NC Severe Storms Risk, Drought Persists

0:00It's April 29th. Welcome in. This is Durham News Today, where local news meets AI. North Carolina, especially the triangle area, faces possible severe storms this afternoon and evening on April 29th. A cold front is pushing through, but thick clouds overhead might block the sun and keep things calm. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Raleigh say it all hinges on whether those clouds clear out to fuel any thunderstorms. They've issued a marginal level 1 risk across most of the state, with isolated storms packing strong wind gusts, large hail, or even a quick tornado. In the triangle, keep an eye out from 7 to 11 pm. Even if storms pop up, don't expect much rain. Maybe a quarter inch at most, unless it's a heavy one. That's a drop in the bucket amid the ongoing drought, where the state lags 6 inches below average and Raleigh sits at 16.62 inches. Short, since last August, the ground is parched and can't soak up big downpours fast, so

1:02experts like Tom Greenstress, we need steady smaller rains, potentially 10 to 15 inches total to catch up without flooding. Tim's staying in the mid 70s today and tomorrow, but cooler weather rolls in over the weekend, bringing the next solid rain shot Friday night into Saturday. Stay alert out there.