville, Seymour, Pigeon Forge, Elkmont, Gatlinburg, Athens, Clear Water, Dentville, Etowah, Sweetwater, Madisonville, Bullet Creek, Citico, Coker Creek, Conasauga, Archville, Benton, Parksville, Reliance, Big Frog Mountain, Ducktown, and Turtletown.

Feature image from NWS Morristown Facebook.

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