Robeson County got a jolt Monday afternoon when forecasters flagged a strong thunderstorm capable of spinning up a landspout, tossing out gusty winds and dumping heavy rain. Doppler radar locked onto the storm near the South of the Border tourist stop, roughly 8 miles northeast of Dillon, tracking it as it pushed northeast at about 20 mph toward Lumberton, Pembroke and surrounding communities.
Radar Track And Areas In The Crosshairs
According to the Charlotte Observer, the National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement at 1:35 p.m., keeping it in place until 2 p.m. The advisory called out several Robeson County spots by name, including Lumberton, Pembroke, Rowland, Buie and Purvis, and it specifically covered Interstate 95 in North Carolina between mile markers 1 and 20.
What Forecasters Saw
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Wilmington said conditions were “favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel clouds,” the kind that occasionally make it all the way to the ground and can kick up very strong wind gusts. Forecasters warned that this storm could produce gusts up to about 40 mph, with minor damage to outdoor objects possible, and flagged torrential downpours that could trigger localized flooding.
Safety Steps For Drivers And Residents
The advisory urged people to head indoors when possible, avoid driving through flooded roads and steer clear of tall, isolated trees, according to the Charlotte Observer. Drivers were reminded to switch on headlights, favor middle lanes when they can and leave extra room for braking on slick pavement.
Hoodline previously reported on a similar fast-moving storm line that swept across Bladen, Columbus and Robeson counties in March, a sign that this season has already delivered multiple quick-hitting squall lines over southeastern North Carolina. The National Weather Service also notes that lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year and is responsible for roughly 20 deaths annually, a reminder that any thunderstorm remains dangerous until it clears the area.
