RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The National Weather Service has issued multiple tornado and flash flood warnings and watches across central N.C. Friday as the worst of now Tropical Storm Helene makes its way through.
The CBS 17 Weather Beast is in Rocky Mount where a significant tornado touched down around 1:30 p.m. Significant debris is in the roadway around Tiffany Blvd. where a medical supply store, called Respracare, was hit.
Tornado Warning
At 6:35 p.m., a tornado warning was issued for northeastern Person County and northwestern Granville County. It expired at 7:15 p.m.
Flash Flood Warnings
Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake — Issued at 2:56 p.m., will last until 7 p.m.
Johnston, Sampson & Wake counties — Issued at 11:41 a.m., will last until 3:45 p.m.
Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties — Issued at 1:03 p.m., will last until 5 p.m.
These counties are under an expected rainfall rate of about an inch an hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Tornado Watch
A tornado watch that was in effect for several counties across central N.C. Friday has expired.
The watch was issued at 8:04 a.m., and includes the following counties: Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson.
Flood Watch
A flood watch is also in effect for Granville, Vance, Warren, Halifax, Franklin, Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson and Wayne counties. This is expected to last until 6 p.m. Friday.
These advisories come as Helene—now a Tropical Storm—travels through North Carolina with worsening weather, including winds pushing 70 m.p.h. and gusts at 90. The storm has been moving north all morning at 30 m.p.h.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Lasting until 2:15 p.m., a sever thunderstorm warning is in effect for Wayne, Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax and Wilson counties.