RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) -- After several severe thunderstorm warnings Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several North Carolina counties until 10 p.m.
The counties in the CBS 17 viewing area under the watch are Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Wayne and Sampson. The watch area stretches to the coast and severe storms caused former President Donald Trump to cancel a rally in Wilmington Saturday evening.
The weather service said the threat is scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events up to 2 inches in diameter. Officials said isolated damaging wind gusts to 65 mph are possible.
The final severe thunderstorm warning on Saturday afternoon in the CBS 17 viewing area shifted east as the storms moved.
At 4:54 p.m. a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for southeastern Cumberland County and Central Sampson County until 5:45 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm was located over Jerome, or 16 miles southeast of Fayetteville, moving southeast at 20 mph. Additional storms developing in the warning area will also have the potential large hail and damaging wind gusts.
Officials warned of 60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued earlier Saturday afternoon for several counties south of Raleigh, according to the National Weather Service.