Sunday afternoon turned stormy fast in Burke and Catawba counties, as severe thunderstorm warnings pushed Hickory-area residents indoors while a slow-moving line of storms threatened hail, strong winds and tree damage.
Warning details and timing
The Greenville‑Spartanburg office of the National Weather Service issued the warning at 3:32 p.m., keeping it in place through 4:15 p.m. and tracking the storm about 7 miles southwest of Hickory, near Hildebran, moving east at roughly 5 mph. Forecasters flagged the risk of quarter-size hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph, warning that the storm could dent vehicles and bring down branches and power lines, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.
NWS safety guidance
The National Weather Service urged anyone inside the warning polygon to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and to report any hail or wind damage to the office. Officials also reminded residents that minor hail damage to vehicles is possible and that downed trees and power lines are a concern, according to National Weather Service Greenville‑Spartanburg.
Towns named in the warning
The alert specifically called out Hickory, Conover, Longview, Icard, Hildebran, Mountain View, Startown, Propst, Cooksville and Newton. People in those communities were told to brace for sudden heavy rain, frequent lightning and pockets of localized wind damage, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.
Driving and outdoor safety
For drivers caught in the downpour, the NWS guidance is straightforward: slow down, switch on headlights and steer clear of standing water to cut the risk of hydroplaning. The agency also advises waiting 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before heading back outside and checking local utility and county pages for any outage or road-closure updates, per National Weather Service Greenville‑Spartanburg.
We will update this story if the warning is extended or upgraded. For real-time watches and warnings, keep an eye on National Weather Service alerts and local emergency channels.
