Severe weather likely Sunday in Charlotte. A tornado watch is not out of the question

The entire Charlotte region is at risk for severe weather Sunday, an official with the National Weather Service said, and that includes the possibility of a tornado.

Strong thunderstorms are expected to develop over the region in the afternoon, bringing with them heavy rain and the possibility for severe wind gusts.

“It certainly is something to watch (for)," meteorologist Harry Gerapetritis said of the storm system. "It will not surprise us at all if we end up in some type of tornado watch or perhaps even a few warnings."

The rain is expected to fall between 2 and 6 p.m., Gerapetritis said, adding that some storms could linger into the evening.

The storms are the result of what Gerapetritis called a "vigorous" cold front that will pass through the area Sunday. The system was moving over states like Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday, he said.

Severe weather and thunderstorms are nothing new for this time of year, as April and May are the region's peak time for severe thunderstorms.

“Because we’re now getting into a little more of that spring warmth, these storms are going to have more energy to work with," he said.

Following the storms and cold front, Monday's temperatures are expected to be cooler, with highs in the low 60s, according to the National Weather Service.

This story was originally published April 14, 2018 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Severe weather likely Sunday in Charlotte. A tornado watch is not out of the question."