ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 5am - July 29, 2026

Episode Date: July 29, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local newsleader, breaking stories from overnight and this morning, and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Here we go, starting at 5 a.m. Good morning, Carolina. Welcome on this Wednesday. It's July 29th. I'm Joel Brown. And I'm Anna Rivera. Thanks so much for joining us today. And we start with the deadly storm. One person killed as powerful storms rolled through the triangle.

This morning, thousands waking up without power. trees down across the triangle. We are also tracking lingering impacts at R-DU. Last night's storms causing delays and cancellations a major airline ordering a national ground stop. It was a dark and stormy night but it is all calm now as we check weather and traffic together at 5 a.m. Boy, that was some rough going. August kept asking me, what's that light? What is that light? Yeah, because we had the curtains closed and he just kept seeing the light. Lots of flashing. Lots of flashing last Last night, lots of strong storms.

I had some power surges in my home yesterday too. So things are much quieter now and today's gonna be rather pleasant. A chance to clean up and assess any damage from yesterday too. That cold front is pushing through right now. It'll be offshore taking those storms along with it. Plenty of storm reports yesterday. Most came in the form of wind damage or possible tornado damage. We also had some flash flooding reports yesterday as well.

In general, we saw a swath of one to two inches from Alamans County right into Orange Durham with through Wake County and in parts of Nash County too. That's where we saw the trail for most of the storms and tracks yesterday. This month at RDU ending up with 12.16 inches of rain. I say ending up because we don't have any more rain potential for the remainder of July. But the wetter's July on record, 12.36. So that puts this month as the second wetest July on record at RDU. And more rain this month than we've seen in the first six months of this year. So very impressive rain totals for the month of July. chance to help us make up some of the drought that continues for the area. Here's our first alert Doppler net dry conditions now. Still a little fog showing up this morning, mainly south and east of the triangle. Shouldn't be a major issue as we get the drier flow working in behind that front today. Light look from North Hills, all good there. Temperatures are mainly 70s out the door, 69 in Oxford 71 Chapel Hill, Sanford, 673 in Goldsboro. And these winds are light from the northwest. We'll see those picking up a little bit more later today. Near 80 degrees at 10,

beautiful for lunch outside today and those low to mid-80s will top out mid-80s to around 90 this afternoon. Lower humidity, a little haze to the sky because of some of that Canadian wildfire smoke working through the region. But no major concerns as far as air quality goes. We'll continue with that wildfire smoke through the afternoon and evening as well. No rain in the forecast for the end of the work week, but I do have some showers and storms for the weekend. We'll talk more about that. When I come back, our first check up weather and traffic together this morning, Anna, back to you. So, Quailan, overall picture does look good now.

Things have definitely quieted down since those overnight storms. We're not seeing any crashes, no slowdowns you need to worry about. Let's take a live look at the DOT cameras right now. We do also have Breaking News 1 out and about. This is at 540 Westbound near Creedmoor Road. There was a car that was in the tree line. It was stuck up in the tree line. This had a heavy response from first responders.

Right now, not blocking any lanes as they work to get this clear. The clean out from last night's storms just getting underway. Sadly, we know one person was killed in all of this and we have live team coverage of the aftermath. We start with Bianca and Raleigh where last night's storms were deadly. Good morning. Hey, good morning, Anna and Joel. So those storms last night were very intense, the lightning, the strong winds. And we're right in front of an example of how strong those winds were.

And so there was a tree that fell onto the back of this two-story home. I want to show you video from last night where you can really get a full picture of it. We're on Barton Enclave Lane in North Raleigh in Wake County. Emergency crews responded to a fallen tree on a house. Before deputies arrived, first responders found a man trapped inside the house. He was pronounced dead on the scene. We know that two other people were in the home, but were not injured at the time. And you can just see how massive that tree was in the backyard that fell onto the back of this two-story home.

So of course, we're going to wait to learn more. They're still investigating this situation. But again, we do know that it was a fatal incident here at this house in North. Raleigh back to you. Okay, Bianca, thank you. And last night, Storm's also doing serious damage to the power grid. Yeah, thousands waking up with no power this morning. Duke Energy showing more than 28,000 customers in the dark statewide. More than 5,000 of those in Wake County alone. Sean Coffey is live in Rale, near the hard hit Springdale Estates. This is south of I-540 between Leesville and Creedmoort Road. Sean, walk us through that. Yeah, good morning, guys. A lot of

those power outages caused by scenes like this one that you see behind me here. This is on Pinecrest Road near Leesville Road in northwest Raleigh, where this tree is obviously still blocking this roadway this morning, and this is the kind of scene that many triangle residents are waking up to today. And you can see the impacts from last night's severe weather across the region this morning. Our breaking news crew was on the scene of a tree down at home on country court near Falls of Noose Road in Raleigh. You could see the damage done to that house. We're told at least three cars were destroyed when that tree came down. Unfortunately, everyone there is okay. Over on Norwood Road in North Raleigh, a huge tree came down before a car drove into that tree early this morning leading to minor injuries there.

