Timeline: Severe storms roll through NC Jan. 9, 2024
Tuesday was a WRAL Weather Alert Day due to the threat of heavy rainfall, damaging winds, flooding and isolated tornadoes. The Triangle was under a Level 2 risk for severe weather, and multiple counties southeast of Raleigh, including Cumberland and Harnett, are under a Level 3 risk for severe weather due to a line of storms moving in from the west.
The Weather Alert Day ended at 9 p.m.
WRAL Weather Alert Day | School closings and delays | Track rain with the DualDoppler5000 | All weather alerts
- Some school systems closed Tuesday due to the severe weather. Others will have delayed openings on Wednesday.
- Duke Energy is prepared for Tuesday's WRAL Weather Alert Day. Crews are on standby, ready to respond to any potential power outages.
- Click or tap here to view photos of flooding and wind damage from Tuesday.
- Want to send us a picture or video of what weather conditions are like in your area? Use our ReportIt online submission form.
Timeline
10:00 p.m.: Flash flood warnings end for Wake, Durham, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Vance counties
9:45 p.m.: Chatham County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Wednesday. Click or tap here to see a list of closings and delays.
9:33: p.m.: Nash County Public Schools, will operate under a two-hour delay on Wednesday
9:25 p.m.: Warren County Schools has canceled classes for students on Wednesday. It is an optional workday for staff. The closure is because Wednesday was originally scheduled to be an early release day for students and a Wellness Wednesday for staff, the district announced.
9:20 p.m.: Due to roof damage caused by Tuesday evening's storm, Brogden Primary in Dudley will be closed for staff and students on Wednesday.
9:10 p.m.: In Holly Springs, New HIll Road is closed between Stonender Way and Cateswood Drive, the town announced on Facebook. Old Holly Springs Apex Road also is closed near the bridge between Ivy Arbor Way and the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center due to high water.
9:02 p.m.: Johnston County Public Schools and Cumberland County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Wednesday.
8:52 p.m.: The National Weather Service has continued the flash flood warning for Apex, Cary and Raleigh until 10 p.m.
8:25 p.m.: The threat of severe weather has ended for central North Carolina. However, more rain, gusts up to 40 mph and flooded roads remain as threats to central North Carolina.
7:51 p.m.: Lee County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay Wednesday to allow the assessment of roads and school buildings to ensure the safety of students and staff.
7:50 p.m.: The National Weather Service canceled the tornado watch for the following counties: Durham, Franklin, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Sampson, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson.
7:45 p.m.: Harnett County Schools will operate Wednesday on a two-hour delay.
7:10 p.m.: Most of the town of Louisburg is without power.
7 p.m.: A tornado warning expired for Johnston County.
6:50 p.m.: Edgecombe County Public Schools and Moore County Schools are among the districts operating on a two-hour delay for Wednesday.
6:45 p.m.: There are 18,254 customers in Wake County without power, according to Duke Energy. Statewide, there are 142,029 customers without power.
6:35 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for parts of Johnston County until 7 p.m. Severe thunderstorms are capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage near Smithfield. The system is moving northeast at 50 mph.
6:07 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Durham, Franklin, Granville, Vance, Wake, and Warren counties until 9 p.m.
6:05 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Clayton, Fayetteville and Fuquay-Varina until 7 p.m. The storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph, according to the NWS.
6 p.m.: It appears Interstate 95 has reopened just south of Rocky Mount. A Rocky Mount city spokesperson said there was a downed power line. The spokesperson said it was only covering a small part of the interstate and it's passable.
5:55 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Raleigh, Cary and Wake Forest until 7 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is also in effect until 6:30 p.m. for Fayetteville, Fuquay-Varina and Hope Mills until 6:30 p.m.
Also, a severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 6:15 p.m. for Apex and Durham.
5:50 p.m.: Duke Energy shows there are 123,577 customers without power in North Carolina.
5:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Mecklenburg County, Virginia, until 6:15 p.m.
A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property.
5:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning for Granville County.
5:15 p.m.: Interstate 95 is closed in both directions just south of Rocky Mount. The interstate is closed between Mile Marker 132 and Mile Marker 138 near Rocky Mount and Sandy Cross Road.
5:10 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of northwest Durham, Granville and Person counties until 5:45 p.m.
5 p.m.: The water at Ellerbe Creek in Durham's Northgate Park is high on Tuesday evening.
4:50 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Lee, Moore, Orange and Wake counties until 5:30 p.m.
4:45 p.m.: The tornado warning has expired for Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties.
4:40 p.m.: Floodwater is blocking Umstead Drive between Greene Street and Village Drive. Orange County is under a flash flood warning until 7:15 p.m.
