LUMBERTON — A tornado watch is in effect in Robeson County until 10 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.
The service issued the alert about 2 p.m. and it covers 33 North Carolina counties from the mountains to the Sandhills region. A watch is issued when the weather conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado in or close to the watch area.
“They are usually issued for a duration of four to eight hours,” according to the National Weather Service website. “They normally are issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. During the watch, people should review tornado safety rules and be prepared to move to a place of safety if threatening weather approaches.”
The National Weather Services urges people to watch for dark, rotating clouds, take shelter immediately if such clouds are seen, listen for a tornado siren and take shelter if a siren is heard, turn on a television or radio in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions, avoid unnecessary car trips, and bring in outdoor furniture and other items that could blow away.