More storms on the way
By Staff Reports
Published in News on April 30, 2014 1:46 PM
Wayne County and much of the central part of the state remain under the threat of severe weather today, with heavy rains, strong winds, hail and tornadoes possible later in the day.
Also, the area is under a flash flood watch until 6 a.m. on Thursday. Rain totals today could top 1.5 inches
While the county experienced heavy downpours, wind and severe thunderstorms Tuesday evening and overnight, it was spared the worst of the system that moved across the state, officials said.
Another round is storms is expected this afternoon, but the worst of it is expected to be west of the county toward Raleigh, said Gail Hartfield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
"There is a chance of heavy storms with strong winds, hail and tornadoes," she said. "The atmosphere is more vigorous and conditions are more favorable for damaging winds and hail. The peak, though, will be west of you and more toward the Triangle."
The threat is greater this afternoon and into the evening, she said.
The Wayne County Office of Emergency Services is meeting every four hours as reports come in from the National Weather Service.
"We had some power outages across the city and county last night. Also, there were a few storm-related fires and some flooding in low lying areas that has mostly cleared now," OES Director Joe Gurley said.
Goldsboro Fire Department Assistant Chief James Farfour said a rash of fire alarms set off by lightning kept the fire department busy for a while, but there where no major events.
The Weather Service sent out survey crews this morning to assess damages from Tuesday's storm in Cumberland and Edgecombe counties. That is more difficult than usual because of the number of storms that hit the state over the past several days, Ms. Hartfield said.
Showers remain likely through Thursday morning with a thunderstorm possible before noon with more showers and thunderstorms possible.
Mount Olive Town Manager Charles Brown said no damage or flooded streets had been reported in town.
"But we have to remain vigilant because more is expected tonight," he said.
Goldsboro Public Works Director Jose Martinez said that Goldsboro missed the brunt of the storm damage.
"We had no calls about water problems or tree problems," he said. "It's like the tornados went all around us and none come at us. Someone must have been watching over Goldsboro."