Showers possible throughout Wednesday evening

Raleigh, N.C. — Widely scattered showers could continue into the evening in central North Carolina, WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said. Radar showed widespread rain across the southeast United States.

Fishel predicted drier air overnight after early evening thundershowers popped up across the state Wednesday.

A muggy afternoon ended with heavy rain and lighting in counties to the north and south of downtown Raleigh.

Steady rain fell in Harnett and Lee counties during the five o'clock hour, bringing wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

A similar strong storm rolled through Franklin and Nash counties, bringing the threat of damaging winds, hail and lightning.

No damage was reported and warnings had cleared by 6 p.m. but some rain lingered in the areas of Rocky Mount and Fayetteville.

The humidity stays in the forecast overnight and into Thursday when temperatures will again reach into the 90s.