Tagged: Weather

Power was still out Friday morning for hundreds of thousands of people in North Carolina after severe storms. 

A fast-moving system swept across the state Thursday, knocking down trees and power lines.  Duke Energy Progress says nearly 60,000 people were without power Friday morning in Wake County.  Meteorologist Phil Badgett says damage reports came in quickly Thursday night.

Thanks to recent rainfalls associated with Tropical Storm Andrea, North Carolina is now out of drought or abnormally dry conditions for the first time in three years.

The persistent drought has wreaked havoc on agriculture, affecting apple crops in the western part of the state and corn in the east.

Now, thanks to Tropical Storm Andrea and other rain events this spring, the state is no longer suffering from even the mildest classification of drought condition – abnormally dry or “D-zero” - for the first time in the past three years.

Heavy rain continues Friday morning as Tropical Storm Andrea moves toward North Carolina. 

Flash flood warnings were in effect in the Triangle while the coast remained under a tropical storm warning.  Tornado watches were also in effect for Rocky Mount, Wilson Goldsboro and the surrounding areas. 

Forecasters are urging North Carolinians to have an emergency plan for hurricanes before the season starts.