System that spawned Dallas tornadoes to bring severe storms to NC

Much of central North Carolina, including the Triangle, is under a Level 2 risk for severe weather, but WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said the region shouldn't see the devastation that the system wreaked on Dallas.

Two tornadoes ripped through Dallas, tossing trees into homes, tearing off storefronts and downing power lines. Other tornadoes killed four people in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Maze said there will be less instability in North Carolina's atmosphere when the system arrives Tuesday afternoon, so the storms won't be as severe.

"It is a much weaker system now than it was this time yesterday when it was rolling through eastern Texas," Maze said Monday night.

The Texas area had a strong upper-level jet stream and moisture in the atmosphere as the front rolled through, he said.

"We'll have a strong jet stream, but the difference is we don't have the storm energy in our atmosphere tomorrow like they did in Texas," he said.

An isolated tornado can't be ruled out, but the area is at higher risk for strong straight-line winds, Maze said.

The system will bring about a quarter-inch of rain to the region.

Tuesday's high will be in the mid 70s, but the high will drop almost 10 degrees, to the mid 60s, for Wednesday.

"It will be warmer Tuesday ahead of the front, but once the front passes we will have cooler air arrive for Wednesday," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

Most mornings this week will be chilly but not as cold as they were last week. Thursday and Friday will see highs in the upper 60s or low 70s before another chance for rain moves in for the weekend.