Strong to Severe Storms Possible, Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH: The Severe Weather Threat has increased some for Eastern/Coastal NC; thus a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service until 8PM for most of Eastern North Carolina. Warm and muggy conditions are already resulting in increased CAPE values all across Eastern NC up to 3000j/kg, allowing for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon across eastern North Carolina, in a hot and humid environment. Sufficiently strong winds aloft will result in a risk of locally damaging wind gusts and some hail in the most intense cells. The main threat for a few strong to Severe Storms will be along and East of I-95 to the coast from now until after sunset 8-9PM. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally produce tornadoes, although that threat is very low today. .

NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES INCLUDED UNDER THE WATCH ARE

BEAUFORT BERTIE BRUNSWICK

CAMDEN CARTERET CHOWAN

CRAVEN CURRITUCK DARE

DUPLIN GATES GREENE

HYDE JONES LENOIR

MARTIN NEW HANOVER ONSLOW

PAMLICO PASQUOTANK PENDER

PERQUIMANS PITT TYRRELL

I’ll keep you updated through the afternoon and evening, no reason to panic; widespread severe weather is not expected. A few strong to severe storms are possible.

-Ethan