A strong weather system that has dropped up to 6 inches of rain from Texas to Alabama since Monday will leave the Mississippi Valley and head toward North Carolina on Thursday.
Forecasters say this system and another coming from the upper Midwest will likely bring violent storms to the state and could even spawn tornadoes.
The National Weather Service released dangerous weather outlook from the mountains through Piedmont to the coast.
When will bad weather hit Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill?
Thursday will be windy, forecasters say, with a south wind 15 to 23 mph and gusts up to 34 mph. High temperatures will be around 72 degrees Thursday, falling to the mid 50s Thursday evening.
▪ Rain: The National Weather Service says showers could begin in central North Carolina Thursday morning, with thunderstorms possible after noon. THE heaviest precipitation should between noon and 5 p.m. Thursday.
▪ The winds: The winds go increase slightly Thursday evening, with sustained winds of 17 to 26 mph and gusts up to 39 mph. Meteorologists say the greatest risk from this system is possible straight-line winds and isolated tornadoes Thursday afternoon through mid-evening.
▪ Tornadoes: Forecasters say they can’t rule out the risk of one or two “weak” tornadoes, probably between noon and 5 p.m.
How much rain is coming?
Total amounts of rain in central North Carolina, from Thursday morning until about 2 a.m. Friday could be half an inch to more than an inch, depending on where the storms occur.
Some minor local flooding is possible in areas of severe thunderstorms.
What about this weekend?
Storm systems are expected to move offshore by midday Friday, according to the forecast.
A high pressure system moving behind the storms is expected to bring slightly cooler and generally drier airsays the National Weather Service, although it will continue to be of storm with prevailing winds of 9 mph to 17 mph and gusts up to 35 mph possible.
Sunny skies are expected most of the day.
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