Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wilmington Friday as a Category 1 storm, and its impact will be felt across North Carolina through Friday, much of Saturday and into next week.
Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wilmington Friday as a Category 1 storm, and its impact will be felt all of Friday, much of Saturday and into next week.
3 p.m.: No flooding has yet been reported at the parking deck at Crabtree Valley Mall, which is prone to flooding. The mall is closed Friday.
Glenwood Avenue was closed in both directions Friday near Creedmoor Road, but the road has since reopened.
2:50 p.m.: A flash flood warning has been issued for Johnston County. Officials expect the Neuse River to crest in Clayton on Monday at 2 a.m. at 10.4 feet and in Smithfield on Monday at noon at 18.75 feet.
In Apex, N. C. Highway 55 is closed between Salem Street and Hughes Street due to flooding, according to police. Wake County is under a flash flood warning until 8 p.m.
2:02 p.m.: The tornado watch for Wake County expires at 5 p.m. and the flash flood warning expires by 8 p.m. Heavy rain continues to fall in the Triangle, and thankfully few cars are on the roads.
In Fayetteville, the roof blew off an ABC Store. «This is the power of the wind,» tweeted Sheriff Ennis Wright. «If you don’t have to be out, please stay indoors.»
1:49 p.m.: The flash flood warning has been extended to include Wake County. «Be careful when driving around,» said Gardner. «Flooding is imminent.»
1:45 p.m.: Tornado warnings for Franklin and Nash counties have been allowed to expire.
In Raleigh, our reporters pulled over on Creedmoor Road in time to capture a transformer blowing out.
Wake County is under a flash flood warning through 7:45 p.m.
1:40 p.m.: A tornado warning has been allowed to expire for Edgecombe County.
1:15 p.m.: Strong winds have ripped the roof off a mobile home in Clayton. The resident was not at home.
1:07 p.m.: The tornado warning now also includes Franklin and Nash counties.
12:45 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Edgecombe County until 1:15 p.m. The storm is moving at 45 mph near Tarboro and Princeville. Residents there are asked to take shelter away from windows.
12:43 a.m.: A whopping 557,793 are without power in North Carolina.
12:13 a.m.: The flash flood warning for much of central North Carolina now includes Robeson, Hoke, Moore Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Duplin, Lenoir, Bladen Sampson, Wayne and Wilson counties.
11:57 a.m.: A large tree was blocking all lanes of Crowder Road in Garner.
11:56 a.m.: Elizabeth Gardner said steady, strong winds will be felt in Raleigh throughout Saturday, and the rain could last until Tuesday.
11:44 a.m.: A family of five had to leave their home on Misty River Drive in Raleigh when a tree collapsed part of the roof. The parents and three kids are safe but say they are devastated, as they just moved into the home this month.
11:30 a.m.: High winds blew out a transformer, downed trees and damaged a parking deck at Raleigh’s Cameron Village shopping center.
11:26 a.m.: Widespread power outages are were reported in Hillsborough when a large, centuries-old tree fell on power lines along Calvin Street.
10:42 a.m.: A family has to leave their Wake County home because a tree fell and damaged it.
10:18 a.m.: Tropical storm force winds of 40 mph have already been reported in Raleigh, but the rain didn’t become heavy until recently. In the WRAL Gardens, meteorologist Kat Campbell described it as «raining sideways.»
10:17 a.m.: A flood warning has been issued for Wayne and Johnston counties. Wake County remains under a flash flood watch.
10:12 a.m.: Johnston County has already seen 2 to 4 inches of rain, and with more rain to come for days, flooding is a major concern.
9:55 a.m.: Some roads are impassable in Holly Springs, including Cass Holt Road near Holly Springs High School, due to downed trees and power lines. Crews are responding.
9:51 a.m.: JetBlue has canceled all flights at RDU for Friday. With the lower number of flights in Terminal 2, several shops and restaurants are closed on Concourses C and D. There are no shops and restaurants open in Terminal 1.
9:25 a.m.: FEMA officials are asking people to «stay where they are» at this point.
9:04 a.m.: The statewide power outage has jumped to 475,022.
9:02 a.m.: A photo sent to WRAL by a viewer showed a tree that has been split down the middle in Cary.
8:50 a.m.: The Town of Garner stated that it is getting reports of power outages, which are being addressed by Duke Energy. Some intersections may lose power, making it all the more important for people to stay home if they have a choice.
8:41 a.m.: «Stay at home unless you have no choice,» said Chatham County Emergency Management. Hurricane Florence is a huge storm, and it will bring heavy rains and strong winds to central North Carolina.
8:21 a.m.: 547 people have reported to the seven emergency shelters open in Cumberland County. Buses have transported 68 residents to shelters.
8:04 a.m.: The statewide power outage has jumped to 403,000.
8 a.m.: A flash flood warning is in effect for Wayne and Wilson counties until 2 p.m.
7:56 a.m.: Greenville was seeing heavy rain and officials say the Tar River is at risk for flooding.
7:36 a.m.: The heaviest rain in Raleigh will be around noon, Gardner said. By 5 p.m., the rain bands will be moving north.
7:23 a.m.: A homeowner in Durham has reported a large tree down in his yard.
7:09 a.m.: Two storm-related injuries have been reported in Edgecombe County. Gov. Roy Cooper said no storm-related deaths have been reported in North Carolina.
7:01 a.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for most of our viewing area, including Wake, Edgecombe, Franklin, Harnett Johnston, Nash, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson counties. This means the conditions are right for a tornado to form. The tornadoes may be weak and short-lived but can cause significant damage.
6:58 a.m.: Impacts from Florence are beginning to show around the Triangle, including heavy rain and tropical storm force winds. «If you are heading out, be careful,» said WRAL Brian Shrader. «The worst is yet to come.»
By Friday afternoon, the Triangle’s roads could see flooding.
6:38 a.m.: A flood advisory has been issued for Johnston, Wilson, Harnett and Edgecombe counties, meaning there is minor flooding reported in the area. Wake County is currently under a flash flood watch.
6:29 a.m.: The City of Raleigh is tweeting out important reminders to citizens. The non-emergency call center for Hurricane Florence is 919-996-2999.
6:07 a.m.: Trees are down in Johnston County due to rain bands and heavy winds moving through the area.
