Hurricane Laura Forecast: Heavy Rain, High Winds Possible In NC

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina will be spared the worst of Hurricane Laura's steady march inland, however areas of the state could see periods of heavy rain, gusty winds and tornadoes this weekend, forecasters warn.

Hurricane Laura pummeled the Gulf Coast late Wednesday night, striking the Louisiana coastline as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph. By 8 a.m. Thursday, the storm was centered around 20 miles north of Fort Polk, Louisiana and had downshifted to a wind speed of 100 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"A northeastward to east-northeastward motion is expected tonight and Friday," NHC said in an Aug. 27 advisory. The storm will then move through Louisiana Thursday afternoon and into Arkansas by Thursday night, reaching the Mid-Atlantic states by Saturday, forecasters said.

"Rapid weakening is forecast, and Laura is expected to, become a tropical storm later today," NHC said.

The storm could bring as much as 2.5 inches of rain to western North Carolina Friday and into Saturday, North Carolina Emergency Management said. "Localized flash flooding is possible in already saturated areas," NCEM said via Twitter. "Strong wind gusts are possible Saturday, especially along mountain ridge tops where Wind Advisories may be issued."

In the Charlotte metro region, the risk of isolated flash flooding is marginal, NCEM said Thursday. "The risk of tornadoes and severe storms with damaging wind gusts Saturday afternoon will be dependent on the exact timing and track of Laura," it said.

Here is the National Weather Service's forecast for North Carolina through the weekend:

Today (Aug. 27)
Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light southwest wind becoming west southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday (Aug. 28)
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 102. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South southwest wind around 8 mph.
Saturday (Aug. 29)
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday (Aug. 30)
Sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Monday (Aug. 31)
Partly sunny, with a high near 85.