ROCKINGHAM — The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory until 10 p.m.
The advisory covers much of central North Carolina, including Richmond County.
Meteorologists say northwest winds throughout the evening will be sustained at 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, peaking in the early evening and subsiding later tonight.
“Winds of this magnitude are capable of knocking down old or weakened trees and can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles,” according to the advisory.
Unsecured objects can also be blown around, causing hazards; and tree limbs could be blown down, resulting in power outages.
Just after the advisory was issued, winds in downtown Rockingham had leaves swirling, flags rippling, signs swinging and a streetlamp rocking.
This comes a week after strong winds associated with a thunderstorm toppled trees and limbs in Ellerbe.
The forecast for the rest of the week features a mix of sunny and partly cloudy skies, with a slight chance of showers on Sunday and another chance for showers and thunderstorms next Friday.
