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Wednesday morning is a WRAL Weather Alert Day as we track a weakening line of storms that will affect parts of the morning commute.



WRAL Weather Alert Day: Storms with lightning may shake you awake, isolated storms Wednesday evening

I'm meteorologist Elizabeth Gardiner tracking a system crossing our area for today. First off, we have a warm front lifting across the area that brought us some showers and thunderstorms overnight. That'll continue to affect us up through around the middle of the morning or so. Small chance for some severe storms, lots of lightning out there. That's really been the biggest thing that we've seen from this and the potential for some hail as well. It's a level one risk for us for today. When damage and hail will be our two biggest threats, along with that frequent lightning again until right around 8 o'clock or so. And you can see the timeline. About 50% chance this morning. And then we'll see some sunshine in the middle of the day. That's going to allow our temperatures to really warm up and it's pretty muggy out there. And then just a very small round of thunderstorms coming up during the evening commute through dinner time. Just a few isolated cells will pop up. With that potential for some sunshine around the middle of the day, it's going to end up being a hot and humid afternoon with a high of 88. Looking ahead, as we get into, say, Friday and Saturday in particular, it looks nice and dry. Sunday and Monday of the holiday look like we could see some scattered storms.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Severe risk level for Wednesday afternoon, 5/21/2025

One killed, four others injured in overnight crash on Capital Blvd. in Wake Forest

Crash in Wake Forest on Capital Boulevard at Star Road

Higher bills, new benefits on the way for State Health Plan members in NC

Hospital bed

Wrong man detained at funeral: Attendees leave to hostile scene with Lee County deputies

Lee County deputies

Wake school board gives tentative approval to new cellphone policy, with some caveats

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Trump on Capitol Hill implores divided Republicans to unify behind his big tax cuts bill

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Raleigh woman speaks out after being shot in a Mother's Day home invasion

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NEW YORK (AP) â George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy âCheersâ and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in âArt,â âHairsprayâ and âElf,â has died. He was 76.

George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on 'Cheers' and found another home onstage, dies at 76

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The Florida Panthers snatched home-ice advantage and a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-2 victory over the Hurricanes on Tuesday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

Hurricanes fall to Panthers in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Final

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Based on a neutral El NiÃ±o Southern Oscillation and varying Atlantic ocean temperatures, we are projecting an average number of tropical systems this season.

WRAL Severe Weather team forecasts 'near-average' number of tropical systems in 2025

2025 Atlantic Hurricane season outlook on WRAL

According to the Smithfield Police Department, two people, one of whom was later identified as Zayvion Boone, 17, drove up to Kay Drive in a black Ford Fusion and fired multiple shots. Boone is considered armed and dangerous.


Smithfield police searching for 'armed and dangerous' 17-year-old charged in Monday shooting

Zayvion Boone

The murder trial for Rodney Crawford, accused of killing Nicole Bullock after years of alleged domestic abuse, has begun, bringing renewed scrutiny to the effectiveness of protective orders.

'The system failed her': Family grieves as domestic violence murder trial starts

Nicole Bullock died at the age of 29. She was found dead in March 2023 at a Durham hotel.

A man is in jail on Tuesday after deputies said he killed a baby in Cumberland County.


Man charged with murder, child abuse after baby dies from brain injury

Darrell Lamar Evans Jr.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Hudson, 24, has told at least one person that she and Belichick, 73, are engaged.

Report: Jordon Hudson told at least one person she and UNC coach Bill Belichick are engaged

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson at the NFL Honors

The prosecution sees evidence of murder in the video that shows Terry McMillian, of Durham, pushing 82-year-old Gary Rasor to the ground at the Home Depot in Hillsborough on Oct. 18, 2022. 

Was shove murder? Jury must decide in case of Home Depot worker who died

Home Depot murder suspect to appear in court 

The city of Raleigh has unveiled a $1.78 billion budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, featuring substantial pay raises for some city employees. The budget also proposes increases in solid waste, water, sewer and stormwater fees, though the property tax rate is set to remain unchanged.

