Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect for Eastern N.C. Until 11 p.m.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Eastern North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, until 11 p.m. on Friday night, per a Friday afternoon briefing from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City Office.

The main threats that correspond with the storms are frequent lightning, damaging winds with scattered gusts up to 70 mph, heavy rain, and large hail.  Storms have already formed in some parts of the Eastern N.C. region, and will continue to grow stronger through early Friday evening.

For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.