Crews working overnight to clear that tree from the roadway, and that road has since reopened. Then over in Durham, you could see the impacts from the heavy rains. Those rains flooding out roads, leaving drivers in a dangerous situation late last night into this morning. Again, this is all part of a general mess that many Triangle residents are waking up. to today. And we will have coverage throughout the morning of the aftermath of these storms. Obviously, a whole lot of people are still in the dark. There is debris on the roadways, depending on where you are this morning. Stay with eyewitness news for the very latest as you start your day. Back to you guys. Okay, Sean, thank you. And eyewitness news is committed

to keeping you safe during severe weather. Go ahead and download the free eyewitness news app to get weather alerts sent right to your mobile device. You'll also have access to First Alert Dopplernet so you can track the changing weather conditions wherever you are. We're also tracking the lingering impacts at RDEU. Take a look at the video from our camera terminal to the airport, showing you just how heavy the rain was there, how frequent the lightning was hitting in the surrounding area. This morning, 11 flights have been canceled, seven others delayed. Go ahead and check with your airline before heading to the airport. The American Air, an American Airlines is back up and running this morning after a brief ground stop last night.

The airline blaming an IT issue for the problem. That ground stop lasted about 45 minutes. And now to the war with Iran and U.S. forces across the Middle East are on high alert after a surprise attack by Iran breaking a days-long pause in the fighting. U.S. Central Command says Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles but say they were successfully intercepted. A separate escalation, U.S. and Saudi Arabian jets targeted sites in eastern Iraq overnight that were linked to Iranian-backed groups believed responsible for attacking Saudi oil facilities. Time now on your Wednesday morning is 507 and cyclose. spora cases are rising. An update on the health alert happening right here in the triangle.

And a rare warning from the American Red Cross. What you need to know about the national blood crisis. Quiland, good morning. Good morning. We're drying out, clearing skies this morning, 70s out the door with highs. Mid-80s to around 90 degrees with mainly sunny skies. When we'll see some more rainfall coming up in my forecast? And right now the road's clear.

Not much you need to worry about as far as crashes or congestion. Now let's take a look at those traffic hot spots. Brought you by the Fred Anderson family of dealerships on Glenwood Avenue. Fred Anderson Toyota, Fred Anderson Kia, Fred Anderson Nissan, all home of the Fred Anderson Family Plan, including lifetime oil changes, lifetime car washes on all new Toyota's Kia's Nissan's and hundreds of used cars. The Fred Anderson Family Plan saves your family thousands while giving you lasting value with every mile you drive. Thinking of selling or trading your current vehicle, Fred Anderson wants to pay you more even if you don't buy from us.

Get the family plan at Fred Anderson, Toyota, Fred Anderson Kia, and Fred Anderson, Nissan Nissan, all on Glenwood Avenue. ABC. 510, welcome back on this Wednesday morning. The day after we had some really strong storms, even severe, dry conditions now. We'll continue dry through the day as that cold front works through and offshore.

Light look from North Hills. If you check the skies this morning, you'll have a beautiful view of the moon, which is nearly full. It turns full later this morning, right around 10.35. Temperatures through 8 o'clock in the 70s for most of us by noon today,

low to mid-80s, beautiful conditions, mainly sunny a little less humid today, but pleasant overall highs mid-80s to around 91 degrees. We'll have a nice wind from the northwest. A little haste to the sky due to some Canadian wildfires to no major issues on air quality impacts. We continue to see lake improvements with levels around Falls Lake still needs some help around Carr and Lake Gaston. Tomorrow we're looking at temperatures in the upper 80s, a little less humid even tomorrow afternoon with highs back to around 90 Friday. And Saturday we'll see increasing clouds. High is still near 90 degrees. I do introduce the rain. chance at 20% for Saturday. At the coast today, a low to moderate threat of rip currents will continue some morning showers and storms pulling away in general with the front. High temperatures

at the coast today, mid to upper 80s, 70s and 80s in the mountains, you'll have a mixture of sunshine and clouds if you're headed there. Few storms still possible around parts of the southeast, Florida, Georgia into Alabama, also out to the west. Severe risk for parts of southern Georgia into Florida, including the panhandle, also around parts of the northern plain states today as well. but not as much real estate on the storm potential overall compared to yesterday. Still some big heat impacts around parts of the Central U.S. and down towards the areas near the Gulf too. In D.C. today, temperatures will be around 84 this afternoon, Philly up to 85, Buffalo 76.