$1.78B proposed budget: Raleigh employees would receive raises, property tax rate remains the same

Raleigh skyline

East Wake, Knightdale, South Garner and Southeast Raleigh high schools, along with Phillips and SCORE Academy alternative schools, will no longer be eligible for Title I funds.

Wake will drop 6 high schools from funding program for lower-income schools as budget tightens

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Last week's EF-4 tornado in Kentucky flung debris more than 50 miles away

Ask the Meteorologist: How far can a tornado launch debris?

Ask the Meteorologist: how far can a tornado launch debris?

There are several pieces of information we use to make a seasonal forecast for hurricanes.

Ask the Meteorologist: What are some key ingredients to a tropical season forecast?

Ask the Meteorologist: Tropical season forecasting

This weekend is filled with several large festivals, including Animazement, NC Sugar Rush and Taste of Soul.

Weekend best bets: Animazement, Sugar Rush and Taste of Soul

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Cary and Apex secured spots in the top 10, with Cary ranked No. 5 and Apex No. 7.


Cary and Apex rank among America's best places to live, according to US News & World Report

GLOW: Kaleidoscope mazes, glowing forts pop up in downtown Cary

You get a call from a number your recognize and are told someone you love is being held for ransom.


Virtual kidnapping scam provides a scare, can drain your bank account if you're not careful

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A woman was gifted a new home in May. It comes after a North Carolina lawmaker rescued the woman from her previous home, which caught on fire.

Woman saved from house fire in February gifted new home

Esther Jones with NC Rep. Dean Arp in front of her new home

Don't Miss It

YouTube star and children's educator Rachel Accurso, whose "songs for littles" have been viewed billions of times, sang one of her trademark songs with Rahaf, a 3-year-old double amputee from Gaza.

YouTube star Ms. Rachel sings with 3-year-old amputee from Gaza

Man accused of holding pregnant girlfriend's family captive for months

2025 Atlantic hurricane season: WRAL Severe Weather team predicts 'near-average' number of tropical storms

NC woman tracks stolen cellphone to China

Parents be cautious! Top 5 dangers to children in the summer

Get a sprinkler splash pad for $11 on Amazon right now

What the Trump big bill battle means for you

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Wake school board approves agreement with Shaw University to run district's leadership academies

Local News

Tracking trash: NC State study reveals hidden path of plastic pollution

Coyote who attacked Roxboro man tests positive for rabies, Person Co. health officials say

Infinite Campus 'on track' to replace PowerSchool in Wake schools by July 1, district leaders say

Future of Raleigh's Moore Square includes plan for hotel, affordable housing

Arrested New Orleans jail worker says he helped inmates escape after stabbing threat

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With little progress after phone calls and talks, Ukraine's allies hit Russia with new sanctions

Musk vows to put hundreds of thousands of self-driving Teslas on US roads by the end of next year

Prosecutors charge McIver with pushing and grabbing agents while trying to stop mayor's arrest

Supreme Court allows Trump to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans who risk deportation

The city of Raleigh's Fourth of July fireworks show will return to the area around North Carolina State University in 2025. 

Raleigh's Fourth of July fireworks returning to Lenovo Center, Carter-Finley Stadium area

Fireworks at Dix Park in 2024

Downtown Raleigh gets 'Live After 5' starting this week

Live After Five, downtown Raleigh

10 incredible places to visit in North Carolina this year

Bodie Island Lighthouse. Photo: Big Stock

Swimming pools in North Carolina: Search for your favorite public pool

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Where to find the best ice cream in North Carolina

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Fact check: Jeffries says 20% of veteran households use food stamps

Politifact

Fact check: Trump says his order will reduce prescription drug prices 'almost immediately'

Fact check: NC Democrat blames Trump for Google Calendar's removal of Black History Month

Fact check: RFK Jr. says U.S. government is spraying the sky with jet fuel chemicals

Fact check: Is the new Pope registered to vote as a Republican?

