The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a tornado watch for Richmond County, as well as Moore, Lee, Harnett, Wayne, Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland, Person, Granville, Vance, Warren, Halifax, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Franklin, Nash, Edgecombe, Chatham, Wake, Johnston, Wilson, and Sampson counties.
The watch will remain in effect until 5 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of central North Carolina. Tornadoes can strike quickly, causing extensive damage. Severe thunderstorms produce hail quarter size or larger and damaging winds of 58 mph and greater.
Tornado winds can destroy mobile homes, severely damage homes and buildings, overturn vehicles and collapse the roofs of stores, gymnasiums and cafeterias. If threatened with a tornado, the National Weather Service suggests the following guidelines for safety.
If a tornado warning is issued or a tornado is moving towards your area, abandon mobile homes and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you are indoors, take shelter in a basement. If no basement is available, go to the lowest floor in an interior room such as a closet or bathroom. Stay away from doors, windows and outside walls. Flying debris can easily penetrate exterior walls. Put as many walls between you and the tornado as you can. Protect yourself from flying and falling debris with pillows or blankets.
If you are driving and a tornado threatens, seek shelter in a strong building. Do not stop under overpasses. If no shelter is available, as a last resort abandon the vehicle and lie flat in a low lying area or ditch.
Monitor the latest information from the national weather service by listening to NOAA weather radio or by visiting the National Weather Service of Raleigh’s website at http://weather.gov/raleigh. You can also keep up with the latest weather on a web enabled cell phone or other mobile device by visiting http://mobile.weather.gov.
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