Tornado watch canceled for Charlotte area but chance of thunderstorms remain

A tornado watch issued for Mecklenburg and the surrounding counties was canceled just before 4:30 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. It included Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union counties.

There is a continued chance of thunderstorms Monday, and a cold from from the West is expected to bring more storms Tuesday afternoon and evening, the NWS said.

At least one tornado was confirmed in the Charlotte region, around 2:15 p.m. Monday near the town of Lowndesville in Abbeville County, S.C, officials said.

Parts of the Charlotte area, including Mint Hill, were under a tornado warning until 1:45 p.m.

More than 1,200 people were without power as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Duke Energy. The majority of those customers were in Harrisburg, near Concord.

WBTV meteorologist Al Conklin says the storm front counts as the first significant rain the area has seen in more than two weeks. It will usher in a period when temperatures will drop back to the 70s for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, he said.

The storms should move out later Monday. However, two more days of rain are ahead, forecasters say.

The unsettled weather is moving in advance of a cold front that will trigger another round of “strong to severe thunderstorms” Tuesday afternoon, forecasters say. The front should cross the region early Wednesday, resulting in nearly a 10-degree drop in daily highs the remainder of the week. Chance of rain Wednesday is 50%.

“The storms (on Tuesday) will increase the threat for isolated flash flooding across areas that see storms with heavy rain on Monday,” officials said.

This story was originally published May 3, 2021 at 10:18 AM.