Hundreds of millions for NC children's hospital caught in budget battle

NC Capitol

Health care costs expected to rise for state employees

Teacher raises, DEI cuts discussed at House budget press conference 

Gov. Josh Stein proposes $891 million for Helene relief, NC House proposes $700 million

State employees, teachers would see pay bumps under NC House's proposed budget 

Infinite Campus comes with learning curve as Wake schools plan out how app will work

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Wake schools set to vote on new cell phone policy

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Family says special needs son was assaulted in class, suing Moore County Schools

Teddy Swims and band surprise Rolesville High School students

'I do not want to see another one': Tornado cluster spikes anxiety in eastern NC

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'Don't sit in a cave': NC man urges importance of screenings after Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis

Family claims nonverbal student with autism was slapped, knocked down

NC House seeks to expand K-12 special-ed funding, arts instruction and teacher training 

North Carolina cracks down on unlicensed massage practices in state shopping malls

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder beat the rested Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of West finals

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Knicks and Pacers set for Round 9 in their playoff rivalry, with the winner going to the NBA Finals

NFL owners unanimously approve player participation in Olympic flag football for 2028

Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant named to NASCAR Hall of Fame 2026 class

Reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, Hurricanes meet again in Eastern final 

Midway wins at South Lenoir to take 2A East baseball series lead 

HighSchoolOT

J.H. Rose rolls to Game 1 win over Terry Sanford in 3A East baseball series

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(1) Cardinal Gibbons surges past (9) Apex in 4A boys lacrosse third round

Schedules & results for NCHSAA baseball & softball regional championship series

Raleigh police officer Kyle Epps is no longer with the department following an internal investigation, the details of which have not been disclosed. The Wake County District Attorney has begun dismissing hundreds of cases where Epps was the arresting officer.

Raleigh police officer no longer with department after investigation

Raleigh police officer no longer with department after investigation, hundreds of cases in jeopardy

A file photo of Kyle Epps (left). Photo courtesy of the Raleigh Police Department.

The North Carolina House has unanimously approved the Fostering Care in NC Act, marking a significant step towards reforming the state's foster care system.  

NC bill to reform state's foster care program passes House, heads to Senate

North Carolina foster care reform bill moves forward with unanimous House approval

Rep. Allen Chesser said if Foster Care in NC becomes law, the state would be able to take action before a tragedy occurs, not just after.

A new lawsuit claims that online retailer Amazon reversed some instant refunds. For consumers, this could affect your ability to return items.

Lawsuit accuses amazon of reneging on refunds

Consumer reports spoke with a travel expert who shared tips on how to enjoy theme parks with your family this summer without spending a fortune. 

Experts break down ways to save money on vacation

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Attention Harris Teeter shoppers: Consumer Reports found price when you swipe higher than on shelf at Kroger-owned stores

Errors found on Kroger price tags in Consumer Reports investigation

Restaurant Ratings: Ruby Tuesdays and Kinlaw's Welcome Grill

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Protecting patients' rights: Woman claims Duke doctor mistreated her mom

In viral video, woman claims Duke doctor mistreated her mom

Cost to fix lead in Durham's parks could be much higher than state originally estimated

Orange County farm owner charged after dozens of complaints about large party

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Remote workers are more engaged but struggle to thrive

Donald Thompson: 10 habits to make you indispensable at work

Greg Behr: 'ChatGPT-Itâ -- How OpenAI secured the verb for AI creation

David Gardner: Every business degree should require sales classes

WRAL TechWire

Carolina Furniture Direct closing after 41 years in Raleigh, liquidating all furniture

Former Vice President Mike Pence parts ways with Trump on tariff policy

Trump's massive import taxes haven't done much economic damage -- yet

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Put on hold by 911, Wake County family gave up and drove to ER

Family

Critical shortage of foster parents in NC: 10,000 children and teenagers need homes

Foster parent wants change after state takeover of Vance County Department of Social Services

City leaders discuss upgrades for popular Durham Central Park

Foster parent speaks out after state's intervention into Vance Child Welfare Services

Amazon deals: Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Water Bottle only $19 (46% off), LEGO Daffodils Building Set only $7.86 (48% off), Chuckit! Ultra Fetch Stick for dogs only $5.27 (52% off)

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Walmart Deals: Car Battery Jump Starter only $29.99 (reg. $89), Nerf Dog LED Squeak Ball only $4.97 (reg. $12), Heavy Duty 4 Shelf Metal Wire Shelving Unit only $43.99 (reg. $109.99)

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