New York City still has a chance for some storms. Highs mid to upper 70s and Boston looking at 70s for the afternoon too. We're going to have some better rain chances second part of your weekend. I'll have more on that coming up. Joel back to you. Quaylin, thank you. An update now on the cyclospora outbreak. The state health department reporting 157 new cases of the stomach bug since last week, bringing the total to 718 with 24 people hospitalized. More than 400 of those cases are in Wake County. The state says a source has still not been identified. Starting today, the Durham County Health Department is offering free mosquito dunks to local households. It's a safe preventative tool to control mosquito populations around your home. Each dunk contains a naturally occurring bacteria.

found in soils that kills mosquito larva. It is harmless to pets, birds, insects, insects, and other wildlife. The dunks can help control mosquitoes for up to 30 days. You can pick up a pack of six dunks at Durham County Human Services Building. All right, time now 513 and several high-stakes meetings at the White House. We're breaking down the impact as President Trump confers with two world leaders. Plus a new food distribution hub is now open in Durham as the need for food assistance in the area grows. Why leaders believe it could have a big impact on triangle families.

We are local news. ABC 11 eyewitness news continues now. A Johnston County firefighter has been fired after being charged with child sex crimes. 36-year-old Joshua Womack is charged with three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and two counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators say evidence on his cell phone matched claims made by a juvenile victim. Womack was a probationary firefighter with the Wilson Mills Fire Department. The chief there says he was fired as soon as they learned of the charges. He's now held in the Johnston County Jail on a $1 million bond.

This morning we're learning more about two high-profile meetings at the White House. President Trump met face-to-face with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since February. The meeting comes amid the ongoing war with Iran. The pair discussing the conflict that has dragged on for nearly five months. President Trump also meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, saying he and Trump had a, quote, good meeting. Zelensky says he spoke to Trump about reviving diplomatic efforts to end Ukraine's war with Russia. He said they also discussed Ukraine's access to air defenses. Now to a nationwide crisis that you can help solve.

The American Red Cross is sounding the alarm on a national blood shortage. It's only the second time in the organization's history. This kind of crisis has been declared because not enough people were donating. Shanika Richardson of Wake Forest is no stranger to blood transfusion. She's battled sickle cell disease her entire life. She gets transfusions every three weeks. She now advocates for others with the disease and explains how one quick donation can save a life like hers. You've never met me.

You may never meet me. But we're so thankful. We know that you're out there. We know that you care because we're able to keep surviving because you're. give blood. Head to ABC11.com to find out how you can donate the gift of life. 517 and a major step forward for Durham as leaders work toward meeting the growing need for food assistance.

A new food bank at Business Park called Welcome Venture Park. It's on Hamlin Road north of I-85 and it'll feed more families and expanding food distribution across the region. It's called Food Lion Feeds Hunger Solutions Center. The 64,000 square foot food bank is more than a place for families to get food. It's also a distribution hub that helps dozens of community partners feed people across the region. And it is the final week to contribute to our Stop Summer Hunger campaign. Your donations can help families who are having trouble putting food on the table.

Every dollar donated is getting matched up to 100,000. We are getting closer to our goal of funding 7 million meals. So far, thanks to your generosity, 5 million meals have been paid for. You can donate now through Friday. We've got everything you need to know on ABC11.com. And a big thank you to everyone who has donated so far. We could use some more. 518 now in time for weather and traffic together.

Yesterday I walked outside before the storms and I was like it was so nasty. It was so humid. You just felt like you wanted the atmosphere to pop. I was like please and then it did. And then it did. Yeah, I went for a run too and I was feeling the same way. We're looking at some nicer weather today. humidity slowly dropping today and really through the end of the week too.

