Quick storms soak Triangle

"There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms all across central North Carolina tonight," WRAL meteorologist Kim Deaner said. Some of those could be strong to severe and could include hail or high winds.

Strong thunderstorms were first reported in Chatham, Harnett, Orange and Durham counties at about 5:30 p.m. The showers sent visitors scurrying for cover at the Got to Be N.C. Festival at the state fairgrounds.

A truck slipped on rain-soaked roads near the intersection of Creedmoor and Norwood roads in Raleigh at about 6:30 p.m. and hit a power pole, knocking out service to about 200 customers of Progress Energy.  The driver was not seriously injured.

Two other wrecks were reported just before 10 p.m. on Six Forks Road in Raleigh.

The fast-moving, heavy rain fell at a rate of about 3 inches per hour in some places, according to the National Weather Service.

The atmosphere stabilizes after midnight, lowering the risk of thunderstorms, Deaner said, but the rain will stick around.

"Sunday again will bring more clouds than sunshine," Deaner added.

Conditions will again be ripe for slow-moving storms to develop from the Triangle south and east Sunday through the late afternoon and evening, Deaner said.

Temperatures will stay in the 70s Sunday and Monday, and the chance for wet weather lingers through mid-week.