Flood watch issued as 'waves of heavy rain' head for Charlotte area, NWS says

A flood watch has been issued for the Charlotte area from 8 p.m. Wednesday through 8 p.m. Thursday due to storms associated with a slow moving cold front, the National Weather Service says.

The “moist and unstable” front will settle over the area late Wednesday, resulting in rain chances of 60% to 90% through Saturday night, forecasters say.

Inches of rain are possible in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties.

“Waves of heavy rain showers and scattered thunderstorms are forecast to move along a slow-moving cold front tonight into early Thursday. While widespread 1 to 2 inch rainfall amounts are expected across western North Carolina from (Wednesday) afternoon through tonight, isolated locations are expected to see multiple rounds of very heavy rainfall, and localized amounts as high as 5 inches are possible,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday afternoon.

“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, including urban areas along the I-77 and I-40 corridors.”

Wind gusts near 30 mph are possible Wednesday, accompanied by cooler temperatures that will drop lows to around 70 degrees through early next week, forecasters say.

The frontal boundary is forecast to remain “over, or near” the Charlotte region through at least Friday, the National Weather Service says.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flash flooding in areas that do not typically flood, forecasters say.

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