Small hail, damaging winds possible again Friday

The weather prompted thunderstorm watches in Wake, Johnston, Harnett, Cumberland and Edgecombe counties Thursday evening. Strong winds from the storms brought down trees and knocked out power to some customers in counties south of Raleigh.

Friday afternoon could produce much of the same.

"We're watching another disturbance back to the north and west, though," said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. "Very similar to yesterday. It will cross over the mountains and into our area during the peak heating hours of the day.

"So, we could have more thunderstorms and some of them could be severe."

The potential for storms will bring the region under a marginal risk for severe weather, including more damaging winds, small hail and heavy rain.

Power outages were reported on Thursday in several counties as a result of the storms including 3,644 in Johnston County and 1,292 in Harnett County.

Downed trees were reported in several areas, including a tree that fell onto power lines on the corner of Church and Railroad Streets in downtown Benson.