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'Be prepared now': Brad Panovich updates severe weather risk for Sunday
A risk of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes means you should stay alert for severe storms early Sunday.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The WCNC Weather Impact Team is asking you to stay alert to severe weather Sunday. A passing line of storms could bring damaging winds and isolated tornadoes to the Carolinas.
When
The severe weather threat is forecast between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday.
Storms moving through the South on Friday and Saturday will make their way into the Carolinas during the early morning hours of Sunday. Similar to the storms on March 5, the severe weather threat will move from west to east along a squall line.
WCNC Weather Impact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich says confidence is growing as we get closer to the storms reaching the Carolinas.
“We get to about 8 a.m. Sunday and that’s when we start to see storms move into the Charlotte area from the west,” Panovich said. “Then that line pushes through in the mid-morning hours. So by 1 p.m., it’s pushing over the Piedmont, and then we get into the afternoon by 2 p.m. starting to shift east.”
The severe weather should arrive after Charlotte FC’s home game Saturday night, according to Panovich. Fans are advised to expect gusty winds and warming temperatures throughout the course of the match, though.
“I keep getting a lot of questions about the Charlotte FC game. I’m not concerned about it right now for severe weather, even rain, thought I can’t rule out a stray shower,” Panovich said. “This is all coming in mostly after midnight Saturday into Sunday morning.”
Impact
The impact of this severe weather is heavy rain, damaging winds and tornadoes. There is approximately a 15% chance of seeing severe weather across the Carolinas.
Need
In order to receive timely severe weather alerts, be sure to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. One of those ways can be the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. Since the storms could arrive during the early morning hours, be sure to have a weather radio or other tool to awaken you in the event of a nearby storm.