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Thunderstorms expected Friday; threat for severe weather in Charlotte Sunday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s going to be a wet and stormy weekend with the chance for severe storms on Sunday.
First Warn forecaster Larry Sprinkle said there is the potential for scattered thunderstorms and showers throughout the day Friday and Saturday.
Chief meteorologist Brad Panovich said the real concern for severe weather still start Sunday. A line of thunderstorms will be west of Charlotte Sunday morning with an area of low pressure bringing strong winds to the Carolinas.
“That changing of wind direction is pretty potent energy,” Panovich said. “If we get any breaks in the clouds at any point on Sunday, that will allow for thunderstorms to build into that column of air and you get rotating storms.”
Panovich said those rotating storms don’t always bring tornadoes, although that is a serious threat. The storms could always bring hail, heavy rain and damaging winds to the Charlotte area.
The good news is the weekend won’t be a total washout. Panovich said the showers will be off and on throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Any all-day events outside will be impacted, though.
“If you have outdoor plans, the best thing I can tell you at this stage is you’ve got to have a plan,” Panovich said. “If you’ve got an activity where you can wait out a 15 or 20 minute shower, and then get back out, you’re fine.”
Some areas around Charlotte could see more than 2 inches of rain, while Sprinkle expects the Queen City to get around an inch-and-a-half.
By Sunday evening rainfalls totals could be:
- .85 Hickory
- 1.03 Gastonia
- 1.45 Charlotte
- 1.92 Concord
- 1.94 Wadesboro
- 2.45 Albemarle
WCNC
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Less than two weeks into the month and Charlotte’s already seen a little bit of everything from Mother Nature. On April 1, the first measurable snow fell in Charlotte since 1982. That quickly gave way to spring-like temperatures and an explosion of pollen in the Carolinas.
Some people even called it the “pollen apocalypse.” Scott says there’s good news, though. We’re on the downward trend of the pollen season, so if you’re suffering from springtime allergies, try to hang in there for a few more weeks.