Strong thunderstorms barreled across the Charlotte area Wednesday night, putting much of the Piedmont under a short-term alert from the National Weather Service as the evening commute wound down. Doppler radar picked up a storm cell about seven miles northeast of Uptown Charlotte, tracking east at roughly 45 mph. Forecasters warned of pea-sized hail and wind gusts near 40 mph, with the alert covering multiple communities and set to expire at 10 p.m.
A report from the NWS Greenville-Spartanburg office at 9:26 p.m. specifically called out Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Union counties, urging anyone caught outside to head indoors immediately. The office cautioned that “gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects,” and that minor hail damage to outdoor items was possible, according to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg.
Where the alert applied
The alert stretched across a wide swath of the metro area, listing neighborhoods and towns from Northeast and East Charlotte to Mint Hill, Unionville, Harrisburg, University City, Reedy Creek Park, Midland and Hidden Valley. Charlotte Motor Speedway was also flagged as an area that could see hail or gusty winds. Those locations and the timing of the alert were reported by The News & Observer.
How to stay safe
The NWS advises anyone outdoors to get inside a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle and to stay away from windows, plumbing and electrical equipment until the storms clear. The agency also recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before going back outside, and using extra caution on the roads by turning on headlights and steering clear of flooded areas, according to the National Weather Service.
Local broadcasters and weather apps carried updates through the late evening as the storms marched across the region. Motorists were urged to slow down in heavy rain and avoid standing water. We will update this story if the NWS issues any additional warnings for the Piedmont.
