Raleigh, N.C. — After a day of tornado watches and warnings for much of the WRAL viewing area, the threat for tornadoes subsided on Thursday evening and only isolated damage was reported. 

In Duplin County, there were reports of downed trees near Magnolia and damaged barns at a pig farm in Rose Hill.

Thomas Murphy, 81, of Rose Hill, said he watched as his family's homes were torn apart during the storm.

"I looked out over there and saw my daughter's fence was gone and her roof was up in the air just twisting," he said. "You didn't have time to prepare."

Damage was also reported in Columbus County where the roof was blown off of a furniture restoration business on Old Lake Road in the Buckhead community. The business suffered water damage inside.

A passing cold front could bring some rain Thursday night, but nothing severe is expected, WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said.

Calmer, more pleasant weather will settle in for the weekend.

Friday and Saturday will see a high in the mid 70s, and Sunday in the low 80s as sunny skies predominate.

Storms bring tornado, flooding threat

Earlier Thursday, trained spotters said they saw two funnel clouds form near Elizabethtown in Bladen County. Firefighters told the National Weather said they saw a possible tornado between Tar Heel and Dublin.

Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey said that a funnel cloud was spotted west of Fairmont around 1 p.m., but by nightfall there had been no reports of major damage or injuries.

Storms dumped 1 to 2 inches of rain in Wake, Johnston and Harnett counties early Thursday afternoon, prompting a flood advisory.

Standing water was reported on Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 70 in Garner and U.S. Highway 64 in Wendell.

Severe thunderstorms also hit Wayne, Hoke, Sampson, Scotland and Richmond counties Thursday morning.