Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued in 13 central NC counties

The affected counties included Alamance, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Warren, Durham, Franklin, Halifax, Edgecombe, Granville, Nash, Vance and Person.

As the evening goes on, though, the chance for rain rises in counties to the north of the Triangle. Some storms could produce gusty winds, hail and localized heavy rain.

The potential for those stronger winds put a large swath of North Carolina under a marginal risk for severe weather, which is the lowest level of a five-level system.

A tornado warning was issued shortly before 3 p.m. for Halifax, Ludenburg Mecklenburg counties in Virginia mid-afternoon. The warnings were in effect until 4:15 p.m.

The Triangle will remain on the warm side of a cold front sweeping down through the area for most of the day. As that front sinks southward, though, temperatures will cool down through Tuesday.

Sunday will bring more widespread coverage of rain in the afternoon. Temperatures should remain cloudy and breezy. Highs will stay in the 50s from the Triangle northward, with 60s to low 70s possible in the south, where there will be a better chance of thunderstorms.

A Flood Watch will be in effect from midnight through Tuesday morning.

There will be widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms are expected Sunday through Monday evening. There will be periods of heavy rain. Storm total rainfall amounts are expected to range between 3 to 5 inches, with 6 inches possible.