At 5:16 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the National Weather Service office in Morristown fired off a Special Weather Statement for a strong thunderstorm near Murphy, warning it could pack damaging wind and hail. Doppler radar pegged the storm about eight miles northwest of Murphy and creeping west at roughly 10 mph, with estimated wind gusts around 50 mph and hail up to half an inch. Hiawassee Dam, Violet, and Unaka were singled out as spots most likely to feel the brunt of the rough weather.
The alert quickly made the rounds locally after Monroe County Emergency Management reposted the NWS text and tagged nearby communities. Weather aggregators that scrape official NWS products echoed the same hazards for Cherokee County, N.C., and southern Monroe County, Tenn., according to LocalConditions.
Radar Track and Immediate Threats
In its statement, NWS Morristown reported the thunderstorm sitting about eight miles northwest of Murphy and sliding west at close to 10 mph. Forecasters pegged potential wind gusts up to 50 mph and hail to 0.5 inch in diameter, the kind of punch that can snap small limbs and knock around lightweight outdoor items.
What Locals Should Do Now
“Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects,” the NWS warned, urging anyone outside to move into a sturdy building until the storm passes. Residents were advised to lock down or bring inside loose items such as patio furniture and trash cans, and to steer clear of any routes where fallen branches might be blocking the road.
Watch Status and Where to Get Updates
A severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect into the evening for portions of southwestern North Carolina and may be extended if storms strengthen. For official updates and any new warnings, residents are urged to keep an eye on local emergency pages and public feeds such as GovOneStop.
