CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The WCNC Charlotte Weather Team asked people to stay Weather Aware on Wednesday because of scattered severe thunderstorms. Impacts from these storms included hail, gusty winds, lightning and localized flooding.
The threat of severe weather prompted the Charlotte Knights to postpone their Wednesday night game.
A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect until 8 p.m. for Anson County, Cabarrus County, Chester County, Chesterfield County, Gaston County, Lancaster County, Mecklenburg County, Richmond County, Stanly County, Union County and York County.
Small hail fell in Caldwell County near Lenoir and Hickory during one of the afternoon thunderstorms. Additional storms brought hail to York County, Lancaster County and Union County. WCNC Charlotte viewers shared pictures using the Near Me feature on the WCNC Charlotte app.
Hail across the Carolinas
Additional videos from WCNC Charlotte viewers showed the extent of the gusty winds, heavy rain and small hail.
Overall Wednesday's severe weather threat impacts included heavy rain, gusty winds and hail.
For the latest weather alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.
Given the heat and humidity ahead of the storms, the storm potential could intensify in communities where there was more sunshine on Wednesday. That is why the storm threat is mostly along and south of Interstate 85 in cities including, but not limited to, Gastonia, Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Kannapolis, Concord, Albemarle and Monroe.
Also watch for impacts from heavy rain including flooding in low-lying areas with poor drainage. Some areas could easily flood Wednesday after between one and three inches of rain fell earlier in the week. Creeks and streams are already high as more rain moves through the area.
One of Charlotte's common flooding locations is the crossing of Addison Drive over McMullen Creek. Fresh rainfall from an afternoon thunderstorm raised the creek levels high enough that a flood advisory was issued for the area.
Wednesday's storm threat is expected to be over by 8 p.m.
Sunshine and warmer temperatures return Thursday, which is setting up to be the pick of the week. Rain chances are becoming likely for Friday and Saturday. A few showers are expected on Sunday.