Slow moving storms bring downpours, flooding woes and power outages to the Triangle

Storms will move through central North Carolina starting in the afternoon and continuing through the night, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

Posted 10:09 a.m. Aug 1, 2019 — Updated 4:50 a.m. Aug 2, 2019

Alfred Charles

, WRAL.com managing editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — A line of slow moving storms that brought lightning, heavy downpours and hail to parts of the Triangle Thursday afternoon was blamed for flooding and power outages.

The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings throughout the day and evening. Other counties, however, remained under a flood advisory, until around 6:30 p.m. After that, most of the severe weather moved out of the area.

The severe weather did impact some flights into and out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. As of 11 pm. Thursday, there were 11 delays and four cancellations for arriving flights. There were 12 delayed (5 recovery) and three cancellations for departing flights.

WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said there is the possibility of a stray overnight shower as the stalled front continues to bring us some rain.

Around 3 p.m., a falling tree near the intersection of Whitaker Mill and Wake Forest roads was blamed for hitting utility equipment, cutting power to the area. Traffic lights in the area were out and Raleigh police were called to the area to direct traffic.

A tree fell Thursday near the intersection of Whitaker Mill and Wake Forest roads and struck a utility line, cutting power to the area.

According to Duke Energy's power outage map, there were 5,000 customers without power in Raleigh as of 5 p.m. By 8 p.m., the number in the Triangle was around 1,000 with 837 in Garner.

Officials with the Town of Knightdale said communication lines connected to the Knightdale Community Pool were struck by lightning Thursday afternoon, severing the pool's ability to place landline phone calls, especially 911 calls. The prompted town officials to order the pool's closure until it was fixed.

High water was reported at 310 S. West Street on Thursday after a storm moved through Raleigh Thursday afternoon.

"We will put out a notice once we know when the pool will reopen," the town said in a written statement.

The slow-moving storm that rolled through Raleigh flooded an area at 310 S. West Street and left some drivers stranded.

Cleanup continued in a community that's already been hit by storms. Storm damage was still evident in the Oak Park neighborhood.

“We probably have had about a hundred jobs in three days since the last storm,” said Cosim Evans.

But afternoon downpours forced crews to pack up.

“It's just the weather. You know, there’s really nothing you can do about it,” Evans said. "As long as there's work, I'm happy"

After the wet weather moves out, slightly cooler weather is expected.

Thursday’s high will be 91 degrees, while Friday’s high drops to 86 degrees.

According to Gardner, Friday also comes with a good chance for rain and storms, with a 60 percent chance in the afternoon and evening.

That chance decreases during the weekend, with a 50 percent chance of storms Saturday and a 30 percent chance Sunday.

"Be sure to keep your umbrella handy, you’ll need it through the weekend," Gardner said, adding that a 30 percent chance of rain could linger into next week.

Usually, the middle or end of August starts to bring in cooler days, Gardner said. By Aug. 31, our normal high is in the mid 80s, but we lose an hour of sunlight.

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