Thunderstorms in Carolinas bring threat of 60 mph gusts, quarter size hail, NWS says

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of upstate South Carolina just before 3 p.m. Monday, as the start of an extensive storm system rolled in with “strong winds and possible large hail,” says the National Weather Service.

The Gaffney and Spartanburg areas were being warned at 2:55 p.m. that 60 mph gusts and quarter size hail were among the hazards indicated by radar, according to the weather service. Downed trees and power lines are also a possibility, forecasters said.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Charlotte until 10 p.m. Monday, says the National Weather Service.

All parts of upstate South Carolina and the Piedmont of North Carolina will see some severe weather Monday, and possible flash flooding, forecasters say.

The storms will occur largely between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., the National Weather Service said in a tweet. An afternoon update also noted that the Piedmont of North Carolina is showing “increasing potential” for damaging storms as the day progresses.

“The primary threat is high wind gusts, with some threat from hail, and a more remote threat from rotating storms,” says the National Weather Service. “Rainfall could be, locally, heavy enough to cause isolated flash flooding, especially if storms train over the same area.”

It is believed the storm system spawned a possible tornado Monday morning over Blount, Marshall and DeKalb counties in northern Alabama, according to Alabama.com. Damage in the region included downed trees and power lines, said the news site. Multiple schools in Blount County were forced to close due to the damage, said the school system on Facebook.

There is a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms during the day in the Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., and Columbia, S.C., areas Monday, and an 80 to 90 percent chance after dark, say forecasters.

Around an inch of rain could fall tonight in Charlotte and in Columbia, says the National Weather Service.

Columbia could see strong winds Monday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“The storms may also produce heavy rainfall with the potential for multiple storms to move repeatedly across the same areas,” says the National Weather Service. “This could lead to isolated flash flooding, especially across the mountains and foothills.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2019 at 7:24 AM.