RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for a few counties in central North Carolina on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
The latest warning was issued at 5:19 p.m. for Sampson County. It expired at 6 p.m.
Earlier in the day, another severe thunderstorm warning was issued around 4:23 p.m. It expired at 5:15 p.m.
The areas under the warning were northwestern Hoke and southwestern Moore counties.
The biggest impact expected is wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and quarter sized hail.
Also, the majority of people in the Sandhills of N.C. are at a heightened risk of seeing severe thunderstorms through the afternoon and evening.
At 1:11 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch to last through 8 p.m. for the following counties in the CBS 17 viewing area:
- Cumberland
- Harnett
- Hoke
- Lee
- Moore
- Sampson
The watch does not include any communities in the Triangle, but Fayetteville, Lillington, Southern Pines, Sanford, Clinton and surrounding communities need to be on alert for severe thunderstorms later on Wednesday afternoon.
A warm front is positioned to our south, with a low pressure to our west. As this system moves northeast, that warm front will usher in warm, muggy and unstable air which could fuel strong to severe thunderstorms as the low pressure moves by. All hazards are possible with these storms, but we are mainly focused on damaging wind gusts, hail and isolated tornadoes, especially in the 4 p.m. to midnight timeframe.
This watch comes as the severe risk for Wednesday (a slight risk, level 2 out of 5) was shifted farther south with the afternoon update. While severe weather is more likely south of the Triangle, everyone should be on guard for storms that could bring heavy rain, frequent lightning, in addition to gusty, damaging winds.
Wednesday is a CBS 17 Storm Team Alert Day. Stay up-to-date with the latest forecast changes here.
