Potentially dangerous weather — possible tornadoes, damaging wind and hail — is forecast for Beaufort County and eastern North Carolina tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to move through the region tonight and Thursday, according to a severe-weather alert issued by the NWS office in Newport earlier today. The risk of damaging winds is high, and the risks of tornadoes and damaging hail are at the medium-level, according to NWS warnings.

“There is a potential for two rounds of severe weather to develop across the region tonight and early Thursday. The first round is expected this evening until and hour or two after midnight associated with a warm front lifting across the region. A second round late tonight into Thursday morning ahead of a strong cold front,” reads a NWS statement.

From 6 p.m. today to 6 a.m. Thursday, a warm front and initial short-wave energy will produce an isolated severe thunderstorm threat, followed by a more dangerous threat late tonight, according to NWS advisories.

“Once the severe weather threat ends Thursday, strong southwest winds will develop, bringing gale force winds and large waves around 10-17 feet across much of the coastal waters, highest south of Oregon Inlet. … Wind gusts 35 to 45 mph expected Thursday, highest along the coast,” reads a NWS hazards warning.

The NWS predicts low water levels — from 1 to 2 feet below normal — in the Pamlico and Neuse rivers Thursday night into Friday.

Kay Summerfield, a volunteer with the American Red Cross office in Washington, said she and other volunteers are in an on-call mode, ready to respond to disaster-related incidents if they occur.