Severe storms bring widespread power outages across Charlotte region

Severe thunderstorms moving through the Charlotte region on Friday afternoon knocked out power to more than 21,000 Duke Energy customers, with wind gusts reaching 60 miles per hour and hail creating additional hazards across the Carolinas. Utility companies warned of downed power lines as weather conditions persisted into the evening.

Storm Impact and Outage Numbers

The heaviest concentration of outages centered on the Charlotte metropolitan area as of late Friday evening, though additional disruptions were reported in the Raleigh region and Anderson County, South Carolina. Union Power Cooperative reported more than 15 customers without electricity during the same period. Blue Ridge Energy reported no significant outages at that time.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued across multiple counties, with Cleveland County affected until mid-afternoon. The National Weather Service documented penny-sized hail and damaging wind gusts as the primary threats. Storm activity was expected to continue through Friday evening with additional rounds of thunderstorms forecast for the weekend as a cold front moved into the region.

Safety Concerns and Preparedness

Utility officials emphasized the critical importance of avoiding downed power lines during and after severe weather events. Residents were urged to treat all fallen lines as active and maintain a safe distance. The combination of heavy rain, strong winds, and potential localized flooding created multiple hazards across affected areas.

Weekend weather forecasts indicated that while the region would not experience continuous rain, several rounds of thunderstorms would develop and track across the Carolinas. Residents were encouraged to download weather apps for real-time alert systems and to monitor interactive radar for storm movement.