A severe thunderstorm warning barreled into Forsyth County on Monday evening, putting Winston-Salem and its neighboring towns on high alert as a fast-moving storm cell threatened damaging winds. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said gusts could hit roughly 60 mph, strong enough to topple trees and knock down power lines. Local authorities urged residents to head indoors, stay put and avoid travel until the storm passed.
At 5:54 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a warning that stayed in effect until 7 p.m. for Forsyth County, naming Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons, Bermuda Run, Huntsville, Lewisville, Walkertown, Rural Hall, Pfafftown and Belews Creek, according to News & Observer. The advisory told residents to brace for wind gusts up to 60 mph and flagged Interstate 40 between mile markers 182 and 204 and Interstate 74 between mile markers 56 and 63 as being squarely in the warned area. Officials tracked the cell near Enon or East Bend and said it was racing east at about 55 mph.
What the NWS warned
The National Weather Service office in Raleigh warned that “straight line winds can blow down trees, power lines, and damage mobile homes and other buildings” and urged people to “seek shelter in a sturdy structure until the storm has passed.” Forecasters cautioned that gusty winds paired with frequent lightning could cause localized structural and utility damage. For official products and real-time updates, see NWS Raleigh.
Safety tips for drivers and homes
Drivers were advised to slow down, turn on headlights and steer clear of standing water, since hydroplaning can occur when water builds up faster than a vehicle can push it away, causing tires to ride on a thin film. The News & Observer storm roundup echoed NWS guidance to avoid flooded roadways, keep extra distance from large vehicles and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning before heading back outside. With lightning responsible for about 20 fatalities annually across the United States, officials stressed that being indoors is the safest bet during storms like this. Residents were urged to keep an ear on traffic reports and local emergency channels until the threat cleared.
Forsyth County and the City of Winston-Salem emergency management teams asked residents to report downed trees and power outages to local authorities and to follow official shelter and safety information. The city’s preparedness page details steps for high-wind situations and where to find updates, per City of Winston-Salem. Officials also encouraged residents to keep watching National Weather Service products and county alerts for any extensions of the warning or new advisories.
