High Wind Watch tomorrow, storms, isolated tornadoes possible

A High Wind Watch will begin Thursday evening and run through Friday morning across the area, and severe thunderstorms, isolated tornadoes and heavy rain also are possible then, the National Weather Service in Wilmington reported.

The wind watch predicts sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph Thursday evening into Friday morning. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, creating the potential for widespread power outages. The NWS also said travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Today, clouds will gradually decrease throughout the day. High temperatures will be around 73 degrees.

Breezy winds will rise as the day goes on. Starting around noon there will also be stronger wind gusts as high as 33 mph, which will calm in the evening as winds decrease.

Temperatures will be cool overnight with a low around 51 degrees.

Starting a few hours after midnight, clouds will begin to build up again, for mostly cloudy skies by the time the sun comes up Thursday.

Shortly after dawn on Thursday, we will start to see a chance of rain, which will quickly rise throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. Showers will be likely by the early afternoon, when there will be a chance of thunderstorms.

Rain and storm chances will continue after dark, with the chance of a thunderstorm increasing further once the sun goes down.

Winds will rise again overnight, with stronger gusts as high as 37 mph joining after midnight.

The NWS said that high winds and strong to severe thunderstorms could cause damage, with locally heavy rain possible. A chance of isolated tornadoes exists.

Temperatures will be warm on Thursday, with a high near 68 degrees and a low around 50 degrees.

After dawn on Friday, we may see some small lingering precipitation from overnight, but we will certainly see breezy winds and strong gusts through most of the day, only falling away in the evening hours.

Meanwhile, cloud cover will gradually decrease, before falling overnight for mostly clear night skies.

Temperatures will be cool during the day, with a high near 58 degrees, then get cold overnight with a low around 41 degrees.

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