Severe Weather Rumbles Through Clay County

(Photo courtesy of Jessica Hughes) Lightning lit up an ominous sky overnight as a strong line of storms move through the tri-state.

Travis Dockery

389 Country Editor

A strong line of thunderstorms moved into the tri-state area on Wednesday, May 8 around the time most people were heading for bed. Extremely warm daytime high temperatures fueled the storms into the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Around 11:45 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Clay and Cherokee counties after radar detected rotation in a storm cell moving across the westernmost North Carolina counties. The warning lapsed at 12:30 a.m., but a tornado watch remained until 4 a.m. with a flood watch staying in affect through 8 a.m. At 5:46 a.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Clay and Cherokee counties until 1 p.m.

As of 5:30 a.m. on May 9th, power outages were scattered across the tri-state area.

The combination of high winds and saturated ground left hundreds in the tri-state without power. Crews from Blue Ridge Mountain EMC have been dispatched and will be working to restore power when it is safe to do so.

Those efforts could be hindered as another line of severe weather will make its way through the area throughout the morning hours.

With power outages, storm damage, debris and a storm-filled forecast, Clay County and Cherokee County schools decided to close for Thursday.

Today's forecast:

Heavy thunderstorms this morning, then variable clouds during the afternoon with still a chance of showers. A few storms may be severe. High around 75F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.