ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg warned Wednesday that strong to severe thunderstorms could impact Western North Carolina through the afternoon and evening as a cold front pushes through the region.
Forecasters said the main threats are gusty to damaging straight-line winds, with the potential for brief hail.
At 3:58 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a storm 16 miles west of Marshall, moving east at 30 mph. The system was capable of producing wind gusts up to 40 mph and half-inch hail, according to the weather service.
A second storm was spotted at 4:06 p.m. about 12 miles east of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and 10 miles southwest of Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains. That storm was also moving east at 30 mph and capable of producing gusts up to 40 mph and nickel-size hail.
The weather service cautioned that the storms could cause minor damage, including downed tree limbs and impacts to outdoor objects. Lightning associated with the system could strike up to 10 miles away.
Communities that could be affected include Spring Creek, Luck, Max Patch, Walnut, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Balsam Mountain, Cove Creek and Fines Creek.
Officials urged residents to seek shelter indoors and stay tuned to local media for updates and potential warnings.