A Flash Flood Emergency has been issued for southeast Charlotte, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties on Sunday to 7:30 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, a Flash Flood Emergency is issued in "exceedingly rare situations when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash food is happening or will happen soon."
Brad Panovich said the emergency alert was issued because this storm is serious and impacting so many people and so much property.
"This is the highest level of warning because we want people to stay where you're at unless you're in a flood-prone zone and need to get to higher ground," Panovich said.
Officials cannot stress this enough, do not go outside during this storm. Mecklenburg and several other counties are facing dangerous, fast-moving water.
"Let first responders get out and barricade the areas, we don't need people out there," Panovich said.
At noon First Warn Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich tweeted that Charlotte could stay in the heavy bands of rain for five to six more hours. Some parts of the viewing area received around 10 inches of rain Sunday, including Mint Hill, Chesterfield County, and southeastern Union County.
