Eastern North Carolina has an Increased Tornado Threat

By Henry Margusity, Expert Senior Meteorologist

December 26,2012; 8:12PM,EST

A second outbreak of severe weather will occur across the eastern Carolinas today. AccuWeather.com Meteorologist will be tracking the storms.

For information on the storms yesterday and amazing images of the destruction, please see our story "Photos: Christmas Day Tornadoes Wreck South."

12:45 a.m. EST: South Carolina is done with the threat of severe weather. Eastern North Carolina still has a threat of a tornadoes and shown on the map below.

11:45 a.m. EST: The tornado threat area seems to be coming together north of Wilmington to Jacksonville to New Bern the next 2-4 hours. Thunderstorms with strong rotation are coming in off the ocean toward Jacksonville, NC.

10:15 a.m. EST: Tornado watch has been issued for the eastern Carolinas until 5:00 p.m. EST. We have already seen at least one tornado warning near Carolina Beach, NC this morning. Conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes through this afternoon.

9:30 a.m. EST: Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of central South Carolina. Storms are showing signs of producing wind damage. We believe the threat of severe weather will be until 6:00 p.m. EST. After that time, the cold front will have moved off the coast ending the threat of severe weather.
Thunderstorms have developed on the tail end of the cold front across northern Florida. Wind damage was reported in Columbia County, FL. 50 trees and powerlines were blown down southwest of Lake City Wednesday morning.
The Storm Prediction Center continues to predict a moderate risk of severe weather across the eastern Carolinas, which a very rare event for this time of the year.

8:30 a.m. EST: After the Christmas Day outbreak of damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes along the central Gulf Coast, the danger has shifted to the eastern Carolinas today.
Violent thunderstorms will increase through the midday hours, threatening the cities of Florence and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Wilmington, N.C.
During this time, gusty thunderstorms will also press across the Georgia coast and northeastern Florida.
This afternoon, the threat will focus on eastern North Carolina (from I-95 eastward) and extreme southeastern Virginia. This includes Greenville and Cape Hatteras, N.C., and Wakefield, Va.

As was the case on Christmas Day, the strongest thunderstorms will be capable of unleashing damaging winds and spawning tornadoes.

Blinding downpours will create additional hazards for those heading home from Christmas Day destinations.
The severe weather will clear the coast around sunset as noticeably cooler air replaces the warmth that is setting the stage for the violent thunderstorms.

What will not end with today's daylight hours is the heavy snow, icy mix and soaking rain invading the Northeast.