Tornado watch issued across 10 North Carolina and South Carolina counties

The US National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch covering 10 counties across southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina, keeping the alert in place until 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday.

The alert extends across major coastal hubs and inland towns as severe weather pushes through the region. In North Carolina, the watch applies to Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender and Robeson counties. Across the state line in South Carolina, the alert covers Dillon, Horry, Marion and Marlboro counties.

Populated coastal destinations and regional centres are among the areas affected, including Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Lumberton, Conway, Leland, Southport, Whiteville, Elizabethtown, Bennettsville, Dillon, Marion, Mullins and Surf City.

Smaller coastal and rural communities—such as Oak Island, Sunset Beach, Boiling Spring Lakes, Burgaw, Chadbourn, Tabor City and Little River—are also included under the watch.

Brief tornado warning near the North Carolina Zoo

Earlier on Sunday morning, the weather service office in Raleigh issued a separate, urgent tornado warning for Chatham and Randolph counties in central North Carolina. The warning took effect at 10:22 a.m. EDT and lapsed at 10:45 a.m. EDT.

Meteorologists detected a severe thunderstorm capable of spinning up a tornado close to the North Carolina Zoo. The storm moved north-east at 30 mph, prompting warnings of flying debris, roof damage and fallen trees.

The warning zone covered Asheboro, Liberty, Ramseur, Franklinville, Staley and Coleridge, alongside sections of Interstate 73 between mile markers 65 and 68 and mile markers 70 and 72. Forecasters instructed anyone in the path of the storm to move immediately to an interior room or basement on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay clear of windows.

South Carolina feels the remnants of Isaias

The alerts come after severe weather linked to the remnants of Isaias generated confirmed twisters further south across South Carolina on Saturday and early Sunday.

Weather service forecasters confirmed that a tornado tracked out of Allendale County into Barnwell County, while a second tornado touched down in Fairfield County. Video shared on social media showed a funnel moving through Allendale County. While local authorities reported knocked-down power lines and localised structural damage, no casualties or serious injuries have been reported.