Greenville, N.C. – Strong thunderstorms could rattle Eastern North Carolina through late Friday, bringing damaging winds, hail, and the threat of power outages to inland cities like Greenville, Kinston, and New Bern.
According to the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City, two rounds of storms are expected. The first wave begins Thursday between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., driven by a sea breeze. A second, potentially stronger line of storms moves in from the west between 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday. A new round arrives Friday afternoon, with storms sweeping eastward from 4 p.m. through midnight.
The highest risk zones lie inland, where there’s a 10–20% chance of damaging winds and hail. While tornado chances are low (under 5%), brief weak spin-ups can’t be ruled out. Counties including Pitt, Lenoir, and Craven are under the greatest threat during peak evening hours.
Drivers should avoid travel during storm windows and secure outdoor items. Residents are urged to charge devices, monitor alerts, and prepare for brief power disruptions.
Severe weather risks linger until midnight Friday, with additional advisories possible if storm strength increases. Stay weather-aware as conditions evolve.
