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Flash flood risk lowers Tuesday and Wednesday
After persistent, widespread rain Monday, expect lower rain chances across Charlotte midweek.
HICKORY, N.C. â
Labor Day Outlook
The Carolinas don’t have the forecast many want to see on a holiday Monday.
Outdoor plans need to have a backup plan across the Charlotte area as a flux of moisture is coming in from the Southeast, leading to widespread showers and thunderstorms in the mountains and foothills. This includes the cities and towns of Blowing Rock, Boone, Hickory, Lenoir and Morganton in North Carolina.
Scattered on and off rain is likely for the Charlotte metro area, too. This means charcoal grills won’t fare too well if they aren’t covered up.
Mountains and foothills
Washout status is likely. Rain is widespread in the mountains and foothills well into the afternoon. Some areas could see up to 4 inches of rain, so not only is there a strong chance for rain, there is a threat of flooding and flash flooding.
Streams have already been rising through Monday morning and flood advisories are in place for western North Carolina. There is a chance for flash flooding, which could prompt a few warnings Monday afternoon.
A Flood Watch was in effect until 8 p.m. for the foothills and 11 p.m. for parts of the mountains.
The Town of Lake Lure declared a State of Emergency due to excessive rainfall as flooding in the area caused a “significant amount” of lake water to infiltrate the wastewater treatment plant. The town says one of the two pumps went down, but emergency repairs have been made.
Viewer photos | Heavy rain and storms across the Charlotte area
Charlotte area
Expect scattered rain with some lulls in the Charlotte metro area. It won’t rain all day, but it’s going to feel like rain all day with dark skies. At times, expect rain to last for hours, meaning you better have a Plan B when it comes to any outdoor parties.
Once you hit the evening, rain will become more isolated and there will be more dry periods across the entire area. Flooding is still possible here as Charlotte has a medium threat for flooding since it is so close to the widespread rain belt west.
It will not rain all day but some areas could see more wet hours than dry for your Labor Day.
Expect moisture to be pumped into the area all day long with those thick gray clouds sticking around all day. This could lock temperatures in the 70s for the rest of the afternoon due to the lack of sunshine.
Contact Chris Mulcahy at cmulcahy@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.