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Hurricane Helene on Thursday strengthened to a Category 2 storm. Impacts to the North Carolina mountains will be severe, and the Triangle is at risk for flooding, wind gusts and isolated tornadoes. 

Hurricane Helene: Life-threatening flood risk in NC mountains, tornado risk in Triangle

Here's the latest advisory on what is now a category two hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico. Winds are at 100 miles an hour right now. As of the latest report from the hurricane hunters and from the National Hurricane Center, it's about 320 miles southwest of Tampa and it is going to move fast here through the next couple of days. That forward speed is really going to pick up, which can have some pluses and minuses. We still expect it though to be a major hurricane into the Gulf coast of Florida as it gets into southern Georgia, still a category one hurricane and then bringing some major wind and flooding impacts to the western parts of North Carolina. We also have tropical storm Isaac out there that also formed while Helene was kind of getting going as well, that's going to stay out to sea but also strengthen into a category one hurricane there early Saturday morning.

2024 Atlantic hurricane season update

Path of Helene as of Sept. 26, 2024 at 11 a.m.

ð¨WRAL Weather Alert Dayð¨ Helene's NC impacts: Dangerous flooding, power outages, tornadoes possible

Helene: Severe threats Thursday and Friday

Cooper tells state 'beware and prepare' for Helene; National Guard and water rescue teams activated

Preperation for Helene

Robinson offers 'complete cooperation and full transparency' in probe of porn-comments report 

Mark Robinson Speaking in News Conference 

Thousands lose power, tornado warnings begin as western NC starts to feel impacts of incoming Helene

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Florida impact: Helene strengthens as it barrels toward Florida

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Hoda Kotb stepping down as co-anchor of 'TODAY'

Hoda Kotb Revealed She Has Filled Out Paperwork To Adopt A Third Child

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Two tornadoes touched down in western North Carolina Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed.

Two tornadoes touched down in western NC Wednesday, NWS says

Tornado in Blowing Rock

The resignations, to take effect in the coming days, follow the departures of at least eight members of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's gubernatorial campaign. Robinson has denied allegations made in a CNN report that said he made racist and lewd comments on a pornographic website decades ago.

Top members of Robinson's state office to resign in wake of porn-site report

What's next for Mark Robinson's campaign after top staff resign 

Billy Joel and Sting will perform at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte in May, concert promoter Live Nation announced Thursday.

Billy Joel and Sting announce NC concert

Billy Joel played PNC Arena in Raleigh on Feb. 9, 2014.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- A slow-motion catastrophe has been playing out in the coastal North Carolina village of Rodanthe, where 10 houses have fallen into the Atlantic since 2020. Three have been lost since Friday.

10 homes have collapsed into the Carolina surf. Their destruction was decades in the making

CORRECTION_Rodanthe_Collapsing_Homes_86527

Dennis Draughon, Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: GOP's election fraud claims? Just another fish story

Gen V: Teen Vaping in North Carolina airs this Thursday on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. on WRAL. Tune in to discover the influence of Big Tobacco.

New WRAL Documentary exposes deceptive marketing tactics of vape companies targeting minors

Gen V: Teen Vaping in North Carolina

This weekend, the IBMA World of Bluegrass festival will fill the streets with dozens of musicians on multiple stages for the final time. 



IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival takes final bow in Raleigh this week

2015 WOB Festival

As Hurricane Helene draws closer, local emergency services are preparing for potential flooding and water rescues.

Local water rescue teams on high alert as Hurricane Helene threatens heavy rainfall and flash flooding

Local water rescue teams prepare for Hurricane Helene

Alan Thompson, the father of the teenager accused in the Oct. 13, 2022, Hedingham mass shooting in Raleigh, pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor.


'A case of epic tragedy': Father of Hedingham teen accused in mass shooting sentenced to one year probation

Alan Thompson, father of Austin Thompson, accused Hedingham shooter

Helene is set to bring rain, wind and the threat of tornadoes to North Carolina. We're answering your questions here.

Q&A: Helene's impact on North Carolina, your plans

Meteorologist Chris Michaels has a Q&A breakdown of Helene

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Plan ahead with simple steps to protect your home and your family, and you won't get flooded with worry the next time a hurricane is headed for the Carolina coast.

2024 hurricane season: What to do when a hurricane is coming

Prepare for hurricane season before winds blow, water rises

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has a life-saving message: "Turn Around, Don't Drown." This slogan is especially important during and after a tropical storm or hurricane.

Turn around, don't drown: Driving through floodwaters could have deadly consequences

Man helps woman out of vehicle during flooding

With hurricane season approaching, it's important to memorize coastal evacuation plans and routes in case of a severe storm.

Hurricane evacuation plans and routes for the North Carolina coast

evacuation routes

Whether it's snow or severe storms, it's important to make a family emergency plan and be ready when severe weather strikes.



Make a family emergency plan: Be prepared when severe weather arrives

Pets, severe weather

Having a hurricane survival kit prepared can help you and your family stay safe and comfortable if a hurricane hits.

Hurricane survival kit: How to keep your family safe when a hurricane hits

hurricane survival kit

Don't Miss It

Dennis and Chris are wondering what's next for the Panthers at QB.

Panthers Playbook: Andy Dalton is the fuel for the Carolina Panthers; is Bryce Young worth more than a late-round pick?

