RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) -- The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in central North Carolina on Thursday night.
At 8:31 p.m. Thursday, the NWS issued the tornado watch for the following counties:
- Orange
- Moore
- Lee
- Person
- Chatham
- Randolph
- Stanly
- Richmond
- Alamance
- Anson
- Montgomery
CBS 17 Chief Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein said, “Originally the tornado threat was just east of central North Carolina and focused more on the Triad and Greensboro area. Our atmosphere in central North Carolina became unstable enough and the storms moving in are showing signs of possible rotation, so the tornado watch was expanded to include parts of central North Carolina.”
While tornadoes are not a guarantee at this point, there are some of the best chances of heavy rain and gusty winds into later Thursday night. The severe threat should end before midnight, but the winds will stay with us through the day Friday.
The tornado watch is set to expire at 11 p.m.
NWS officials also issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 9:42 p.m. for the following counties:
- Orange
- Durham
- Chatham
The warning is slated to run until 10:30 p.m.