Hurricane Sally: ‘Torrential’ rain expected in Charlotte area. Here’s the latest.
“Torrential” rains from Hurricane Sally are expected in the Charlotte region Thursday, with the storm forecast to dump up to 9 inches on some areas, according to a National Weather Service bulletin Wednesday morning.
Most areas should see 4 to 6 inches from the storm, NWS meteorologists said.
But higher amounts could fall anywhere across Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, upstate South Carolina and North Carolina’s southern foothills and mountains, a flash flood watch alert issued by the NWS Wednesday morning stated.
Up to 6 inches of rain “will produce areas of flash flooding along smaller streams, creeks, and in urban areas,” NWS meteorologists said in the alert. “Rain bands producing torrential rainfall rates may result in localized amounts as high as 9 inches and significant flash flooding.”
Heavy rains could start at daybreak in CLT
The heaviest rains should reach the Charlotte area by daybreak Thursday and continue throughout the day and evening, said Steve Wilkinson, meteorologist in charge of the NWS office in Greer, S.C.
At Charlotte’s airport, 2 to 3 inches could fall in the morning and afternoon and another 2 to 3 inches Thursday night, according to the NWS forecast at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Charlotte stands a 90% chance of “heavy rain” during the day and night Thursday, NWS meteorologists said.
At 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sally’s former 100 mph winds had weakened to near 60 mph winds, and the hurricane is forecast to become a tropical depression Wednesday night or Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Still, at 5 p.m., Sally was causing “historic and catastrophic flooding” from west of Tallahassee, Fla., to Mobile, Ala., Hurricane Center officials tweeted.
And “significant and widespread” flooding is still expected in upstate South Carolina, central and western North Carolina and southeast Virginia, according to the Hurricane Center.
Charlotte stands a “slight chance” of some showers reaching the area by late Wednesday, Wilkinson said.
The rain bands are expected to move east of the Charlotte area early Friday, according to the meteorologist.
Duke Energy lowers lake levels
Duke Energy is lowering lake levels across the Nantahala, Catawba, Yadkin and Keowee-Toxaway river basins “by aggressively moving water through these river systems,” according to a company statement Tuesday afternoon.
“We urge people living along lakes and rivers or in flood-prone areas to use caution, follow directions from emergency managers, pay close attention to changing weather and stream flow conditions and stay informed,” Duke officials said.
Duke Energy said it will post real-time updates about the storm’s impact on rivers and lakes on its website, duke-energy.com/lakes.
Saturday should be partly sunny with a high of just 67 degrees. All sunshine is forecast Sunday and a high of only 66.
This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 10:26 AM.