ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A storm system expected to hit Western North Carolina this weekend will be packing heavy rains and damaging winds, the National Weather Service warned.

A severe weather outbreak is expected Saturday from the central Gulf Coast states/Deep South into the Ohio Valley. Significant tornadoes (focused across the South), swaths of damaging gusts and hail are expected, the National Weather Service said.

The latest update still has the storm system impacting Western North Carolina late Saturday into Sunday with severe thunderstorms expected. Gusty winds are also expected Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning ahead of the storms. Winds may gust up to 40-50 mph in the mountains with 30-40 mph gusts elsewhere. Locally heavy rain is also expected, which may result in isolated minor/nuisance flooding, especially where multiple rounds of storms occur.

The Forecast for the Asheville area, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday: A slight chance of showers before 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light east southeast wind becoming south southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Friday night: A slight chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South southeast wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday: Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 70. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Saturday night: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9 p.m. Low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., then a chance of showers after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.