Today's beautiful weather in Claiborne County is just the calm before the storm, according to predictions from the National Weather Service in Morristown.

There remains a potential for severe weather tonight, including a threat of straight line winds, quarter to golf ball size hail, heavy local rain, dangerous lightning and isolated tornadoes, according to the latest update from David Breeding, director of the Claiborne County Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security.

"The onset of the severe weather for this area has been moved to the hours between midnight and 3 a.m.," Breeding said, adding that it could last until around 4 a.m.

A broken line of thunderstorms is expected to move into the area late evening on Thursday and early Friday morning. Rain could total up to a half-inch locally.

"Damaging winds and large hail - up to the size of a golf ball - are the main concerns," Breeding said. "Tornadoes are possible across the Plateau.

For the latest information as it becomes available, stick with www.claiborneprogress.net.