(NCN WeatherCenter)-The National Weather Service has increased the severe storm risk for the viewing area Saturday morning.
Areas in the northwest part of the Triangle, including parts of Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Durham, are under a Level 1 risk. Raleigh, Fayetteville and communities northeast of Raleigh are under a Level 2 risk. Almost everyone along and east of Interstate 95 is covered by the Level 3 risk for severe weather, said NCN meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner.
Gardner said that area is more likely to see a line of strong thunderstorms on Saturday morning that could produce wind damage.
“We’d be talking about trees down on houses or on cars,” said Gardner.
Tornadoes and small hail are also possible with Saturday’s severe storm threat.
The storms are expected to move through central North Carolina between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday.
In the areas under Level 1 and Level 2 risks, damaging winds and a brief tornado will be the main threats. Areas under a Level 3 risk have the possibility for stronger tornadoes.
Before the storms, Friday will be a milder, cloudy day with a high in the low to mid 60s. After an overcast but mainly dry day, scattered light rain showers will possible Friday evening and overnight.
The storms are expected to move out of the area well before noon on Saturday, then colder air will surge in. It will be a windy afternoon, with gusts up to 40 mph. Temperatures will fall throughout the day, likely into the 40s by the early afternoon.
While temperatures will start off in the teens and 20s, temperatures will rebound for Sunday afternoon, with highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s and plenty of sunshine expected.