Robeson and Bladen counties took a direct hit from a quick-punch line of strong thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, as the National Weather Service slapped the area with a short-fused alert for gusty winds and blinding downpours. The system barreled across southeastern North Carolina, briefly turning stretches of Interstate 95 and several small towns between Lumberton and Elizabethtown into soggy trouble spots and sending anyone outdoors scrambling for cover.
Around 2:47 p.m., Doppler radar picked up “a strong thunderstorm near Antioch, or 7 miles southeast of Raeford, moving east at 30 mph,” the National Weather Service said, as reported by News & Observer. Forecasters warned that wind gusts could reach up to 40 mph, strong enough to knock down tree limbs and toss around unsecured objects. The warning was slated to remain in effect until 3:30 p.m., while a broader Severe Thunderstorm Watch was set to run through 8 p.m., according to the News & Observer.
Where The Line Was Headed
The Wilmington National Weather Service office laid out a long list of communities in the path of the storm, including Red Springs, St. Pauls, Howellsville, Rex, Duart, Tolarsville, Shannon, Tobermory, Jerome, Parkton, Rennert, Tar Heel and Lumber Bridge, and warned that I-95 between mile markers 26 and 38 could see quickly changing conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. With the storms cruising east at roughly 30 mph, drivers and outdoor workers could go from dry to drenched in a matter of minutes.
Safety Steps While Storms Pass
“If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building,” the NWS advised, as posted by the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Once inside, people were urged to steer clear of corded phones, plumbing and windows while the gusts and lightning moved through. Drivers, meanwhile, were told to slow down, flip on headlights and avoid flooded stretches of road to cut the risk of hydroplaning. Together, the short-term advisory and the wider Severe Thunderstorm Watch signaled that more gusty cells could pop up into the evening.
Why This Matters
Quick-hit storm lines like this have been a repeat visitor to the region earlier this month, triggering similar brief warnings that brought temporary travel headaches and pockets of wind damage, local outlets reported. A continuing Severe Thunderstorm Watch for much of the coastal plain highlights the lingering risk into the night, according to the Charlotte Observer. Emergency managers and public-safety officials are reminding residents to keep phones and weather radios close and to stay tuned for any fresh NWS updates.
On I-95, motorists should be ready for sudden bursts of heavy rain and possible debris on the roadway, especially between mile markers 26 and 38. If you run into water covering the road, turn around and find another route. For the latest information, keep an eye on local media coverage and check the NWS Wilmington page for new advisories.
