The haze blanketing the east coast isn't over yet. How long it lingers in our area, plus our next chance for rain

 

On WRAL at 11 : The Canadian wildfire smoke blanketing our area isn't over yet. How long it lingers. Plus our next chance for rain & storms

When looking at developing systems, one of the most important pieces of technology that we have are the spaghetti model plots. Aptly named for their unique pasta-like appearance, these charts depict many different outcomes or simulations for a given storm. Billions of computer calculations are run with different potential atmospheric conditions (i.e., temperature, cloud cover, winds, etc.). The result is shown to be the individual strand, often represented by separate colors. There are many potential outcomes, and no model is 100% accurate. 

WRAL Weather lesson: Many models for tracking storms look like spaghetti, combine to improve forecast

Track and model plots

In the wake of tragic and traumatic events, feelings like stress, anxiety, grief and depression are natural. Here is a list of crisis counseling and county-by-county resources in North Carolina, as well as nationally. These resources are available for you -- just call. 

Get Help: County-by-county guide to mental health and crisis resources in NC

 Mental health graphic

Police have arrested a North Carolina man they believe touched a teenager inappropriately along the North Myrtle Beach shore.

<b>NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.</b> — Police have arrested a North Carolina man they believe touched a teenager inappropriately along the North Myrtle Beach shore.

Derby C. Sykes, 32, of Bladenboro, has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and was being held without bond, NBC affiliate WMBF reports.

Police say Sykes grabbed and assaulted a 16-year-old girl who was swimming at the beach near 4th Avenue North on Tuesday night before fleeing south along the beach.

During an investigation, detectives obtained an image of Sykes from a security camera at a nearby business, and the girl identified him as her assailant.

Matthew Burns

NC man charged with groping teen in surf off SC beach

Derby Sykes, North Myrtle Beach groping

Four people were killed Wednesday and one person was hospitalized after a head-on crash on N.C. Highway 690 in Moore County

4 people killed, 3 identified in head-on crash on Moore County highway 

Four people killed in Moore County crash

Farmer Brooks Barnes says he had a burn permit and blames drivers braking too fast for a pileup on I-795 that involved two dozen vehicles.

Farmer defends decision to burn fields before pileup crash near I-795

Tractor in field, farming

Darryl Williams' cause of death is listed as a "sudden cardiac arrest in the setting of cocaine intoxication, physical exertion, conducted energy weapon use and physical restraint," the autopsy states.

Cardiac arrest, cocaine intoxication and Taser use: Autopsy outlines Darryl Williams' deadly encounter with Raleigh police

On Tuesday, the man's mother, Sonya Williams, said her son Darryl Williams was the man who died. He was 32 and lived in Raleigh.

The NC Division of Air Quality has replaced the code red with a code orange air quality alert.


Mostly sunny Thursday with temperatures in the 80s, still under code orange air quality

Air Quality alert for Wednesday and Thursday 

Economists believe grocery inflation should continue improving, but expect it to remain above pre-pandemic levels for the duration of the year.

Expect your grocery bill to go down, economists forecast - but not to what it was before COVID

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

The bill would allow betting on professional, college and other sports on phones or other electronic devices.

NC lawmakers take final vote to legalize online sports gambling

Kilauea, the second largest volcano in Hawaii, began erupting on Wednesday after a three-month pause, U.S. Geological Survey officials said.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, is erupting

Videos

The N.C. Baseball Coaches Association has released its all-state teams for the 2023 season.

N.C. Baseball Coaches Association releases all-state teams

Baseball: South Brunswick vs Hoggard (Mar. 21, 2023)

Bulls shortstop Osleivis Basabe, center fielder Kameron Misner and designated hitter Ben Gamel each drove in a run and third baseman Tristan Gray homered, while 1B Taylor Motter homered and SS Masyn Winn and C Ivan Herrera each drove in two runs in Memphis' 9-4 victory over the Durham Bulls Wednesday evening at Autozone Park.

Memphis outslugs Durham, 9-4

Durham Bulls Logo

NEW YORK (AP) — The hazardous air quality at Yankee Stadium didn't prevent Carlos Rodón from putting in some work.

White Sox-Yankees game postponed, Rodón throws simulated game despite hazardous air

Yankees_Dodgers_Baseball_84627

The bill says state regulators can't adopt more stringent protections than federal law. Combined with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, it may open millions of acres to development.