Sunday evening turned nasty in a hurry for parts of Sampson and Wayne counties when a severe thunderstorm warning was updated at about 6:08 p.m. EDT on July 5, 2026, and extended through 6:45 p.m. The National Weather Service warned that storms packing nickel-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph were racing across the area, with heavy rain and ice pellets expected to hammer visibility, trigger hydroplaning and bring down trees.
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, the storms were lined up from roughly 10 miles northwest of Beautancus, stretching through Mount Olive, Bowdens and Warsaw, and pushing northeast at about 20 mph. Forecasters said the cells could drop nickel-sized hail, about 0.88 inches across, and deliver damaging wind gusts, and they urged anyone in the path to move quickly to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
The warning called out several specific trouble spots, including Mount Olive, Turkey, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park and Brogden, and it covered a stretch of Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 351 and 359, according to the Charlotte Observer. The update also relayed safety tips for drivers: slow down, stay in middle lanes when possible and steer clear of standing water to cut the risk of hydroplaning and crashes.
Safety steps and lightning guidance
The National Weather Service advises heading indoors and staying away from windows during severe storms, and it backs the familiar “30-30” guideline: wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before heading back outside. For anyone who has to be on the road when storms roll through, officials recommend slowing down, turning on headlights and pulling over to a safe spot rather than trying to push through deep or fast-moving water.
What to watch next
Forecasters said the storm line would continue tracking northeast, with areas under the warning at risk for tree and structural damage where the strongest wind bursts and hail cores hit. Local outlets followed the system on live radar and in real time as alerts stacked up, and the Charlotte Observer captured the text of the National Weather Service warning as new watches and warnings went up.
