Severe thunderstorm watches end, reports come in of storm damage

Some areas of North Carolina were seeing the severe thunderstorm watch that was in effect until 10 p.m. drop as Friday's strong storms continue to move to the east.

Severe thunderstorm watches for Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Johnston, Wilson and Wake counties have been canceled. The watch was still in effect for counties to the east until 10 p.m.

A tornado warning had been issued for parts of Moore, Harnett, Lee and Hoke counties just before 6 p.m. It was scheduled to run until 6:30 p.m. after a strong cell with rotation was located near the Southern Pines area. That warning was canceled at around 6:15 p.m.

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Officials in Moore County report a large number of trees, power poles and power lines down. Several roads were closed with some of the most extensive damage coming from the 500 block of South Valley Road in Southern Pines.

There were reports of trees down and power out in several other locations around the Sandhills.

The system continued to move northeast, part of a strong weather pattern that brought heavy rains, damaging winds and loss of power to the Charlotte area earlier Friday. It will eventually move offshore late Friday night.

It was a nice day around the area as the sunshine had temperatures in the low to mid 80s in many locations. Campbell said all that sunshine prepped the atmosphere for the storms.

"The downside to the sunshine is it is really heating up the atmosphere and it's leading to a lot of energy ahead of the line of storms that's approaching," Campbell said.

Saturday will be warmer, with a high in the mid 80s by the afternoon. There is another chance for rain and storms, but the activity will be scattered. The weekend won't be a washout, but rain and storms are possible.

Sunday and Monday are the best chances for dry weather. Sunday features only a 20% chance of precipitation and a high in the low 80s, and Memorial Day will be beautiful, with no rain in the forecast and a high in the upper 70s.