A system of storms being reported since Friday touched down in Fuquay-Varina on Sunday, March 16. The storms covered many states in the southern and midwest of the U.S. including Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina. The storms left at least 40 dead in its wake and about 173,000 without power on Sunday night. At least 42 tornadoes were reported. The storms also caused many dust storms and wildfires in its midst. Recent storms and hurricanes have spurred questions if storms are getting worse as the years go on.
Power outages were sporadic and varying. Whole blocks lost power for hours, while other neighborhoods lost power for only a few minutes. Most power had been restored by Sunday night and Monday morning. Minimal damage was done in Fuquay-Varina, as there was not much wind and not enough rain to result in flooding.
Sophomore River DeGrave said, “Our power went out for a while. We don’t have a backup generator so it’s always uncertain how long we’ll be without power. I wasn’t too worried, though. Fuquay is pretty safe.”
Fuquay-Varina does get power outages from time to time, but they are usually resolved quickly. Outages with Duke Energy peaked at 6 a.m. with about 66,000 customers without power. By 6 p.m., outages had plummeted down to 20,000 customers.
Although Fuquay-Varina is known for its indecisive temperatures, its weather is relatively mild. The last tornado reported in Fuquay-Varina was on Aug. 3, 2024. It was an EF-1 tornado that lasted only 3 minutes.
Hurricanes and tropical storms are more common. Being on the coast puts the state more at risk for those types of storms. Hurricanes in North Carolina are also usually mild compared to other states like Florida. The worst hurricane in Fuquay-Varina was just last year with Hurricane Helene. Hurricanes Florence and Matthew hold the second and third spots respectively.
Trends based on hurricane deaths actually indicate that hurricanes are getting worse in North Carolina. Throughout the 2000s, deaths remained in the low single-digits. In the early 2010s, deaths were similarly low until later in the decade, where deaths started to break into double digits. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 had a death count of 28 while Florence in 2018 had a death count of 43. Hurricane Helene blows both of these out of the water with a staggering 104 deaths in North Carolina alone. This may signify the steady increase in hurricane severity.
The main culprit for increasing violent storms is global warming. As the earth heats up, so do the oceans. As hurricanes form over oceans, the warmer water adds to the intensity of the storm. Warm water evaporates more quickly, leading to more moisture in the air and worse storms as a result. While storms in North Carolina may be nothing to worry about at the moment, there definitely seems to be a bigger issue at play.
