Gusty winds continue; wind advisories active until 2 p.m.

Gusty winds will continue to howl through eastern North Carolina on Thursday a day after severe storms battered counties and damaged property around the region.

Many eastern N.C. counties were placed under a wind advisory until 2 p.m., including Wake, Durham, Franklin and Orange counties. Some isolated gusts could reach 45 mph.

"Around here it's the wind that we're going to be concerned about," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. "That wind is a cold wind. It's coming right out of the northwest, and it's chilly."

The winds should begin to die down after lunchtime Thursday, and clear skies will prevail.

Temperatures will stay roughly between the high 40s and mid 50s until Sunday when the mercury will breach 60 degrees.