Severe Charlotte storm could produce tornado, 50 mph winds, heavy rain on Tuesday
A storm system is expected to bring high winds, heavy rain and a possible tornado to the Charlotte area Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Wind speeds between 20-30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, are expected between 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Tuesday, NWS forecasters in the Greer, South Carolina, office said in a bulletin early Monday.
Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba, Cabarrus, Union, Lincoln and Gaston counties are among the areas that will be affected, according to the bulletin.
“The main issue is that heavy rain will saturate the soil, and the prolonged gusty winds could topple trees and power lines,” Jeffrey Taylor, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Greer, told The Charlotte Observer.
Heavy rain, possible tornados
Two to four inches of rain are also expected, which could lead to scattered flooding in urban areas, according to the advisory.
A tornado is also possible south of Interstate 85, the advisory says.
“To the northwest of Charlotte, the atmosphere will be a bit more stable,” Taylor said. “Charlotte is kind of on the border line. But in these situations, even a short-term thunderstorm can spin up a tornado.”
The NWS recommends securing outdoor objects and driving with caution on the road during the storm. For more information, visit weather.gov/gsp.
This story was originally published January 8, 2024 at 10:20 AM.
