Tornado Watch Issued For Much Of Central North Carolina

A Tornado Watch was issued for much of central North Carolina on Thursday (March 18), including Durham, Wake, and Cumberland counties. The alert will likely remain in effect until 9 p.m. Though the chance for severe weather has slightly diminished in the last day, the threat of storms still looms overhead.

"Just because you see it's downgraded you go, 'Oh well that's good,'" said ABC 11 meteorologist Don Schwenneker. "It is good; it means less of a chance, but it still means there is a pretty good chance of seeing severe weather really throughout the region today ... just know that the risk for damaging winds really hasn't decreased that much."

On Wednesday evening, it was reported that much of central North Carolina was under a high-risk warning for severe weather Thursday afternoon, with WRAL ranking it a rare Level 4, meaning tornadoes could touch down, bringing along thunderstorms, damaging wind, and large hail. As of Thursday, however, that threat has decreased to a Level 3. While it seems promising, meteorologist Kat Campbell stresses that it is important to understand the threat is still there.

"You should be reviewing your safety plan and if a warning is issued, that is when you should be implementing your safety plan," said Campbell. "We do not have any Tornado Warnings in effect [in the immediate area] but there are two tornado warnings in effect in the state."

Under the alert, wind gusts of 75 mph or more could be reported, as could power outages and downed trees. WRAL reports that tornadoes could touch down in southern and eastern counties.

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