SOUTHEASTERN, N.C. — A tornado watch has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for areas of New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties, along with more than thirty other North Carolina counties in the path of a strong cold front that has moved across the country this week.
The tornado watch was issued at 1:15 p.m. Friday and will be in effect until midnight.
A special weather statement was posted at 1:43 p.m. for northwestern Pender and Central Bladen Counties.
“Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm,” the NWS stated.
At 1:43 p.m., Dopler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Lagoon, 9 miles southeast of Elizabethtown, moving north at 45 mph, according to the NWS.
Locations impacted include Burgaw, Rowan, Whitestocking, Penderlea, Point Caswell, Long Creek, Murray Town, Lagoon, Rooks, Malpass Corner, Ashton, Willard, Wards Corner, Maple Hill, White Lake, St. Helena, Atkinson, Watha, and Pender Memorial Hospital.
“Thunderstorms can pose a variety of threats including gusty winds, small hail, cloud to ground lightning, and localized flooding. It is recommended that you remain indoors until the storm passes,” the statement said.
A wind advisory is also in effect from 9 a.m. Friday morning to 11 p.m.
“Strong winds may blow down limbs, old and weakened trees and unsecured objects such as trash cans and lawn furniture. Power lines could also be affected resulting in isolated to scattered power outages,” the wind advisory stated.
A wind advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected, and the NWS urged drivers to use caution, especially when driving high profile vehicles traveling across bridges and overpasses.
The NWS urged people in the area to listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov for updated information.