Fierce overnight storm knocks out power to thousands in Charlotte area
An overnight storm with powerful wind gusts knocked out power for thousands in the Charlotte area and may have contributed to the collapse of wooden arches over a busy highway.
Just after sunrise Friday, about 9,000 Duke Energy customers in the Carolinas remained without power, according to the company’s outage map.
In Mecklenburg, the numbers quickly improved, from about 3,100 just after sunrise to only several hundred by 9 a.m., the map showed. Statewide, more than 3,000 N.C. customers — including electric cooperative members — were still without power as of 11:45 a.m.
In downtown Hickory, 40-ton, newly built wood arches over busy N.C. 127 collapsed, forcing police to detour drivers, WSOC reported. Residents said the collapsing arches sounded like an earthquake, according to the station, adding that the arches cost $750,00 to build.
Recorded wind gusts, however, didn’t seem strong enough to have collapsed the arches, meteorologist Robbie Munroe of the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C., told The Charlotte Observer.
The peak gust recorded at Hickory’s airport during the storm was only 33 mph, he said.
“That’s pretty typical for them to get there,” Munroe said. “That shouldn’t be enough to do that amount of damage.”
Peak gusts were far higher elsewhere in the region, including Mecklenburg, he said.
The peak gust at Charlotte’s airport was 51.8 mph, according to Munroe. Sustained winds at the airport reached 34.5 mph, he said.
Mayor: Hickory ‘saddened’ by collapse
The Hickory arches, which span the Rudy Wright Bridge, fell onto the City Walk public walkway and the Main Avenue bridge, according to a city news release Friday.
“An investigation is under way to determine the contributing factors,” officials said in the release. “Until that investigation is complete, the debris cannot be removed.”
The City Walk opened in December 2021, but the project has not been closed out with the contractor, Neill Grading & Construction, the release said.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate event,” Mayor Hank Guess said in the release. “Thankfully, no injuries were reported and collateral damage to the surrounding area appears minimal.”
High-wind warning
In a special weather statement posted on Twitter at 2 a.m., the NWS warned Charlotte, Indian Trail and Rock Hill, S.C., of potential 55-mph winds.
NWS meteorologists received scattered reports of downed trees in the region, Munroe said.
Part of the roofing flew off at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police’s University Division on North Tryon Street, WSOC reported.
In west Charlotte, a tree fell onto Duke Energy equipment that was on Tuckaseegee Road at Yahtzee Lane, and the tree had to be removed before repairs were made, WSOC reported. Part of Tuckaseegee Road was closed.
In Salisbury, a large tree fell onto a house in the Meadowbrook neighborhood, WBTV reported. No one was injured, according to the station.
Charlotte forecast
Sunshine returned to the region Friday morning.
The NWS office predicted a high of 62 degrees in Charlotte.
Highs are then expected to bounce around, according to the Charlotte forecast: 59 Saturday, 54 Sunday, 63 Monday, 69 Tuesday, 72 Wednesday and 64 Thursday.
Rain is likely Tuesday and Wednesday, with a 70% chance of showers Tuesday and a 60% chance Wednesday, before the chance drops to 50 percent Thursday, the forecast shows.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 10:53 AM.