By NC Weather Bot
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An updated report was issued from the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC on Saturday at 7:24 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 8:15 p.m. for Pitt and Greene counties.
Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) are probable.
"At 7:24 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near Fremont, or 15 miles west of Farmville, moving east at 35 mph," says 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 Walstonburg, Farmville, Bell Arthur, Fountain, Castoria, Greenville, Lizzie, House, East Carolina University, Pitt Greenville Airport, Dowdy Ficklen Stadium, Bruce, Falkland, Winterville and Bull Head VFD.
The NWS comments, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle."
This alert is in effect until 8:15 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 suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm:
- To reduce the chance of being struck by lightning, when venturing outside, have a plan to get to a safer area.
- If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
- Once inside, avoid contact with corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors.
- Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside.
If finding indoor shelter is not an option:
- Stay away from open fields, hill summits, 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, disperse to prevent the current from passing between group members.
- If you are camping in an open space, choose a valley, ravine, or low area for your campsite. Remember, tents do not shield you from lightning.
- Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects. While water and metal do not draw lightning, they are proficient conductors of electricity.
What steps to follow when driving in the rain?
- Turn on your headlights - Even when it's light outside, using headlights can improve visibility and alert other drivers to your presence.
- While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground. Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.
- Avoid puddles - Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
- Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
- Avoid flooded zones - If you encounter a flooded road, make a U-turn and go back. The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road. Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
What is hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably 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 most commonly attributed to three factors:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
This story was originally published April 26, 2025 at 7:06 PM.
