Severe Charlotte-area storms could pack damaging winds, dump heavy rains, NWS says

A tornado watch is in effect for the Charlotte region until 1 p.m. Sunday, as storms with possibly damaging winds and heavy rains are expected, National Weather Service meteorologists said.

A tornado watch means weather conditions could lead to severe storms and a tornado, while a tornado warning means a twister has been “spotted or indicated by weather radar,” according to the NWS.

The NWS issued a tornado warning until 10:30 a.m. for north-central Mecklenburg County, northwestern Cabarrus County and southeastern Iredell County. Pea-sized hail also was possible, according to an NWS alert.

At 9:44 a.m., the NWS reported “a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 5 miles northwest of Huntersville, near Ramsey Creek Park,” which is on Lake Norman in Cornelius.

The storm was moving northeast at 45 mph, meteorologists said.

At 10:30 a.m., 592 flights were delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to Flight Aware.com.

A round of strong to severe thunderstorms was expected Sunday morning and early afternoon ahead of the approaching cold front, according to an NWS bulletin early Saturday.

“Damaging wind gusts are the primary hazard, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out,” forecasters said.

“Moderate to heavy rainfall” was forecast to arrive late Saturday and early Sunday, according to the alert.

“Areas of excessive runoff are likely, resulting in isolated areas of nuisance flooding,” meteorologists said.

The alert included Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, Rock Hill, S.C., the mountains and North Carolina foothills.

Mountain flooding

While Charlotte and Rock Hill could see 1 1/2 inches of rain on Sunday, Brevard, Marion and other mountain communities could get 3 to 5 inches, meteorologists said on the social-media site X on Saturday afternoon.

“For the first time since Hurricane Helene, a Flood Warning has been issued for the French Broad River at Blantyre and a Flood Advisory for the French Broad River at Fletcher and Asheville,” the NWS office in Greer, S.C., posted on X. “Please be careful when traveling near this area.”

“Nuisance to minor flooding in the upper French Broad watershed is likely,” forecasters said.

Charlotte, Rock Hill forecast

Charlotte and Rock Hill have a 100% chance of rain on Sunday, according to the NWS forecast at 5 p.m. Saturday. Storms could produce heavy rainfall and 30-mph gusts, it showed.

Showers and possibly thunderstorms are expected after 11 a.m., with rain continuing through the afternoon, according to the NWS.

The bad weather should leave the region by late Sunday or early Monday, with sunshine forecast on Monday. Showers are likely again Tuesday, with sunshine forecast for New Year’s Day and Thursday, and mostly sunny skies on Friday, the NWS forecast showed.

Highs are predicted to bounce around in Charlotte, from 50 on Saturday to 64 on Sunday, 63 on Monday, 62 on Tuesday, 55 on Wednesday, 49 on Thursday, 50 on Friday and on 44 Saturday .