CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A severe thunderstorm produced wind damage over east Charlotte Monday.
The storm produced a downburst along Albemarle Road just east of the old Eastland Mall site. Power crews and other officials worked to clear trees and downed powerlines along Albemarle Road, Pence Street, and Harrisburg Road.
The storm, which moved easterly across Charlotte, produced wind speeds estimated around 60 mph. Those winds were strong enough to warrant a Severe Thunderstorm Warning from the National Weather Service.
By 4 p.m., Duke Energy said nearly 8,000 of its customers in the area were without power. The power company said electric service may not be restored until near midnight.
East Charlotte thunderstorm damage
Radar imagery tweeted by WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich showed the approximate location of the damaging winds.
Expect traffic delays in the area while crews clean up storm damage.
Downbursts are the result of an area of rain-cooled air that sinks rapidly to the surface. This is caused by mid-to-upper-level air that is cooled significantly as rain evaporates. These “bursts” of air are forced to spread out when they hit the ground.
WCNC Charlotte meteorologist KJ Jacobs was tracking the storm live as it moved across Charlotte.
Panovich saw the storm as it obscured his view of the Charlotte skyline.
Elsewhere across the region, the storm produced gusty wind and rain.
While chances of severe weather this week remain relatively low across Charlotte, the WCNC Charlotte weather forecast called for the possibility of a few more scattered showers and storms Tuesday.
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