Charlotte under Tropical Storm Warning ahead of impacts from Ian

Table Of Content

• still missing after migrant boat sank off Florida coast as Ian arrived
• Tensions rise between residents, housing developer in Fayetteville
• Hurricane Ian
• Local Events
• North Carolina governor: "Now we are feeling the impacts" of Ian
• What is a 'potential tropical cyclone'?
• Charlotte filmmaker explores the history and impact of climate change in Black communities in the South

Although flooding can happen anytime of the year, it’s especially important for residents to take time in advance of hurricane season, which begins June 1, to prepare. We’ve seen storms before the season starts and after it has ended. Idalia had crossed into Georgia on a path toward the Carolinas.

still missing after migrant boat sank off Florida coast as Ian arrived

(WTVD) -- Ian made its way into North Carolina Friday evening bringing a lot of rain and high winds across the region. Although the storm was no longer hurricane status, it still packed a mighty punch. Here's a look at some key moments as post-tropical cyclone Ian churned its way through the Tar Heel state. In his forecast analysis video posted Friday morning to the WCNC Charlotte Weather IQ YouTube channel, Panovich also warned of heavy rain and gusty winds near the coast. Saturday, Ophelia is 175 miles north-northeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph as it has weakened slightly since making landfall.

Charlotte NC weather forecast: Storms with damaging winds - Charlotte Observer

Charlotte NC weather forecast: Storms with damaging winds.

Posted: Sat, 09 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Tensions rise between residents, housing developer in Fayetteville

It's the story of eastern North Carolina and our struggles with environmental racism. It also chronicles the resistance and the birth of the environmental justice movement, which also happened right here in eastern North Carolina. The bill could reach the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a longtime opponent of private-school vouchers, as soon as next week if the House votes on the Senate language. Republicans have narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers that could override any Cooper veto. Scattered rain showers will still be possible in the Carolinas for Saturday and Sunday.

Hurricane Ian

Charleston was already starting to flood early Friday, with WCNC Charlotte's Vanessa Ruffes reporting knee-high floodwaters near the Battery at Charleston Harbor. Low-lying areas were underwater, with officials encouraging people to seek higher ground due to the flooding risk. Thousands of Duke Energy customers were without power in the Charlotte area as of Saturday morning, according to Duke Energy's outage map.

Local Events

Twenty other deaths have been reported, he said, but they are awaiting medical examination to determine if they were storm-related. Those include 12 deaths in Charlotte County and eight in Collier County. The American Red Cross was on the ground in Florida even before Hurricane Ian made landfall, with hundreds of volunteers and trained disaster workers helping with relief efforts.

Please note, if the track shifts farther east, the local impacts will likely adjust as well, so you are urged to stay on top of the situation and pay attention to forecast updates. Already with the storm forecast to be stronger at landfall, we’ve increased the possible wind gusts to near 45 mph, especially south/east of Interstate 85, Friday PM. "Hurricane conditions are possible within the Hurricane Watch area in North Carolina by this afternoon." The center of the storm was 60 miles southeast of Greensboro, North Carolina as of late Friday night, the NHC reported.

What is a 'potential tropical cyclone'?

"You see these waters out here, you need to be careful," marina owner Butch Broome told WTOC-TV. Melbourne Orlando International Airport also reopened Friday morning, and  Orlando International Airport plans to resume passenger flights after noon. Roughly 800 bridges across the state have been inspected and reopened, including 67 in Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties that were deemed "high priority," DeSantis said. He also believes that all of the state's ports will be operational by the end of Saturday. He also described a specific harrowing scene in a location that was not specified, of a completely flooded house with what is believed to be bodies inside. Guthrie said officials have confirmed a storm-related death in Polk County.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp preemptively declared an emergency, ordering 500 National Guard troops onto standby to respond as needed. The storm will move through the Piedmont fairly quickly Friday night, which is good news for any flooding. The mountains and foothills of North Carolina will be at a greater risk of flooding as the rain lingers through Saturday morning.

Biden says it'll take "months, years" for many to rebuild in Florida

A First Alert has been issued for Friday through Sunday, with multiple rounds of heavy rain possible, which could cause localized flooding issues. Gusty winds of 35 mph or higher are possible, as the remnants of what is now Hurricane Ian, is expected to move closer to the Carolinas. High temperatures will be in the upper 60s to lower 70s Friday through Sunday for the piedmont, with weekend high temperatures around 60 degrees for the mountains. "Hurricane Ian reminds us how unpredictable these storms can be and North Carolinians should be prepared when it reaches our state," Cooper said Thursday.

Charlotte could be the western edge of forecast impacts, with communities east of Charlotte more likely to see any impacts. We’ll stay dry today with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s and tonight, but rain will overspread the area from southeast to northwest early on Friday. It will also be very windy and cold, with afternoon readings only in the upper 50s to lower 60s, about 20 degrees below normal for late September. The southeast coast of South Carolina is expected to take a direct hit from Ian.

That's because some areas will see periods of heavy downpours. Flood warnings change to flood watches in areas across the Triangle. Thousands spend night in dark after Ian drenches the Triangle causing trees and power lines to fall.