Rush-Hour Thunderstorm Pummels Roxboro As Hail And 60 mph Gusts Rock The Piedmont

A National Weather Service severe thunderstorm warning rolled across the North Carolina Piedmont on Wednesday afternoon, putting parts of Granville, Person and Vance counties on immediate alert. Forecasters warned that the storms could spit out penny-size hail and wind gusts near 60 mph, an ill-timed hit during the late-afternoon commute that had drivers and lake-goers on edge.

The Warning: Where And When

The National Weather Service issued the severe thunderstorm warning at 4:35 p.m., in effect until 5:15 p.m., covering northern Granville County, Person County and northwestern Vance County. Named locations under the advisory included Roxboro, Concord, Stovall, Bethel Hill, Bushy Fork, Hyco Lake, Tungsten, Mayo Reservoir, Hyco Marina and Surl, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Storm Track And Hazards

According to the National Weather Service, the storm cells were marching east at roughly 30 mph along a line through the warned area. Radar indicated hail up to about 0.75 inches across and wind gusts near 60 mph, strong enough to damage roofs, siding and trees. The full advisory is available from the National Weather Service in Raleigh.

How To Stay Safe

Forecasters urged anyone in the warning zone to get inside a sturdy building and stay there. The NWS cautioned, “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.” The agency also notes that the United States sees roughly 25 million lightning strikes each year and about 20 lightning fatalities annually, so people are advised to avoid corded phones, plumbing and metal while the storm moves through. More lightning safety guidance is available from the National Weather Service.

What It Signals For The Piedmont

This warning follows a run of fast-moving, intense cells across the region in recent weeks, a reminder of how quickly a “routine” afternoon storm can turn dangerous. Local reporting pointed to a May 22 hail-and-wind blast in Statesville as an example of the recurring, short-lived squall lines that have battered parts of the Piedmont, as covered by a May 22 hail-and-wind episode.

For now, residents are urged to keep weather alerts turned on, stay tuned to local broadcasters and county emergency channels, and remain indoors if they are within the warned counties until officials cancel the advisory and crews clear hazards such as downed limbs or power lines.