Severe thunderstorms cause power outages, downed trees in Durham

On Thursday, her new Subaru was involved in an accident.

"There's a tree on my car," she said while looking at storm damage on Dollar Avenue in Durham.

Downed trees and power outages were prevalent throughout Durham as afternoon thunderstorms rolled through the Triangle.

At its peak, more than 3,600 Duke Progress Energy customers in Durham County were without power. As of 10 p.m., 303 customers were without power.

Downed trees were reported throughout the county, including two that fell on a home on Gary Street with eight children and four adults inside. No injuries were reported.

The same tree that fell on Kim's car also pulled down power lines and a transformer.

Harry Lewis, who lives nearby, heard the tree go down.

"A lot of noise, and a loud crash, and the power went out immediately," he said.

Pea-sized hail was reported in the area of Interstate 540 and Leesville Road in Raleigh. Dime-sized hail was reported in Fayetteville.

With temperatures in the mid-90s and humidity just below 50 percent, weather conditions were ideal for thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Moore, Orange, Person and Wake counties Thursday afternoon as a sudden, strong thunderstorm brought winds measured at more than 58 mph.

"Storms will not be widespread this evening, but any that do pop up could be problematic," WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said. “Any storms that we do have later on this afternoon or evening could be severe with damaging winds and, maybe, some large hail as well."

Although the threat of afternoon thunderstorms lingers for the next seven days, there is a brief respite from the heat.

Friday’s high is expected to reach the low 90s while the weekend will see high temperatures in the mid to upper 80s.

The high Saturday – the first day of summer and also the summer solstice, which occurs at 6:51 a.m. – is expected to be 88 degrees in the Triangle.

Daylight on Saturday – 14 hours and 45 minutes – will also be the longest of the year.