News
Weather watches, warnings in effect for region
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 11, 2008
RALEIGH - A tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for all of central North Carolina, including Forsyth, Davidson and Stokes counties.
At least 20 counties in Southwest Virginia and Northwest and central North Carolina are also under a tornado watch, which means that conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form although none had been spotted.
Warnings are issued when tornadoes are actually seen on radar or by weather spotters.
Brandon Locklear, a forecast meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, said that the unstable conditions were caused as warm air moved in behind the cool air contained in a storm front that blew through the western Triad about 2 p.m.
"There are such strong winds aloft that conditions are very unstable," Locklear said.
A line of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms over the western Piedmont is expected to intensify as it moves across central North Carolina through 4 p.m. today.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 4 p.m. for northern Watauga County and western Ashe County.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued earlier today for Stokes and Surry counties. The National Weather Service said it is likely that similar warnings could be issued as the storm sweeps across the state today.
ADVERTISEMENT
N.C. Politics
Federal Politics
Advertisement
