Severe storms leave behind damage, death as they move east
RALEIGH, N.C. — Tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings expired for a majority of North Carolina Sunday night as a line of severe storms that caused death and destruction across the state moved east.
A tornado watch issued by the National Weather Service expired for most counties at 11 p.m., but will remain in effect for some eastern counties, including Edgecombe and Nash, until 3 a.m..
A tornado warning was issued for Vance and Warren counties Sunday night, but quickly expired.
A flash flood watch has been issued for multiple counties, including Wake, Cumberland, Chatham, Johnston, Durham and Orange, until 2 a.m.
“We are now seeing this as more of a flash flooding event than a severe weather event,” WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.
More than 3,000 power outages were reported in Cary and more than 2,000 were without power in Durham during the peak of the storm in the Triangle.
Many throughout the Triangle reported downed trees and flooding on area roadways.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed near the intersection of Edgemont Road and Sadie Drive in Wendell. The National Weather Service was investigating the potential of a tornado touchdown.
According to Maze, radar images were showing a “debris ball” in Guilford County, which is evidence that a tornado had touched down in the area.
Authorities said a state of emergency has been declared in Guilford County after at least one person died as a result of the weather. Authorities said the deceased person, who was not identified, died when a tree fell onto a car.
Photos from the scene showed trees in the middle of the road, roofs that had been ripped off houses and a mobile home had been lifted across the ground and blown across the street.
According to NBC affiliate WXII, confirmed tornadoes were reported in Danville and Chatham and thousands were without power as a result of the storm. Officials said dozens of power lines were down throughout the county.
Officials said many schools in Guilford County were without power Sunday night as a result of the storm and Hampton Elementary School was severely damaged.
All Guilford County schools will be closed Monday as a result of storm damage around the county.
“The recent severe weather in North Carolina has affected families and schools. This evening, I talked to Superintendent Contreras is Guilford County and assured her that we at the Department of Public Instruction will help in any way we can. We will be reaching out to other affected school districts Monday as well,” State Superintendent Mark Johnson said in a statement.
Crews in Greensboro will begin a full damage assessment Monday morning.
Check out a 1-hour loop view of radar from the Dual Doppler 5000
Monday will be calmer, but cooler, with a high around 60 degrees. Wednesday and Thursday will be the warmest days of the week, with highs in the upper 70s.
Source: http://www.wral.com/tornado-watch-issued-for-triangle-surrounding-areas-until-11-pm/17487977/