CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 p.m. for much of the Charlotte area on this Saturday. Heavy rain, lightning, damaging wind gusts are the main impacts. Strong winds capable of damaging trees and powerlines leading to outages. Expect torrential rainfall that could cause areas of flash flooding. Flood Advisory for portions of Alexander and Iredell counties until 9:45 p.m. due to excessive rainfall.
The WCNC Weather Impact Team wants the Charlotte area to stay Weather Aware through this Saturday evening due to the potential for strong-to-severe thunderstorms. The most intense storms are east of the Charlotte area. Still, isolated downpours, gusty winds, and lightning are still possible.
Dangerous heat peaked Thursday and Friday with heat index values over 103 degrees. This is notable because 103 degrees is when a human body is more likely to go into heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
When
The need to stay Weather Aware for severe thunderstorms through Saturday evening.
Forecast
Strong-to-severe storms will feature heavy rain which could lead to localized flooding, especially in areas already saturated. Additionally, the highest severe impact is gusty winds 60+ mph.
Due to lots of saturated ground, these winds may topple trees easier than normal. Isolated power outages are possible, too.
Again, it'll be hot and humid with heat indices reaching the upper 90s. This is typical for early August in the Carolinas.
What you need to do to stay safe
In the event of a severe storm, stay Weather Aware by:
- Seeking shelters indoors away from lightning and gusty winds
- Watching for flooded creeks and streams
- If you encounter a flooded roadway: turn around, don't drown
- Monitoring radar for quick-moving thunderstorms that could disrupt outdoor plans
When temperatures get high in the Carolinas, it's important to stay Weather Aware by:
- Limiting your time outside/take breaks
- Staying hydrated
- Seeking shade when available
- Checking on the elderly and pets
WCNC Charlotte’s Weather IQ YouTube channel gives detailed explainers from the WCNC Weather Impact Team meteorologists to help you learn and understand weather, climate and science. Watch previous stories where you can raise your Weather IQ in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.