The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued an updated severe thunderstorm warning Friday at 5:20 p.m. that remained in effect until 6:15 p.m. for portions of Bladen, Columbus and Robeson counties.
Storm details and areas under the warning
Officials warned of damaging straight-line winds and small hail as the line of storms moved east at about 20 mph. The NWS said gusts could reach up to 60 mph and hail as large as 0.75 inches — roughly penny-sized — was possible.
"At 5:20 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Bladen Community College to near Fairmont, moving east at 20 mph. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines."
The warning listed a wide range of communities that could see severe conditions, including Lumberton, Elizabethtown, Fairmont, Bladenboro, Rowland and White Lake, among others.
- Expected hazards: damaging winds up to 60 mph; hail up to 0.75 inches; frequent lightning.
- Direction/speed: storms moving east at about 20 mph.
- Duration: warning effective until 6:15 p.m. as issued at 5:20 p.m.
| County | Primary threat |
|---|---|
| Bladen | Damaging winds, hail |
| Columbus | Damaging winds, hail |
| Robeson | Damaging winds, hail |
Safety guidance and reporting damage
The NWS advised people in the warned area to move indoors to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building to reduce exposure to wind-blown debris and lightning. Officials also urged residents to avoid touching corded phones, plumbing, windows and doors while indoors during a thunderstorm.
If indoor shelter is not available, avoid open fields, hilltops and isolated tall objects. The agency reminded people to wait 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning before returning outdoors.
Residents who observe hail or wind damage — including downed trees or large limbs — were asked to report their observations to the National Weather Service office in Wilmington at 1-800-697-3901.
Lightning remains a significant summertime hazard across the United States. The NWS notes lightning strikes occur roughly 25 million times a year nationwide and are associated with about 20 fatalities annually, with most strikes occurring during the summer months.
Local emergency managers and utility companies commonly respond to storm-related outages and debris. Residents in Lumberton and surrounding towns should be prepared for the possibility of downed power lines and blocked roads following the passage of severe storms.
For ongoing updates, people should monitor local media, weather radio, and the National Weather Service for changes to warnings and for potential tornado or flash-flood threats should conditions evolve.
