Tornado Watch Issued for Coastal North Carolina

A tornado watch has been issued for all of coastal North Carolina, including Dare and Hyde Counties, until 9 p.m. on Thursday night, per the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport / Morehead City office.

The NWS advises all residents and visitors to ensure thy have multiple ways to receive warnings this afternoon and early tonight. This includes the NWS website at www.weather.gov/mhx, broadcast media, NOAA Weather Radio, and / or access to a cell phone and social media. (The NWS also automatically tweets out warnings via their Twitter page at www.twitter.com/nwsmoreheadcity.)

Per the NWS, a few tornadoes in eastern North Carolina are likely on Thursday, with isolated hail up to the size of small marbles possible, as well as isolated wind gusts of up to 60 mph.