Windy storms blow through Sandhills; cooler days to come
A line of severe thunderstorms sparked tornado warnings Thursday afternoon in Wayne, Hoke and Cumberland counties although no damage or injuries were reported.
Posted — UpdatedThe storms came at the end of a day of steady rain across North Carolina and ahead of a cold front that will see temperatures dip back toward the freezing mark.
Just before 5 p.m., a bright line of storms lit the radar along a line from Sanford south to Charlotte. The entire southern half of the state was under a low risk – a 1 out of 5 on a 5-point scale – for severe weather through Thursday afternoon.
In the Triangle, Thursday stayed gloomy and chilly without the severe threat.
"All across the viewing area, the storms will be blustery as they cross the area in the vicinity of 4 to 6 p.m.," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.
Through Thursday night, much of the state could see more than an inch of rain accumulate. Behind the rain comes a cold front that leaves Friday and the weekend feeling much cooler.
Friday will be a sunny, breezy day as a high pressure system from the north and west pushes out the rain-producing low.
"Our winds are going to be a big deal," Gardner said. "We could see gusts as high as 45 mph at times on Friday."
Look for early morning lows to dip near freezing Friday and through the weekend, with highs only in the mid- to upper-50s.
Those headed to Billy Graham's funeral in Charlotte can expect sunshine, Gardner said, but it will also be cool and breezy.
The saving grace for the weekend will be widespread sun. The forecast calls for clear skies through Monday.
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