A powerful cold front is sweeping across North Carolina on Wednesday, shaking up an already unstable weather pattern. By Tuesday night, showers and thunderstorms had already begun to take hold in the western part of the state, setting the stage for a dynamic weather shift.
As the front pushes eastward, a line of storms will steadily march across the state, bringing intense downpours, gusty winds, and the potential for severe conditions. Residents should brace for a turbulent day ahead as Mother Nature makes her presence felt with force.
These effects will intensify in central North Carolina from mid to late Wednesday morning. Yes, scattered showers and storms are anticipated during the morning commute, which might lead to some downpours. However, based on the timing of the front, the most significant impacts will occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Wednesday across central North Carolina. Areas along and east of US 1 will have a better chance of seeing an isolated strong storm with damaging gusts. Further east along the I-95 corridor, the chance of severe storms is significantly greater, with the risk of an isolated tornado.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in eastern North Carolina until Wednesday morning. The primary line of storms that pose a threat to severe weather will cross I-95 around noon and then move offshore by 6 p.m.
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This puts the primary line of storms across the coastal plain and Outer Banks during peak heating times. The necessary components for embedded supercell storms will be present. This places eastern North Carolina in the most favorable area for tornadoes and destructive wind gusts in the state on Wednesday.
As previously stated, this front will deliver bitter-cold air behind the showers and storms. The bulk of the state will likely experience temps below freezing Wednesday night. Cold air will keep high temperatures approximately 10 degrees below average on Thursday and Friday afternoons.
With a chilly end to the week approaching, make careful you heat your home securely. When using space heaters, leave at least 3 feet of free space around them. Never leave space heaters on while you’re away, and check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.