We'll have upper 80s today and tomorrow 90 on Friday, which puts us closer to average. And then we settle back into those 80s, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of next week with a chance for some showers and storms into early next week as well. Here's that activity now working offshore that severe storm action. So creating some rough surf out there for those coastal areas with boaters out there too. So keeping that in mind this morning that the front is rolling through skies. They're clearing out nicely and live look into downtown Raleigh. where TEPs are in the 70s. Right now at 70 and Roxborough, 69 in Sanford,

Goldsboro and Fayetteville, low to mid-70s. So some patchy fog out there, but we'll see less of that. In the coming hours, as more of that drier air from the northwest continues to build in a pretty light wind for now. Turn breezy at times into early afternoon,

10 to 15, even 20 miles per hour on some of those gusts possible later today. Overall, a lot of sunshine through the afternoon. 70s at 9 by noon low 80s, 87 at 3, but we will have some haze to the sky due to that Canadian wildfire smoke riding on the heels of the trough action still impacting the eastern half of the country. Tomorrow morning, really beautiful conditions. Some of you are going to start in the low 60s tomorrow morning. I'll have more than that in a few moments.

Right now we have the front offshore through Thursday to upper 80s with lots of sun high pressure building in as we head into Friday and your weekend. So that'll send temps back to around 90 by Friday. This weekend, upper 80s on Saturday, 87 on Sunday. That brings the better chance for storms. have some a.m. rain on Saturday or Sunday, excuse me, with them by the afternoon. Storms will start to develop. The same front moving through now lifts back north by Sunday into early next week. That will prompt the better rain and storm chances through the start of next week too. But over the next seven days, we're looking at about one half of an inch or less

on rainfall total. So no major washouts coming our way is how it looks right now. Highs today, mid-80s to the north, mid-to- Upper 80s in the triangle near 90 in the sandhills. Check out these lows tonight. Low 60s north. Rocksboro is 62. Our engineer Rob is in Ron is in the house. He lives in Roxburgh. He'll have nice temperatures in the morning. 63 Henderson, Raleigh, 68, 66, Clinton, Fable, 68 degrees. And the tropics all good here, no development in the next seven days. And at the coast today, rough seas out there, but a beautiful afternoon. High's mid to upper 80s, 70s and 80s in the mountains, a bit warmer for areas to the south. Here's your first alert, 7-day forecast, powered by ACUweather. So we'll finish out July with some pleasant, quiet,

weather, lower humidity, lows in the 60s through Friday night. Saturday, August, first, the high around 89 degrees, and then 80s kick off next week with showers and storms possible. Pretty much each day lows in the 70s. And there's your extended forecast. We do get back to the 90s by the middle of next week. Right now, weather and traffic together. Anna, back to you. Quaylon, nice and quiet to start your Wednesday morning so far as far as crashes go. We're not seeing any issues. We're also not seeing any congestion. Let's take a live look outside at the DOT cameras. You can see how light traffic is at 540 and Lewisburg Road. 522 on your Wednesday morning and a ban on robots coming from China.

That's ahead in your morning tech bites. Plus, meet the local Little League team preparing to take on the world. Alerting you first. First alert weather on ABC 11. Back at 525 in the Trump administration banning foreign-made humanoid robots from entering the U.S. ABC Sophie Flee has more in today's TechBites. In today's Techbytes, the Trump administration is banning Chinese humanoid robots and power inverters. The FCC is citing national security concerns as the AI race heats up between the U.S. and China.

Administration officials say the robots could create vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Tesla is being sued by a former manager who claims he was fired after raising concerns that the team overseeing the safety of self-driving cars was overworked. The lawsuit says as a result, the company's robotaxies became, quote, rolling hazards on public streets. No comment yet from Tesla. And the future of a NASA telescope is in question after problems in space. The telescope needs to be pushed into higher orbit

and NASA hired a private company to get the job done. But the robot has tumbled out of control and now the company is trying to get the robot stabilized. Those are TechBites. I'm Sophie Flee. Happening today, a Little League softball team from Johnston County is preparing to make some noise at the Little League Softball World Series,

in Greenville. The team held their final practice last night before leaving for the tournament today. Several county officials and fans from the community were on hand to wish the 13 young ladies, good luck. The All-Stars entered the World Series a perfect 6-0. They've outscored their opponents, 93 to nothing. They are very, very good. Ninety-three. Did you see the practice video where they were playing catch-back and forth? One of the girls had a mask on our face, and you got to catch it without seeing the ball. You gotta feel it. You gotta feel it.

It's all an energy thing. You need that in Greenville. Good luck out there. Deadly storms tear through the triangle. Yeah, we are live tracking the lingering impacts this morning. We are also talking about the drought, how recent rain has helped our ongoing water problems. And what we're learning about the search

for a missing carry woman who disappeared in Grenada.