More than 5,000 people in North Carolina were given minutes to get to shelter on Wednesday afternoon as dangerous storms moved through the region.

A severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) warned people in southeastern Alleghany County and northeastern Wilkes County to "prepare immediately" for damaging winds and deadly lightning.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski told Newsweek that the thunderstorms could continue into Thursday and even into the weekend.

Why It Matters

The urgent warnings come as multiple states in the U.S. face a severe storms and flood risk this week, only days after the deadly flash floods that ravaged Central Texas over the weekend. The Texas floods killed at least 109 people, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County.

Myriad severe weather alerts remain in place across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Wednesday afternoon as dangerous thunderstorms bring damaging winds, deadly lightning and flooding downpours to the region.

An image of a storm moving through North Carolina. Josh Nosbisch/Getty

What To Know

The warning was issued at 2:44 p.m. local time and was set to remain in effect for 16 minutes until the storms moved through the region at 3 p.m.

At 2:44 p.m., radar tracked a severe storm over Dockery, near Traphill, moving northeast at 20 mph, bringing the threat of wind gusts up to 60 mph, as well as potentially deadly lightning and heavy rainfall.

The affected locations included Traphill, Roaring Gap, Stone Mountain State Park, Abshers, Halls Mills, Dockery and Hays.

"Prepare immediately for DAMAGING WINDS, as well as deadly cloud to ground lightning," the warning said. "For your safety, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Stay away from windows."

The warning came as the storm threatened to inflict roof, siding and tree damage, with additional hazards like rapidly reduced road visibility and minor flooding in low-lying areas.

Although this specific severe thunderstorm warning has expired, similar warnings could be issued throughout the rest of the day as repeating thunderstorms and rounds of heavy rain move through the region.

Severe thunderstorm watches remain in place for North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

What People Are Saying

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski told Newsweek: "These thunderstorms can get really tall. They are slow-moving, and they can drop a lot of rain, inches of rain per hour. Even with the high evaporation rates we have in July, you get a pattern like this and you can't really overcome it."

NWS, in a Wednesday forecast: "Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected today across the Mid-Atlantic and forecast to contain heavy to excessive rainfall. Numerous instances of flash flooding are possible in southern Virginia and north-central North Carolina."

What Happens Next

As the risk for severe storms continues, residents are urged to remain alert and follow local weather guidance. Severe thunderstorm watches will remain in place across the region until late Wednesday night.