UPDATE: Weather alert active for the Piedmont region Sunday night, says the NWS

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The NWS Raleigh NC issued an updated weather alert at 7:58 p.m. on Sunday for strong thunderstorms until 9 p.m. The alert is for Granville, Durham, Franklin, Nash, Wake and Wilson counties.

Expect pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) and wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

"At 7:58 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles west of Nashville to 6 miles south of Louisburg to near Wake Forest to 6 miles east of Durham. Movement was southeast at 10 mph," comments the NWS. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible."

Locations impacted by the alert include Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Nashville, Creedmoor, Louisburg, Wilson, Wake Forest, Butner and Zebulon. This includes the following highways: Interstate 95 between Mile Markers 127 and 119. Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 174 and 188. Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 278 and 301. Interstate 440 between Mile Markers 1 and 15. Interstate 540 between Mile Markers 0 and 24. US 1 between Mile Markers 95 and 101. NC Highway 264 between Mile Markers 20 and 37. the Durham Freeway between Mile Markers 2 and 15.

The NWS states, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Very heavy rain can be expected due to the slow movement of some of these storms. Prolonged heavy rain will result in ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding of creeks and streams. Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid hydroplaning."

This alert is in effect until 9 p.m.

How to react when facing a lightning hazard?

Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually. The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS. The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead. This risk decreases as the storm moves away.

Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm:

• To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
• If the sky grows ominous and you hear thunder, seek out a safe place to take shelter.
• Once inside, abstain from touching corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing, and windows and doors.
• Wait for 30 minutes after the final lightning or thunder before heading outside again.

If finding indoor shelter is not an option:

• Steer clear of open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops.
• Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures. When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
• If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members.
• If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low area. Remember, a tent offers no protection from lighting.
• Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively.

What to do in the rain on the road?

• Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
• On the road - Drive in the middle lanes and stay on high ground. Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.
• Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.
• Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
• Steer clear of flooded areas - When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back. Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways. Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. Hydroplaning is primarily caused by three factors:

1. Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
2. Water depth - The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. It doesn't matter how deep the water is, even a thin layer can lead to hydroplaning.
3. Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know:

• Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
• Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control.
• Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
• Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots North Carolina

This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 7:17 PM.