Panthers_Raiders_Football_17688

Duke Energy prepares for Helene, potential for widespread outages

Duke Energy power trucks

Raleigh neighbors report illegal political sign theft

Mountains prepare for historic flooding from Hurricane Helene

Caught on cam: Tornado near Blowing Rock, NC

Cary doctor explains what it was like to treat bombing victims in Gaza

Dr. Ayaz Pathan

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Man shot Wednesday night on Cornwallis Road, Durham police say

Local News

Raleigh neighbors report illegal campaign sign theft

Clayton police searching for suspects wanted for armed robbery at Domino's Pizza 

North Carolina Supreme Court weighs future of CSX plant near Richmond County water source

Wayne County deputy sentenced to six-plus years for drug trafficking and fraud conspiracies

10th death reported in Boar's Head deli meat listeria outbreak

Nation/World

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say

US and allies call for an immediate 21-day cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah

Passenger killed when gunman hijacks Los Angeles bus and leads police on downtown chase

The northern lights might again be visible in the US as solar activity increases

As the crisp air of autumn settles in, North Carolina comes alive with a vibrant array of fall festivals. From Wake to Wilson County, discover the best seasonal events.

Best North Carolina fall festivals

Puppy playing amongst the pumpkins at fall festival

Weekend best bets: Bluegrass, International festivals

Bluegrass returns to Raleigh

Sunflower tower installation begins at Dix Park

Dix pole sunflowers

UNC Asheville grad's peak fall color website a helpful guide for NC leaf peepers

Fall colors shine along Blue Ridge Parkway as foliage 

Top 10 fine dining experiences in the Triangle area

Fine dining, dinner with friends, fancy restaurant, dinner table

Foodie News: Big cookie news

Captain Cookie

Out & About

Fact check: Is rape up 53% in NC since Josh Stein became Attorney General?

Politifact

Democrats, LGBTQ+ groups criticize Michele Morrow post

NC education candidate Michele Morrow falsely says the 'plus' in 'LGBTQ+' includes support for pedophilia

From eating dogs to Taylor Swift: Fact-checking Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's first 2024 presidential debate

Preview Trump and Harris' talking points ahead of the presidential debate

Top members of Mark Robinson's state office to resign

NC Capitol

Trump 'needs to suffer the consequences' for Mark Robinson, Cooper says

Weight-loss drugmaker CEO faces questions over high costs

Ozempic, Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk questioned over high cost of weight-loss drugs

Under pressure to prove porn-site denial, Robinson hires law firm 

Wake schools list $200M in HVAC needs, as school board weighs how to fix them

Education

NC State warns community about recent string of vehicle break-ins at residence hall, Greek Village, StateView Hotel

Meet more than 40 high schools at St. Timothy's Annual High School Fair

Wake County Schools to address backlog of maintenance issues at dozens of schools Tuesday

Reports: UNC student, Morehead-Cain scholar found dead in South Africa

Place your bets: The top 5 sports Americans wager money on

WRAL In Depth

Wife of Hamas hostage from North Carolina fights for his freedom

If Mark Robinson drops out of race for NC governor, his name will remain on ballots

Many measures make it tough to understand employment data

PCBs at NC State: Dorms, library, classroom buildings test positive

Holliday: Unbeaten Duke takes on badly beaten Carolina

WRALSportsFan

Skyler Brind'Amour plays first NHL game coached by his father, Rod Brind'Amour

NC State, UNC and Duke release ACC men's basketball schedule

Here are the important dates for ACC women's basketball in the Triangle

Hurricane Helene wrecks high school football schedule: Here are the latest updates for Week 6 changes

Statewide high school football scoreboard: Week 5

HighSchoolOT

Second annual "Orange Out" sees No. 4 Green Level sweep away No. 10 Millbrook

North Pitt and Washington settle for tie in matchup of standout ENC boys soccer teams

Predicted winners for all 160+ games in week 6 of the high school football season

Undefeated Watch: Week 6 features 39 perfect teams, 4 matchups between unbeatens

WRAL spent months speaking to doctors, people who work for the state and a lot of young people. All said the same thing - kids are finding ways to get vape products, even those to0 young to purchase them legally.

Undercover: 10 of 12 vape stores sell to young woman without carding

Teen advocates at the Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh said they don't think it is difficult for underage people to get vapes. 

How difficult is it for underage people to get vapes? WRAL goes undercover to find out

Vaping is addictive

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's alleged rejection of the offers sowed doubt among some staff members, people familiar with the matter tell WRAL. His response in the wake of the report likely played a role in the exodus of members of his gubernatorial campaign staff, they said.

Mark Robinson says he'll go 'after' CNN, but turns down offer of help to disprove its bombshell story

Two different families in Franklin County say BMB Contractors has caused them huge problems.The owner is now facing felony charges.

Contractor faces felony charges related to Franklin Co. home dispute

Two different families in Franklin County say BMB Contractors has caused them huge problems. 

Contractor 5 On Your Side recently investigated has been arrested

BMB Contractors 

Robinson rejected offers of tech help to investigate posts on porn site, sources say

Robinson responds to concerns over positions on social issues

WRAL Specialists

Protecting consumers from dangerous products sold by Amazon

Consumer Reports tests if dressers comply with STURDY Act

New research shows how well new dresser tip over rules are working

Northern Wake Senior Center works to curb fall frequency 

5 On Your Side

Man killed outside barbershop Saturday in Clinton

Police investigate abuse allegations at Mount Olive nursing home

NC Supreme Court hears case Thursday of ousted clerk of court

Franklin County clerk who lost job after accusations of misconduct takes appeal to NC Supreme Court

Investigations

Steve Rao: AIâs impact on jobs is the missing issue in election-year debate

David Gardner: No profit, no problem: Why SaaS companies sell for millions without profitability

Donald Thompson: Choose trust over surveillance for human-centric hybrid work environment

Mucinex maker eyes 289-job expansion in Wilson. NC approves $6.2M incentives package

French government faces legal pressure over arms sales to Saudi, UAE