Large hail, strong winds, potential tornadoes threaten region through Thursday night
A “strong storm system” could produce tornadoes in the Charlotte area Thursday night, National Weather Service meteorologists warned in a hazardous weather outlook bulletin.
Mecklenburg, Union and Cabarrus counties are at particular risk for the severe weather, according to the NWS alert issued at 3:43 a.m. Thursday.
In a 3 p.m. update, NWS meteorologists said tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds “are the main concerns,” primarily southeast of Interstate 85, until about 10:30 p.m. Large hail is possible farther south of that area, according to the alert.
The system is expected to deliver thunderstorms to the region Thursday afternoon through the evening, according to the NWS alert issued.
“Some storms could become strong to severe, with the primary threats being damaging winds and large hail,” NWS forecasters said in the alert. “A few tornadoes will also be possible.”
The alert also covers upstate South Carolina, including York and Chester counties, and parts of the S.C. and N.C. mountains too.
“The better coverage of storms will be around and south of Interstate 85,” according to a tweet by the NWS office in Greer, S.C.
Thunderstorms are expected to continue until about 9 p.m., Mark Malsick of the S.C. State Climate Office said in a weather update bulletin earlier Thursday.
However, Malsick wrote: “Compared to the post-Easter tornado outbreak 2 weeks ago, there is much less energetic upper level support for tornadic supercells today.”
A high of only 67 degrees is predicted at Charlotte Douglas International Airport Thursday, according to the latest NWS forecast Thursday morning.
The region has a 70% chance of the showers and possibly thunderstorms continuing until about 5 a.m. Friday, NWS meteorologists said.
Friday should be mostly sunny with an expected high of 77, although more rain and thunderstorms could move into the area on Saturday, according to the NWS forecast.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 8:41 AM.