Afternoon plans across parts of the Piedmont took a sharp turn Sunday when the National Weather Service office in Raleigh slapped a severe thunderstorm warning on Richmond, Hoke and Scotland counties. Forecasters said storms racing northeast across the Sandhills could kick up wind gusts to 60 mph, with enough punch to peel at roofs and siding and bring down trees. A stretch of Interstate 73 was also in the bullseye, and residents in the warned area were urged to get inside and stay there while the alert was active.
In its forecast discussion, the NWS Raleigh forecast discussion pointed to a mid-level disturbance teaming up with a persistent Piedmont trough to focus thunderstorms over the region. That setup, forecasters said, created an environment primed for damaging downbursts, with elevated DCAPE values and fast-moving cells capable of producing strong straight-line winds through the afternoon.
Where the Warning Applied
According to the Raleigh News & Observer, the warning, issued at 1:57 p.m. and in effect until 2:45 p.m., covered Hoke, Richmond and Scotland counties and specifically named Laurinburg, Rockingham, Hamlet, Maxton, Hoffman, Ellerbe, Dobbins Heights, Wagram and Gibson. The advisory also singled out Interstate 73 between mile markers 26 and 30, and the News & Observer quoted the National Weather Service cautioning that residents should “expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.”
How to Stay Safe
Lightning and high winds are not the time to test your luck. Per National Weather Service lightning safety guidance, the safest move is to head to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, stay away from windows and skip using corded phones or plumbing until the storm passes. The agency also urges people to wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or roll of thunder before heading back outside, and if you cannot get indoors, to avoid open fields, hilltops and isolated trees.
Driving and Travel Advice
For those caught on the road, the News & Observer's storm tips recommend turning on headlights, easing off the gas and favoring middle lanes when visibility tanks. Drivers are urged never to push through standing or moving floodwater, no matter how shallow it looks. The guidance also stresses giving trucks and other large vehicles extra room in gusty conditions and steering clear of puddles that can trigger hydroplaning on slick pavement.
Forecasters note that storms like these can ramp up or fall apart quickly, so officials advise keeping phones charged, monitoring county emergency channels and local media, and treating any fresh warnings as a prompt to act, not a suggestion. Local authorities and the National Weather Service will issue additional updates if conditions change.
