Wind, storms, tornadoes possible today

Wind watch predicts winds with gusts of up to 60 mph tonight.

A High Wind Watch will begin this evening and run through Friday morning across the area, and severe thunderstorms, isolated tornadoes and heavy rain also are possible then, the National Weather Service in Wilmington reported.

The wind watch predicts sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph this evening into Friday morning.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, creating the potential for widespread power outages. The NWS also said travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Forecasters predicted a chance of rain this morning, then rising into the early afternoon, when the high of 68 degrees is expected. Showers are likely by early afternoon, and the chance of thunderstorms arrive then.

Rain and storm chances will continue after dark, with the chance of a thunderstorm increasing further once the sun goes down.

Winds will be a factor again overnight, with stronger gusts as high as 37 mph after midnight.

The NWS said that high winds and strong to severe thunderstorms could cause damage, with locally heavy rain possible. A chance of isolated tornadoes exists.

Total rainfall by Friday morning could range from 1 to 2 inches.

After dawn on Friday, mostly

Weather

cloudy skies are expected, and it will be breezy. Steady winds around 15 mph and strong gusts up to 38 mph are possible through most of the day, only falling away in the evening hours.

Temperatures will be cool Friday, with a high near 58 degrees, then cold overnight with a low around 41 degrees into Saturday.

The Saturday forecast includes a chance of showers after 2 p.m. with mostly sunny skies otherwise, and a high rebounding to 71 degrees.

On Sunday, the NWS predicted a chance of showers early but generally partly sunny skies with a high of only 55 degrees.