Isolated strong storms are possible overnight into Wednesday morning, posing threats like heavy rain and strong winds.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Weather Impact Alert has been issued for Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning as a round of strong-to-severe storms is forecast to possibly move through the Carolinas overnight.
When storms arrive:
A warm front will lift north through the Carolinas on Tuesday. That means warmer, more humid air has moved into the region. If that air is exposed to enough sunshine, it will provide fuel for storms. That moisture, combined with some upper-level energy moving through the atmosphere, could lead to the development of strong to severe storms.
“Wherever the sun comes out, that’s where you see the CAPE or thunderstorm fuel jump up,” WCNC Weather Impact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panvich said in his weather forecast vlog on the WCNC Weather IQ YouTube channel. “Stay weather aware just in case we see a pop-up storm tonight.”
Starting Tuesday evening between 6 p.m. and midnight, an isolated shower or storm ahead of the main system began. Then overnight into Wednesday between midnight and 6 a.m., storms pushed eastward from the mountains and toward Charlotte.
By 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, rain showers gradually clear. It will be windy at times with gusts over 30 mph in Charlotte and over 40 mph in the western North Carolina mountains. The gusty winds will continue through Friday.
On Thursday behind the cold front, rain will bring in much cooler drier air with high temperatures in the middle 70s.
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Impacts of storms:
The primary threats are 60 mph damaging winds, one-inch hail, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. The tornado threat is low, but a quick spin-up, especially in the mountains, is possible.
“It’s like what we like to call a non-zero tornado,” Panovich explained.
What you need to stay safe:
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