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1:52 a.m. • 5-22-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 86° F
  • Thu: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 83° F
  • Fri: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 76° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Published: 2012-08-19 09:17:00
Updated: 2012-08-20 07:31:27

Water spouts, record rain soak NC


Cape Hatteras water spout
Cape Hatteras water spout
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An unsettled weather pattern that spawned thunderstorms and heavy downpours across central North Carolina throughout the weekend will stay put through the majority of the work week, WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said. 

Monday and Tuesday will be rainy, as a cold front stalled along the North Carolina coast continues to interact with moist air flowing into the state from the Gulf of Mexico.  

Thanks to the clouds, temperatures will stay in the low 80s through Wednesday, Wilmoth said. Overnight lows will hover in the mid-60s.

"We have the stalled out cold front that brought us our showers and storms today," Wilmoth said. "The winds will be coming up out of the south and west, and there is moisture to go with it, so we're going to stay unsettled. No widespread severe weather, but it's something we'll keep an eye on."

Storms dropped heavy rain across much of central and eastern North Carolina on Sunday, even setting a record for Aug. 19 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The 2.08 inches of rain bested the previous mark, set in 1980, by more than half an inch. 

A funnel cloud was reported in Halifax County, but the sheriff's office said it did not appear to have touched down. Radar showed a possible tornado approaching South Weldon and moving northeast through Weldon and Roanoke Rapids at 35 mph shortly after 9 a.m. The tornado warning was canceled around 9:30 a.m.

A water spout – which is a tornado over open water – did pass off the coast of Hatteras Island, according to the Dare County Sheriff's Office.

Roanoke Rapids police have gotten numerous reports of golf ball-sized hail and a significant amount of lightning and rain, but no major damage from powerful wind gusts.

Severe weather isn't likely in the first half of the work week, but afternoon storms could include heavy rain, Wilmoth said. Partly cloudy and sunny conditions will return Thursday and temperatures will creep back toward the 90-degree mark by the weekend.

"What a change we're going to see next weekend, with highs in the upper 80s and sunshine," Wilmoth said.


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Latest Comments
The differing amounts yesterday are amazing. Raleigh got all that rain-yet Smithfield got 1/4". Clayton got no where near 2".

We need to keep the rain coming. The plant life and pond levels look great.

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  1. nsj: RT @BadAstronomer: Oh for criminy’s sake, Internet. GIF is pronounced “Ekke Ekke Ekke Ekke Ptangya Ziiinngg!” #duh
      — Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:41 AM
  2. nsj: Hey, RNK - everything OK up there? RT @iembot_rah: #RAH Administrative Message (ADM) http://t.co/DRvIBqKQEU
      — Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:32 AM
  3. nsj: RT @GarySzatkowski: Great lunchtime meeting today with @nsj discussing where the weather enterprise goes from here in a post-Sandy & post-M…
      — Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:13 AM
  4. mazewx66: RT @iembot_rnk: #RNK Blowing Rock [Watauga Co, NC] public reports HAIL of quarter size (E1.00 INCH) at 07:35 PM EDT http://t.co/ZEaPlp0MFv
      — Tuesday, May 21, 2013 8:54 PM
  5. nsj: RT @wxtrav: Experimental Tornado Debris Signature path colored by intensity of circulation w/ @NWSNorman damage path in black. http://t.co/…
      — Tuesday, May 21, 2013 6:45 PM
  6. nsj: At least one major news outlet gives the NWS credit for getting the warning out. http://t.co/5ikXGk3GF7
      — Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:55 PM
  7. nsj: It DID NOT hit without warning. MT @nwsnorman: Slideshow reviewing info from @NWSNorman before […] 5/20/13 tornado http://t.co/ods9kS0qaj
      — Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:44 PM
  8. wralweather: Forecast: Tonight, partly cloudy, evening showers, low 69°. Tomorrow, thunderstorm, high 86°. http://t.co/RMcYv6WbFE
      — Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:00 PM

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