Weather

Severe weather produces flooding in Sampson County; level 1 threat continues Friday

A tornado warning that was issued for eastern Sampson County on Thursday has expired.

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A tornado warning that was issued for eastern Sampson County on Thursday has expired. The storm led to a large amount of flooding in the county.

The National Weather Service issued the warning at around 5:45 p.m. and it ran until 6:15 p.m. after rotation was seen in an area just east of Clinton and west of Warsaw, in the area of Turkey. The storm system was moving north northeast at 5 mph. The NWS said rotation had been seen and could form again in the area during the warning.

NWS officials will likely survey the area on Friday to get an idea if a tornado touched down in the area.

A flash flood warning was also in effect for the area until 9:15 a.m. Friday as heavy rains, as much as five inches in under an hour, had fallen. The system was producing heavy rain and strong winds with lots of lightning. Some hail was also possible along with the potential for flooding.

A part of I-40 West in Sampson County was closed due for a period of time to flooding in that area, WRAL's Rosalia Fodera reports. The area has since reopened.

Several people submitted photos to WRAL.com that showed flooding on roads and in neighborhoods from the storms.

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Another area of storms north of Sanford and west of Raleigh was also producing heavy rain and strong winds. It was also moving mostly north. A thunderstorm warning was issued for that area expired around 6 p.m. Thursday.

Parts of the Triangle westward will continue to be under a level 1 risk for severe weather for the rest of the day Thursday.

The entire state has a chance of thunderstorms. Durham, Orange, Chatham, Moore, Lee, Person and Granville counties could see the most damaging rain and wind gusts. The storms Thursday and Friday won't be as powerful as what residents saw Wednesday, when there were two tornado warnings, including an EF-0 tornado that touched down in Warren County.

Halifax County has a flood warning in place until further notice. On Friday, the Lower Roanoke River near Scotland neck is expected to rise above flood stage at midnight and rise near 30 feet by Sunday morning. If the river reaches 31 feet high, then there is widespread flooding on the bank, according to the National Weather Service.

First thing Friday morning there will be waves of rain rolling through. The threat for rain and storms decreases in the Triangle, though Person, Granville and Vance counties will be under a level 1 risk.

Both Friday and Saturday will be hot and humid, with highs in the low 80s and scattered showers.

7-Day Forecast

Sunday will be dry, less humid and pleasant, with a high in the upper 70s.

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