Central North Carolina gets severe storms, dampen Halloween festivities

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- It was a wet, windy and potentially dangerous Halloween as severe weather moved through the state.

Tornado warnings and other severe weather alerts were issued across much of central North Carolina and southern Virginia for several hours Thursday evening.

The biggest threat from Thursday's storms was damaging wind, with gusts up to 50 mph.

The weather took a toll on festivities across the area, including on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill:

The weather took a toll on festivities across the area, including on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

Severe weather caused power outages across the state.

Earlier, 40,000 were without power in Fayetteville.

Earlier, 40,000 were without power in Fayetteville.

As of 11:15 p.m., power outages in the Triangle have since cleared.

The sun was out and shining bright earlier. And although that sounds good, the warm air provides fuel for storms.

The biggest threat from Thursday's storms was damaging wind, with gusts up to 50 mph.

Rain is not typical on Halloween. In fact, it has only rained once in the last nine years during trick-or-treat time.

On average it rains one out of every four Halloweens in Central North Carolina.

Still, many had fun throughout the Triangle.