Storms sweep through Central NC, Orange County warehouse sustains major damage
Orange County sustained damage Friday afternoon as a storm swept through central North Carolina and “ripped off large chunks of an exterior wall” of a warehouse in Mebane, authorities said.
While National Weather Service officials have not confirmed a tornado touched down, witnesses calling 911 reported seeing a funnel cloud, said Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders in a news release.
Damage was caused to “several structures in the E. Washington Street area,” Orange County Emergency Services reported in a tweet. “Please be mindful of downed power lines due to high winds associated with the storm. Assume all power lines are live and do not approach.”
Severe damage was reported at the Gildan Distribution Center in Mebane, Orange County reported in a news release. There were 30 people inside the facility, but no injuries were reported, Orange County said.
Fallen trees and downed power lines were reported on Frazier and Mace roads, Orange County reported.
“Multiple rounds of storms” are possible across the region on the afternoon and evening of Friday, May 6, according to the National Weather Service. The main risks are expected until 10 p.m.
The weather could bring risks of isolated tornadoes, strong winds and hail the size of ping-pong balls.
In the Triangle, less than one-tenth of an inch of rain is expected to fall during the day, with more possible overnight and during thunderstorms, according to the forecast for Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Durham, Orange, Wake and other counties in the region were elevated to an “enhanced risk” for severe weather, which is level 3 of 5. The severe thunderstorm warning for Durham expired at 6:20 p.m and tornado warnings expired for Durham, Orange and Person counties at 6:00 p.m.
“Damaging winds are the threat most likely to accompany storms in this system,” reports ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner. “Those winds could gust up above 58 miles per hour. In addition, conditions have increased the chance that hail and tornadoes could develop. Those risks are higher in the northern part of central North Carolina, extending down as far south as Raleigh.”
The Raleigh area is also under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Watches are issued when people in a certain area should prepare for the potential for tornadoes, while warnings mean twisters pose an imminent threat, according to the weather service.
The predictions led Durham Public Schools to announce the district was ending classes two hours early on Friday. Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Johnston and Wake schools canceled after-school activities.
Severe weather is expected to last into Friday night, and rain is possible again on Saturday. Skies are expected to be cloudy — but with no rain — by Sunday, according to forecasters.
The thunderstorms would be part of the same system that spawned tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas, according to ABC11. As storms move into North Carolina, several parts of the state face “enhanced” severe weather risks.
This story was originally published May 6, 2022 at 8:57 AM with the headline "Storms sweep through Central NC, Orange County warehouse sustains major damage."
