Damaging winds up to 70 mph and large hail possible this afternoon and evening.
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (Smokies.LIVE Storm Center) — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for portions of Western and Central North Carolina and Western and Northern South Carolina, including parts of the Smokies.LIVE coverage area.
The watch is in effect Saturday from 1:05 p.m. until 8 p.m. EDT.
🌩️ PRIMARY THREATS
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center says the main threats include:
- Scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph
- Isolated large hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter
Thunderstorm clusters are expected to develop and move east-southeastward through the afternoon and evening.
The storms will be loosely organized, but some stronger cores could produce damaging winds and isolated severe hail.
📍 SMOKIES.LIVE COVERAGE AREA
The watch includes Haywood and Swain counties in Western North Carolina.
That includes communities across the western Smokies and surrounding areas.
⚠️ STORM CENTER ALERT
If you’re in the watch area, this is the time to stay weather-aware.
A watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop. It does not mean a severe storm is occurring at your exact location.
Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, keep an eye on the sky and know where you will go if a warning is issued.
If a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued for your location, move indoors immediately and stay away from windows.
Damaging winds are the primary concern today, but hail could also become a problem with the strongest storms.
Stay with the Smokies.LIVE Storm Center for updates throughout the afternoon and evening.
When thunder roars, go indoors.
No responses yet