Clear and dry conditions expected for July 4-5

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, the sky over downtown Rockingham already is darker than usual in anticipation of anticipated showers and storms related to Hurricane Arthur that are expected to arrive later today.
Staff report
The National Weather Service has issued a hazard weather outlook advisory for Richmond County and surrounding areas as Hurricane Arthur continue to moves up the coast.
Officials began executing a mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island at 5 a.m. this morning and no one would be permitted to the island, according to a USAToday.com report. The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Arthur has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is expected to reach the Outer Banks sometime today.
Locally, slow moving showers and thunderstorms could produce heavy rain this afternoon and overnight as a cold front approaches and crosses the region from the west and the hurricane approaches from the south. The conditions could cause minor flooding, especially in urban and poor drainage areas.
On Friday, July 4, conditions are expected to be clear and dry for Independence Day celebrations in Hamlet and Ellerbe.
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