RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Where do you turn in a tornado, what are the emergency kit must-haves and what technology is helping to keep communities safe when disaster strikes?
Our CBS 17 Storm Team put together the answers to these—and more—questions during this year's severe weather preparedness week, March 2-8.
Kicking the week off with an update from Rocky Mount, Chief Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein spoke with some of the first responders who rendered aid after an EF-3 tornado hit six months ago during the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Hitting wind speeds of 140 mph, the tornado brought significant damage in a short span of just three minutes on the ground. There was no loss of life in the tornado, but 15 people were injured and 14 buildings were damaged or collapsed.
While this was a real scenario for the people of Rocky Mount, it's a scenario many others haven't experienced. All the more reason to know what to do when a tornado warning is activated in your area. Meteorologist Laura Smith covered all you need to know about the best places to seek shelter whether you're at home, work, in a restaurant or in your car when the alarm sounds.
Who are the people behind those alarms? For our area, it's the team of meteorologists at the National Weather Service station in Raleigh on NC State's campus.
CBS 17 meteorologist Lance Blocker took us there with a behind-the-scenes tour.
It's thanks to their radar data and split-second analysis that communities are issued appropriate and timely warnings, watches and advisories for all weather events of concern.
When those warnings and watches are in effect, so too is a CBS 17 Storm Team Alert Day—if the conditions warrant it. In the above video, Chief Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein covered what factors into the decision to designate an Alert Day for our region and what it means.
Zooming out to a larger, global picture, meteorologist Rachel Duensing broke down the weather pattern of La Niña. While it developed months ago, in December 2024, it's something that can factor into the chances of severe weather in the spring in central N.C.
In the above segment from our weather special, Chief Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein also covered the top six items to have in an emergency kit, as well as a few honorable mentions to consider.
Rounding out the team coverage, Meteorologist Dave Downey looks to technology paving the way forward in severe weather forecasting. The Warn-on-Forecast System (WoFS) is a NOAA research project that's been called "revolutionary."
The goal is to increase lead times for tornado, severe thunderstorm, and flash flood warnings across the country—even up to an hour in advance! Though, for now, the model only runs on the most active severe weather days and in certain sections of the country.
Plans to expand the system over the coming years include right here in central North Carolina.
The CBS 17 Storm Team will always be there to help viewers Stay Ahead of the Storm.
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