Timeline: Ophelia causes severe storms in NC; flash flood warnings issued for Wake & Johnston counties

Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall in North Carolina Saturday morning. The storm will bring heavy rain, damaging winds and a storm surge along the coast.

Saturday is a WRAL Weather Alert Day as Ophelia continues to impact North Carolina.

We're already seeing flooding and power outages across the state. New Bern is experiencing some serious flooding from Friday's storms.

Current wind gusts are reaching up to 40 miles per hour in Rocky Mount. Raleigh has gotten gusts up to 32 miles per hour. Areas west of Wake County are seeing less rain and wind; however, Durham County still had around 4,000 power outages.

Wave heights are reaching up to 17 feet in the northern Outer Banks.

Our forecast rainfall graphic shows Wake County at risk of getting 1 to 3 inches of rain. Durham could see 1 to 2 inches. Eastern parts of the state, especially along the I-95 corridor, could see up to 4 inches of rain.

"Things are still pretty quiet in the Triangle," said WRAL Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. "But things are going to pick up in intensity as the center of circulation starts moving through our eastern communities."

Radar shows Ophelia's outermost bands beginning to move into Wake County.

"There's going to be some gusty winds here," said Wilmoth. "With gusts maybe up to 40 miles per hour."

Gusts are reaching up to 60 miles per hour closer to the center of Ophelia.

Some surfers were still in the ocean as rain fell -- which is not recommended due to dangerous rip currents.

Conditions at the coast and central N.C. will worsen throughout the evening.

"Tomorrow is going to be a busy day," Brooks said on Friday. "Tonight could be busy, and our crews will be on standby to restore outages as they occur."

Brooks said there is a chance for outages in the Triangle even though conditions will be worse in eastern North Carolina.

"When we have a lot of outages during storms we can't always prioritize you," he said. "[We] can't always guarantee it will be back on in an hour."

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A tropical storm warning is in effect for counties directly east of the Triangle, including Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Sampson, Wilson and Wayne counties.

A flood watch is in effect for Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Sampson, Vance, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties until 9 p.m. on Saturday.

A potential tropical cyclone strengthened into Tropical Storm Ophelia on Friday with peak winds near 60 mph as it approaches our coast. Ophelia could make landfall Saturday morning near Morehead City.

Rain on Friday afternoon will become more widespread by late afternoon and evening.

"The bulk of the rain arrives after 2 p.m. Friday," said WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell. "The heaviest rain and strongest winds will come overnight into early Saturday (8 p.m. to 11 a.m.)."

The Triangle could see wind gusts up to 35 to 40 mph, and eastern counties could see gusts up to 40 to 45 mph.

Counties east of the Triangle are under a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe storms, and a Level 2 threat is in place at the coast. Flooding and power outages will be possible Friday and Saturday for those eastern counties.

"It will be worse the closer you get to the coast," WRAL meteorologist Anthony Baglione said. "It still looks like our main concerns [in the Triangle] will just be windy and rainy conditions, although an isolated strong storm can't be ruled out. Winds will gust 30 to 40 mph [locally] with 50 to 75 mph gusts along the coast."

Up to 4 inches of rain will be possible Friday and Saturday in our eastern counties and along the coast. In the Triangle, we're expected to get 1 to 2 inches of rain.

The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm conditions are expected along the coast, where tropical storm warnings and storm surge watches are in effect.

"We could see around 2 to 5 feet of storm surge for areas north of Surf City with up to 3 feet south of Surf City," Baglione said.

"There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation over portions of eastern North Carolina," the NHC said Friday morning.

If you're planning on heading to the beach this weekend, apart from the rainy weather, there's a high rip current risk.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 will bring dangerous rip currents to the NC coast, and a heavy surf advisory is in effect. It's important to stay safe if you're heading to the beach this weekend. Avoid going in the water if you see yellow or red flags.

Heavy rain will continue overnight into Saturday morning. Showers will become more scattered by Saturday afternoon after the WRAL Weather Alert Day ends at 3 p.m.

"Rain and storm chances continue into just after lunchtime tomorrow with all of this likely gone by the 6 p.m. Saturday night," Baglione said. "Sunday looks beautiful with sunshine and warmer highs in the 70s."

Sunday will be the best day to get outside this weekend. The rain should clear out by Sunday morning, and it's supposed to warm up a bit.