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An approaching area of low pressure and the muggiest air so far this summer are the ingredients for what meteorologists think will be a stormy late afternoon and evening across the Charlotte region.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Watauga, Wilkes and Ashe counties in the mountains, where hourly rainfall rates of up to 2 inches are expected in areas of storms later today.
In the foothills and Piedmont, strong to severe thunderstorms are possible as the upper-level low pressure system crossed the region.
Conditions on Friday afternoon in the Charlotte area are oppressive. Dewpoint temperatures are in the mid 70s, perhaps the highest they have been so far this year. Add to that an air temperature in the upper 80s, and you get heat index readings around 100 degrees. When low pressure encounters that hot and humid air, say forecasters, thunderstorms will develop.
The Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma has put the region in the "risk area" for severe storms later today, saying damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible. Meteorologists also say the thunderstorms will have more movement than Thursday but still will be slow enough to dump heavy rain in some spots.
A slight improvement in the stormy weather is expected Saturday, with highs near 90 degrees and scattered storms. By Sunday, thunderstorms are expected to be isolated, allowing high temperatures to reach the middle 90s.
