Strong storms could produce damaging winds, spin-up tornadoes in Charlotte area Monday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — WCNC Charlotte’s team of meteorologists is asking people to stay Weather Aware today due to the risk of severe storms moving into the Charlotte area.

The biggest risk will be damaging winds, but there is a chance of isolated, spin-up tornadoes, as well as excessive lightning, hail and heavy rain. Forecaster Larry Sprinkle says these storms will be fast-moving and won’t last long but their impacts will be intense.

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The entire Charlotte area is at high risk of severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. The line will first move into the North Carolina mountains around 3 p.m. before getting to the Charlotte metro around 5 p.m. Meteorologist Chris Mulcahy says it’s rare for this type of setup to hit so late in summer, as the storms could form a “bow echo,” which can lead to spin-up tornadoes that happen within the leading edge of storms.

Sprinkle said the entire Charlotte area will be at risk for severe storms, which is why everyone should be Weather Aware.

“Every single county in our area is covered in the severe weather outlook,” Sprinkle said. “If you’re watching us, you’re in the bullseye for the potential for these strong storms tracking across the Charlotte area.”

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A stretch of more than 800 miles is at high risk of damaging winds and severe weather Monday. That means one in three storms has the potential for creating severe weather. The Charlotte area hasn’t see this kind of setup all year long, according to Mulcahy.

“How often is it that we’re in the bullseye? Literally we’re right in the center of this,” Mulcahy said.

Areas at high risk of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds include Albemarle, Boone, Charlotte, Chester, Concord, Gastonia, Hickory, Huntersville, Lancaster, Lincolnton, Monroe, Mooresville, Morganton, Rock Hill, Salisbury, Statesville, Taylorsville and Waxhaw. Simply put, if you’re in the Charlotte area, you need to be Weather Aware.

The first wave will move into the mountains around 3 p.m. Monday. This will affect areas such as Asheville, Boone, Jefferson, Morganton and Taylorsville. 

By 5 p.m., the storms will move closer to Charlotte and the metro. Areas expected to be impacted from 5-7 p.m. include Albemarle, Charlotte, Chester, Concord, Gastonia, Hickory, Lancaster Lincolnton, Monroe, Mooresville, Rock Hill, Shelby and Statesville. 

“There will be a long line of storms from the Virginia border all across the Charlotte metro area into the Upstate of South Carolina,” Sprinkle said. 

The final wave of storms will move out of the Charlotte area and push east after 7 p.m. Areas including Cheraw, Rockingham and Wadesboro will be at risk of strong storms until around 9 p.m. These storms are likely to move in during the late afternoon and evening. We may see high temperatures in the mid-90s and dew point in the mid-70s, creating dangerous heat indices. A heat advisory has been issued for parts of the Charlotte area.

Mulcahy says the biggest threat will be damaging winds but you can’t rule out spin-up tornadoes. The squall line is projecting to develop kinks or “notches,” meaning the leading edge could be particularly violent.

“Inconsistencies are troubling,” Mulcahy said. “You’ll see little notches. I won’t be surprised if there’s an embedded tornado warning. The leading edge won’t be here long, less than an hour of storms and rain but it will be intense.”

Embedded tornadoes are particularly dangerous because they don’t always get detected by radar until they’ve already happened. This squall line could form what’s known as a “bow echo,” which could lead to spin-ups.

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Monday will be very hot and humid across the Carolinas. With forecast temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s and heat index values at or above 100 degrees, there will be plenty of “thunderstorm fuel” to generate severe weather.

“Just not a very comfortable day,” Sprinkle said.

A heat advisory is in effect for Anson, Cabarrus, Chester, Lancaster, Mecklenburg, Stanly and Union counties in the Charlotte area. These areas could see a heat index of 105 degrees Monday afternoon before the storms arrive.

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