RALEIGH, N.C. — A line of severe weather that is marching through central North Carolina is bringing gusty winds, torrential downpours, lightning and prompting the delay of several July 4th festivities.
8:16 p.m.: There are now nine weather alerts for counties in the WRAL coverage area, including Wake and Cumberland.
7:30 p.m.: Weather alerts remain for eight counties in the area, including Wake and Cumberland.
6:46 p.m.: Fort Bragg is reporting its fireworks show has been canceled due to weather. WRAL's Ashley Hendricks reports some fireworks may still be lit for local residents.
6:12 p.m.: The chance for storms continue for the Triangle and central North Carolina through the evening hours. That could impact when or if fireworks will go off this evening in several locations. There will be a 50 percent chance of rain now through Monday.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre Fourth of July activities are back on again in Cary.
5:32 p.m.: In Johnston County, WRAL's John Payne reports possible straight-line winds caused a barn to lose its roof and an RV to roll over on its side. The storm lasted three minutes and left fields with corn blown down and debris scattered along parts of Raynor Road, just southeast of Benson. Duke Energy has also been in the area working on power outages.
5:00 p.m.: 4th of July Festivities currently suspended at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, and those who have gathered have been asked to seek shelter, according to WRAL News anchor Ken Smith. Organizers said they hope to resume activities once the storm passes. Other July 4th activities could also be delayed because of the rough weather.
4:39 p.m.: Local media in South Carolina is reporting one person was killed in the lightning strike in the Georgetown area. Two other people were transported to the hospital after the strike, which the National Weather Service there said happened near a river in the area of Lawshe Plantation.
4:23 p.m.: In Durham, people at an apartment complex on Presidents Drive there told WRAL's Adam Owens they heard a loud boom before a lightning strike. A number of people who live there appeared to be displaced due to the fire.
Skip Gibbs was the person who lived in the home that appeared to be struck by lightning.
“It was just a really loud boom,” Gibbs told WRAL’s Owens. “Sounded like somebody hit the house. I peeked out the window and I was like ‘Hey, I think lightning just struck my house.’ All of a sudden I started seeing smoke bellowing. My little brother was asleep, so I was like ‘Hey man, get up, the house is on fire.”
There has been no indication of injuries.
WRAL’s Julian Grace was in Raleigh at the intersection of Garner and Cross Lake roads. Power lines were down there after a vehicle ran into a power pole.
4:19 p.m.: According to Duke Energy, power outage data: Durham County - 2,602 customers without power; Wake County - 2,361 customers without power; Person County - 200 customers in the dark.
4:03 p.m.: A flood advisory is in effect for Montgomery, Moore, Randolph and Richmond counties until 4:45 p.m.
3:33 p.m.: The risk of stormy weather has delayed the opening of the gates at Koka Booth, where fireworks and other festivities were planned to celebrate the July 4th holiday. Gates were suppose to open at 3. WRAL anchor Ken Smith is set to emcee the event.
3:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has confirmed that a lightning strike injured as many as 12 people in South Carolina and sent at least three people to a local hospital for treatment. The incident occurred near a river in the area of Lawshe Plantation off Indian Hut Road, according to WMBF-TV. The location is a sand bar and beach area well known to locals, according to reports.
3:13 p.m.: Officials at Fort Bragg ordered an evacuation of the parade field as they were getting ready for July 4th holiday and asked everyone to return to their cars until an all-clear was given because of the risk of severe weather.
2:02 p.m.: Another Durham resident blamed a lightning strike for starting a fire at his apartment complex on Presidents Drive. The resident said the fire destroyed a portion of the apartment complex's roof and he thinks the home suffered a huge amount of damage as a result.
1:50 p.m.: Officials are trying to determine if strong winds played a role in toppling a tree that fell down on or near a home in Durham and possibly took down some power lines, authorities said. The tree collapsed in a neighborhood in the 200 block of Dacian Avenue shortly before 2 p.m., according to Durham Fire Chief Christopher Iannuzzi. It was not clear if anyone was injured or how much damage the falling tree did. According to Duke Energy, there were about 2,500 customers without power in Durham around the time the tree fell.
WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said thunderstorms are erupting across the Triangle with lots of lightning and winds of up to 50 miles per hour are part of a cell that is moving through Durham County.
"With the storm not moving, we are seeing some very heavy rainfall out of this," Maze said.
Storms are expected to develop around 3 p.m.
Damaging winds, frequent lightning and heavy rain is possible throughout central North Carolina, Wilmoth said.
“Lightning is going to be very frequent with any storms that develop today, so be very careful,” Wilmoth said. “Make sure you take shelter if you hear thunder.”
The storms will be scattered, and they’re expected to linger throughout the evening.
Fireworks displays throughout the area could be delayed if storms continue.
Temperatures will reach 93 degrees, but the heat index could reach 100 or 105 degrees.
Stormy forecasts continue through Monday and will begin to cool things down.
