Raleigh, North Carolina – Severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes could disrupt travel and power across central North Carolina late Monday morning, placing the Triangle, Triad, and Sandhills under a Tornado Watch until 2 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch 66 includes 25 counties stretching from the Virginia border south to Fayetteville. The watch covers major population centers including Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Fayetteville as storms move east across the Piedmont.
Wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, brief tornadoes, and heavy downpours may develop as the storm line tracks toward the Interstate 40 corridor through the midday hours. Drivers on I-40, I-85, and U.S. 1 could encounter sudden visibility drops and ponding on roads during intense rainfall.
Communities across Wake, Durham, Orange, and Alamance counties remain in the watch area as storms move toward Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Farther west, Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem may see strong wind and lightning before storms shift east.
Emergency managers urge residents to keep phones charged, monitor local alerts, and identify a safe interior room away from windows in case a tornado warning is issued. Schools and businesses across the region should stay weather-aware through the early afternoon.
The tornado watch remains in effect until 2 p.m. Monday, and additional warnings could be issued quickly if rotating thunderstorms develop across central North Carolina.
