Strong, fast-moving thunderstorms charged across eastern North Carolina on Sunday afternoon as the National Weather Service warned of frequent lightning and damaging wind gusts capable of snapping tree limbs and turning unsecured outdoor items into airborne hazards. The rough weather barreled through a patchwork of small towns and rural stretches, triggering urgent alerts and heightening concerns for drivers. Anyone caught outside was urged to get into a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle and stay put until the line passed.
Around 1:39 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong storms from Lewiston Woodville to near Jason, moving east at roughly 35 mph, according to The Charlotte Observer. That early special weather statement singled out Greenville, Washington, Winterville, Williamston and Ayden as communities in the path and warned of wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Warnings Upgraded In Mid-Afternoon
By mid-afternoon, the Newport/Morehead City office had escalated parts of the line to a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, issuing a 3:00 p.m. bulletin that placed Washington and central Martin counties under a warning until 3:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. That product described a storm near Williamston racing east at about 55 mph with radar-indicated wind gusts up to 60 mph and warned of potential roof, siding and tree damage. The warning named towns from Williamston and Plymouth to Robersonville and Jamesville and instructed residents to move to interior rooms and to report any hail or wind damage to the office.
Lightning Risk Underscores The Danger
“Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year,” the National Weather Service notes, and it “kills about 20 people in the United States each year,” a reminder of why the frequent lightning in this line of storms is no small concern. Forecasters also cautioned that strong, gusty winds could bring down limbs and send loose items tumbling, raising the risk of power outages and littering roads with hazardous debris.
Local emergency managers and utility crews kept an eye on conditions as the storms marched east, while residents were strongly urged to tie down or bring in outdoor furniture, get pets indoors and steer clear of travel in areas reporting high winds or frequent lightning. For the latest watches and warnings, officials advised checking the National Weather Service office’s products along with local media updates through the afternoon and evening.
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