Large hail, damaging winds expected in Charlotte area, NWS says. What you should know
After a sunny and comfortable 65-degree morning, parts of the Charlotte area could see afternoon storms with large hail and damaging winds, National Weather Service meteorologists said Tuesday.
Areas most at risk include the Interstate 77 corridor and Upstate South Carolina, according to a hazardous weather alert issued by the NWS Greer office at 4:37 a.m. Tuesday.
The I-77 corridor encompasses York and Chester counties in South Carolina Mecklenburg, Iredell and “points east” in North Carolina.
Severe storms could develop among the showers and scattered thunderstorms expected in the area between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., meteorologist Clay Chaney of the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina, told The Charlotte Observer at 8 a.m.
“A few of the storms could become strong to severe during the afternoon,” according to the NWS alert. “Damaging winds are the main threat, although large hail will be possible as well, albeit less likely.”
Cabarrus, Union, Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland counties also were included in the alert.
The morning sunshine meant storms were more likely to develop in the afternoon than if the day started off cloudy, Chaney said. That’s because the atmosphere is more unstable on such warm days with no clouds, he said.
Charlotte stood at 66 degrees just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, with a 60% chance of afternoon storms, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast. A high of 84 is predicted, NWS forecasters said.
Gusts of up to 22 mph are expected at Charlotte’s airport Tuesday afternoon, according to the NWS.
Early Tuesday afternoon, the NWS warned of 40-mph winds along the I-77 corridor from Cornelius to Statesville. Rain accompanied the winds, which soon died down under partly cloudy skies.
No other special weather statements were issued in the Charlotte metro area by 4 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday should be sunny with highs of 74 and Friday partly sunny with a high near 73, the NWS forecast showed.
Rain could return over the weekend, although the chances were only 30% Saturday and 40% Sunday and Monday, according to the NWS.
This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 9:22 AM.