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UPDATE
Tornado warnings cover Nash, Halifax, Warren and Franklin counties until 5:15 p.m., and Harnett, Sampson and Johnston Counties until 5 p.m. The storm is very dangerous and residents are advised to take cover immediately.
UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: Roof of Earp's seafood market partially ripped off on South Saunders Street in downtown Raleigh.
UPDATE 4:19 p.m.: Tornado emergency for Rolesville. This tornado has been on the ground for well over an hour, and has caused extensive destruction.
Tornado reported in downtown Raleigh. Another tornado reported in Fort Bragg in Cumberland County
A Lowes hardware store completely destroyed in Sanford. Same storm littering highway 64 with debris in Apex.
Roxboro police report six homes demolished in Person County in the Bethel Hill community. Damage stretches to Concord.
From WRAL-TV, which was knocked off of the air earlier. More Info here
Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolinians need to be on the look out for fast-moving storms capable of producing long-lasting tornadoes Saturday afternoon and evening.
Emergency dispatchers confirm that a large tornado has been seen about 4 miles south of Raleigh. Residents west of downtown Raleigh need to take shelter immediately.
Tornado warnings cover Nash, Halifax, Warren and Franklin counties until 5:15 p.m., and Harnett, Sampson and Johnston Counties until 5 p.m.
Spotters have reported tornadoes on the ground in Holly Springs, Sanford and Roxboro. An extremely dangerous storm is moving through Wake County.
Radar showed a possible tornadoes:
- near Holly Springs, 9 miles south of Cary, moving northeast at 50 mph toward Raleigh, Hew Hope, Knightdale and Rolesville
- 15 miles northeast of Sanford, moving at 70 mph toward Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Lake Wheeler and Garner
- over Raeford in Hoke County, moving at 55 mph toward Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Godwin
- over Stem in Granville County, moving northeast at 55 mph toward Oxford, Henderson and Kerr Lake
- near Bowmore, moving northeast at 60 mph toward Raeford
Severe thunderstorms are also hitting as a squall line moves quickly across central North Carolina.
"When it gets to you, it's going to be quick. It's going to be dirty," WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.
So far, small cells ahead of a cold front are have spawned tornado warnings for at least 13 counties, including Hoke, Scotland and Person. At one point, radar showed tow possible tornadoes in Person County.
It isn't clear if a funnel cloud had touched down in any of those locations.
A tornado watch extends until 9 p.m., which means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. The storms could move as quickly as 55 mph, so people should be prepared to take shelter quickly.
North Carolina is at extremely rare high risk of severe weather, including tornadoes, Saturday afternoon and evening, WRAL meteorologist Nate Johnson.
The state was at that stage of an alert in 1984 when tornadoes killed 42 people from Robeson County to Gates County.
The storms will die out quickly in the evening and early nighttime hours once the cold front passes through.
