Severe Weather Prompts Warnings, Watches And Flooding Concerns

Severe weather is impacting our listening area. In the Piedmont Triad, heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms are a big concern. A flood watch remains in effect.

The National Weather Service has also issued a tornado watch for several counties through 5 p.m., including Alamance, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth County, and Guilford Counties.

There is ponding on several roads and concern over rising creeks and streams. Emergency officials urge people to stop and turn around if they encounter a water-covered roadway and reduce vehicle speed when driving.

As a precaution, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System is dismissing students two hours early today. Guilford County will dismiss three hours early and several other local schools are dismissing classes early on Thursday.

In Rockingham County, emergency officials are keeping a close eye on the Dan River. The National Weather Service says a river flood warning has been issued from Wentworth all the way to Danville, Virginia.

“We are expecting conditions to get worse before they get better as additional bands of rain move in later today and through at least this evening, so area flooding, urban-type flooding and possibly some river flooding too, especially along the Dan, even along the Yadkin River and in the mountains,” says National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Keighton.

He says the Dan River is expected to hit flood stage at Wentworth around midnight and soon after at Danville.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news