ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Residents across Asheville and Buncombe County should prepare for the possibility of severe weather Tuesday afternoon and evening as the National Weather Service has placed the area under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8 p.m. and a Tornado Watch until 7 p.m.
The tornado watch includes southeastern Madison County and central Buncombe County in Western North Carolina.
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey, Mitchell and many other counties across western and central North Carolina.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center say thunderstorms are expected to become stronger as they move into the mountains and foothills, bringing the threat of damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes.
The Storm Prediction Center said storms developing across Virginia have already shown signs of rotation capable of producing severe weather. Additional storms are expected to develop farther west along an approaching cold front before moving into Western North Carolina during the afternoon.
Meteorologists say the atmosphere will be favorable for severe storms, with strong wind shear capable of supporting rotating thunderstorms, also known as supercells. While storms may evolve into clusters as the evening progresses, forecasters say damaging straight-line winds and large hail are expected to be the primary threats. An isolated tornado also cannot be ruled out.
The Storm Prediction Center said there was an 80 percent probability that a severe thunderstorm watch would be needed across the region before issuing the watch Tuesday afternoon.
For Asheville and Buncombe County, the greatest concern will be storms capable of producing wind strong enough to knock down trees and power lines, especially in areas where soils remain saturated from recent heavy rainfall. Large hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible with the strongest storms.
Residents are encouraged to monitor weather conditions throughout the day, have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and be prepared to move indoors quickly if a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning is issued.
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect for Buncombe County and much of Western North Carolina until 8 p.m. Tuesday.