RALEIGH — Heavy rain and thunder pounded North Carolina on Sunday, bringing hail up to 2 inches in diameter and damaging winds that gusted up to 70 miles per hour.

Warnings also were issued for the chance of dangerous lightning.

Late Sunday afternoon, trees were reported down in the Wake County town of Wendell.

A severe thunderstorm watch was in place for portions of southeast Virginia, eastern North Carolina and the adjacent coastal waters. The watch was effective from Sunday afternoon until 9 p.m.

A line of severe thunderstorms was moving northeast across eastern North Carolina ahead of a deepening surface low. The air mass continued to destabilize northward into southeastern Virginia, supporting a continued threat of severe thunderstorms.

About 4 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for eastern Harnett County, Johnston and Wake Counties, and for northern Sampson County. Damaging winds and large hail were possible, and residents were urged to stay inside and away from windows. The line of thunderstorms was moving northeast at 20 miles per hour.

About 4:15 p.m., the watch included 32 counties in the coastal area. They included: Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Jones, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington, Bertie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pitt, Wayne and Wilson counties.

Residents are advised to check the web and listen to local radio, television or weather radio for updates and possible weather warnings.