Storms with 40 mph winds emerge in Charlotte region Saturday, NWS says
Amid lingering drought, storms suddenly emerged in parts of the Charlotte region on Saturday, with potentially damaging winds up to 40 mph, National Weather Service meteorologists said.
“Seek shelter in a sturdy structure,” NWS forecasters in the Greer, S.C., office said on social media site X for Lincolnton, Cherryville and Belwood around 4 p.m. The alert expired a half-hour later with no immediate reports of damage.
Skies darkened around the same time over Lake Norman, with a light rain in Mooresville and a slight pickup in winds.
Chance of ‘embedded thunderstorms’ in Charlotte
Similar warnings are possible if storms move near Charlotte by early evening, NWS meteorologist Andrew Kimball said.
“We can’t rule anything out,” Kimball told The Charlotte Observer around 4:45 p.m.
“There’s a pretty good chance of a light rain and isolated, embedded thunderstorms,” Kimball said.
Charlotte forecast: Drought relief in sight
Showers are likely Saturday night and early Sunday, with the chance at 60%, the NWS Charlotte forecast showed.
Charlotte reached a high of 86 degrees on Saturday, according to the NWS. Highs are expected to dip to 82 on Sunday, 76 on Monday, 70 on Tuesday, 78 on Wednesday, 75 on Thursday, 74 on Friday and 66 on Saturday, the forecast showed.
Sunday should be cloudy and Monday sunny, before a 50% chance of showers moves in on Tuesday and a 70% chance on Wednesday, according to the NWS.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 5:08 PM.