4:35 p.m.: Emergency Management personnel are responding to multiple reports of downed trees in Chatham and Wayne counties.
4:05 p.m.: The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties until 4:45 p.m.
4 p.m.: The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Bladen and Robeson counties until 4:15 p.m.
A tornado warning expired for Cumberland and Harnett counties.
3:50 p.m.: Henderson police are asking for drivers to avoid Raleigh Road at Dorsey Avenue due to a downed electrical line. Duke Energy responded to the scene.
3:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warnings for Hoke, Lee and Moore counties.
A tornado warning remained in effect until 4 p.m. for Cumberland and Harnett counties.
3:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee and Moore counties until 4 p.m.
3:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service has expanded a flood watch to include all counties in central North Carolina.
3 p.m.: According to Catawba County Emergency Management, a person died from injuries sustained during Tuesday's severe weather in Claremont. It is the first reported death from a line of storms moving through the states on Tuesday. Two other people are in critical condition.
2:50 p.m.: The National Weather Service has extended a wind advisory for 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Duke Energy shows there are 114,751 customers without power throughout the state.
2:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 3:15 p.m. for the following counties: southwestern Alamance, western Chatham, Guiliford and Randolph. There are 60-mph wind gusts possible.
2:40 p.m.: On Tuesday, severe storms caused a tree to fall across Jordan Narron Road in northern Johnston County. It tore down power lines and knocked out power for nearby residents. The fire department closed the road. There is no estimate for when power will be restored or the road will be reopened.
Tuesday's severe storms also caused a tree to fall on Old Jenks Road in Cary.
2:35 p.m.: Duke Energy shows there are 105,390 customers without power throughout North Carolina.
There are 5,000 people without power in Wake County, according to Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks.
2:30 p.m.: The Raleigh City Council has canceled its meetings Tuesday due to the threat of severe weather. The two meetings were scheduled at 4:00 p.m., which was to be a work session, and 7:00 P.M., which was planned as a public comment session.
Some 240 people had signed up to speak at the public comment session. Most people said they planned to speak about about the Israel-Hamas conflict, and their desire for the city council to pass a resolution in support of one side or the other.
The next opportunity for public comment will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.
2 p.m.: Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin issued a statement Tuesday about the severe weather.
"I urge everyone to prioritize safety as our city and surrounding community faces a significant risk of high winds and potential for flooding as we face impending severe weather," Colvin wrote. "Our city is committed to ensuring your well-being, and our dedicated city staff will continue to provide excellent service now, and througout every emergency.
"Stay informed, stay prepared and together. We will navigate this storm with resilience and strength. Your safety is our top priority."
1:50 p.m.: The National Weather Service expanded a tornado watch to include all of central North Carolina through 9 p.m. A watch means conditions are right for a tornado to form.
1:30 p.m.: Walnut Street Animal Hospital in Cary had to quickly finish veterinary surgeries after the power went out there in the noon hour.
1:20 p.m.: A homeowner at Lake Norman shared photos of branches snapped and trees blown down.
1 p.m.: Power outages begin. Duke Energy's outage map shows 39,000 without power statewide. In the Triangle, there are two large outages – more than 1,700 customers in Cary and 3,500 near Leesville and Carpenter Pond roads at the border between Raleigh and Durham.
12:20 p.m.: Wind gusts of 46 mph detected in Wake and Robeson counties. Across central North Carolina, winds are averaging about 25 mph. The National Weather Service warns that gusts of 35+ mph could blow around outdoor objects or down tree branches.
11:50 a.m.: Tornado watch issued for South Carolina up to Charlotte until 6 p.m. Tuesday.
11:25 a.m.: NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher will close early Tuesday at 2 p.m. due to inclement weather.
11:24 a.m.: City of Fayetteville asks residents to prepare for the storm by taking the following steps:
- Clear storm drains and remove any debris that could potentially block street storm drains.
- Securely store solid waste and recycling rollout carts away from the road.
11:20 a.m.: Strong winds but little to no rain in Raleigh.
10:55 a.m.: Nash Community College Campus and Child Development Center will close Tuesday at 2 p.m. due to inclement weather.
10:40 a.m.: Light showers continue in Raleigh. We're seeing heavier rainfall in Rocky Mount up to Roanoke Rapids and to the west in Roxboro and Durham.
10 a.m.: Wind advisory now in effect for several central North Carolina counties, including the Triangle, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
9:20 a.m.: Quiet in Raleigh. Some showers in Durham along I-85.
9 a.m.: Flood watch now in effect for the Triangle and western counties.
8:48 a.m.: Durham Tech says it will be closing its campuses Tuesday at noon.
8:30 a.m.: Rain continues to fall across the Triangle.
