Government offices and schools across Cumberland County closed on Monday as a series of heavy storms bore down on Fayetteville and much of North Carolina.
“Multiple waves of strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts up to 60 to 75 mph will spread across portions of central NC through the late afternoon and early evening hours,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a hazardous weather outlook report on Monday morning.
Weather radar late Monday morning showed storms moving from the southwest to the northeast.
The NWS said showers and thunderstorms are likely in Fayetteville through 8 p.m. It also issued a tornado watch for the area through 2 p.m. The showers are predicted to bring a total of a tenth to a quarter inch of rain, though it could be higher in places with thunderstorms.
The storms are being driven by a cold front, according to the NWS. Temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s by Tuesday morning.
Here are some of the weather-related closures and postponements:
- Government offices: Fayetteville and Hope Mills municipal offices closed at noon. Spring Lake’s offices were also closed.
- Parks and rec: Fayetteville-Cumberland County Parks and Recreation centers closed at noon. Hope Mills canceled its parks and recreation programs and events.
- Bus service: Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) bus service ended at noon.
- Homeless services: The Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center closed at noon. The Salvation Army is open and will remain open for those who need shelter.
- Government meetings: The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and Hope Mills Town Board canceled their Monday meetings. The county commissioners will instead meet Tuesday, with the State of the County address starting at 6 p.m. in the old courthouse at 130 Gillespie St. The Hope Mills board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall.
- K-12 schools: The Cumberland County Schools were closed, along with extra-curricular activities.
- Colleges and universities: Fayetteville State University is on reduced operations. Fayetteville Technical Community College and Methodist University switched to remote learning.
Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.
Did you find this story useful or interesting? It was made possible by donations from readers like you to the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
Pleaseconsider making a tax-deductible donation so CityView can bring you more news and information like this.