Power outages: Severe storms take down trees, power lines across Carolinas
Over 70,000 power outages were reported in North Carolina and South Carolina as storms rumbled over the region.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tens of thousands of power outages were reported across North Carolina and South Carolina as a line of strong-to-severe storms pushed toward the Charlotte area early Sunday.
As of 7:30 a.m. Sunday, at least 60,000 outages were reported in western North Carolina. Most of the outages were in the Asheville area, but thousands of outages were reported in Ashe, Avery, Burke and Watauga counties. The majority of power outages are well west of Charlotte, but those numbers are expected to change once the line enters the metro.
Duke Energy’s outage map showed 34,000 customers without power.
Weather Impact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich says these storms will bring heavy rain, gusty winds and the threat of tornadoes to the Charlotte area. They’re expected to push east of the Queen City by around 12 p.m. The biggest risks in Charlotte will be damaging winds and heavy rain, but Panovich said these fast-moving storms could spin up a few isolated tornadoes.
In order to receive timely severe weather alerts, be sure to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. One of those ways can be the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. Since the storms could arrive during the early morning hours, be sure to have a weather radio or other tool to awaken you in the event of a nearby storm.
Panovich says everyone should have three ways to receive real-time severe weather alerts. These include wireless emergency alerts that are built into most smartphones, weather apps and a NOAA weather radio that’s set to alarm during a tornado warning or other emergency.
For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.
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