A second round of storms is expected to move in overnight.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wednesday’s storms left downed trees, and widespread outages across the Charlotte area. Many flights out of Charlotte Douglas Airport have been delayed or canceled due to the storms.

RELATED: Severe weather kills 1, floods roads and downs trees across Charlotte area

As of 10 p.m., Wednesday, over 700 flights were delayed at the airport and 26 flights were canceled. Roughly half of those flights were American Airlines flights out of CLT.

There could be an isolated storm or two after 7 p.m. Wednesday, but it should be mostly quiet until midnight into Thursday. The second wave is expected to hit the Charlotte metro area around 3 a.m. Thursday.

Multiple severe thunderstorm watches and warnings were issued for parts of the Charlotte area as a line of strong storms moved across the Carolinas Wednesday afternoon. 

A tornado warning was issued around 3 p.m. for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties and expired at 3:45 p.m. The National Weather Service reported widespread wind damage including downed trees and power lines in Gaston County around western Gastonia, Kings Mountain and Bessemer City after that storm cell passed. There are reports of quarter-sized hail in Bessemer City, too. 

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A possible third round of storms could occur during the Thursday morning rush hour. Panovich said these waves of storms could produce heavy rain, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

Brad Panovich said any Thursday morning storms could impact the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club. The good news is things should clear out by the middle of the day, and we’re looking at much nicer weather through the weekend. 

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The 27-8 vote came Thursday.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate on Thursday approved a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors after supporters defeated efforts to only ban treatments that would be considered irreversible.

The 27-8 vote in favor included all Republicans present and one Democrat voting for the ban. That came after the remaining Democrats tried to walk out so there wouldn’t be enough senators to stay in session, but the vote was called too fast.

The bill bars health professionals from performing gender-transition surgeries, prescribing puberty blockers and overseeing hormone treatments for patients under 18.

School principals or vice principals would have to notify parents or guardians if a child wanted to use a name other than their legal one, or a nickname or pronouns that did not match their sex assigned at birth.

The House passed the bill in January, but the Senate made changes so either the House can vote to adopt the Senate version or it will go to a conference committee of three members from each chamber to resolve the differences.

“There are some things in the nature of creation — male and female is one of them — that gets beyond what you believe and I believe,” Republican Sen. Richard Cash said on the Senate floor before debate began Thursday. “It’s rooted in creation; it’s rooted in the creator and those who opposed that are opposing in some sense the nature of creation itself.”

The bill also would prevent people from using Medicaid to cover the costs of gender-affirming care.

There were a few amendments passed. One allows mental health counselors to talk about banned treatments — and even suggest a place they are legal. A second lets doctors prescribe puberty blockers for some conditions for which they are prescribed like when a child begins what is called precocious puberty when they are as young as 4.

Opponents failed to get an amendment that would only ban treatments considered irreversible after supporters of the bill balked at who would get to decide what treatments fit under that provision.

The changes made a bad bill only a little less worse, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said.

“Children are born who they want to be. Parents deal with the children that come to them. Doctors have been trained to deal with children who are having issues like this. Government really has no role in this,” Hutto said. “Let the children be who they are.”

Doctors and parents testified before committees in both the House and Senate that people younger than 18 do not receive gender-transition surgeries in South Carolina and hormone treatments begin only after extensive consultation with health professionals.

They said the treatments can be lifesaving, allowing young transgender people to live more fulfilling lives. Research has shown that transgender youth and adults are prone to stress, depression and suicidal behavior when forced to live as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Supporters of the bill have cited their own unpublished evidence that puberty blockers increase self-harm and can be irreversible.

The invocation of religion by supporters annoyed Democratic Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine. She said senators weren’t showing a Christian-like caring for all in the bill.

“I’m not going to sit back and judge families going through scenarios I don’t know about,” Devine said. “I am gong to be compassionate. I am going to be empathetic and I’m going to try to understand. That’s what my God tells me.”

If the bill gets to the governor’s desk and is signed, South Carolina would become the 25th state to restrict or ban such care for minors.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said when the session started in January his chamber likely wouldn’t take up many social issues this year. But on Thursday, he said the bill was always on the radar.

Republican Sen. Danny Verdin said polls show voters in South Carolina back the ban. With all senators up for reelection this year, that idea could get tested at the ballot box.

“If you put it alongside taxes, if you put it alongside infrastructure, if you put it alongside paying our school teachers or paying our law enforcement officers, this is up there. It’s above them all,” Verdin said.

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In between the sparring, the House passed its amendments to the state budget and the health agencies restructuring bill.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House ground to a halt at times Wednesday on its next-to-the-last day as members fought over rules and traded thinly veiled insults.

Republican Rep. Micah Caskey put on a tin foil hat while at the well to take a swipe at the Freedom Caucus, made up of his party’s most conservative members.

Freedom Caucus member Republican Rep. April Cromer called for a bill that restructured the state’s health agencies that was dozens of pages long to be read. That request would have likely run until the required 5 p.m. Thursday adjournment. But Cromer took back her request when another member invoked a rule that all members, including those who had already left without leave, had to come back.

In between the sparring, the House passed its amendments to the state budget and the health agencies restructuring bill.

“We’re all going to suffer together guys,” Republican House Speaker Murrell Smith said,

The day started to fall apart before lunch, when the Freedom Caucus suggested an amendment to the state budget that would allow gold or silver coins from the U.S. or any other country be accepted as legal tender in South Carolina.

Before a successful challenge that the bill was not germane to the budget, Caskey took the well and put on a hat made of aluminum foil with the Freedom Caucus logo on it.

“I want you to support this amendment because I want you to stop thinking too,” Caskey said, adding that he thought the bill would allow members to trade genie lamps for parking tickets.

Freedom Caucus members objected, saying Caskey was engaging in personal attacks instead of confronting their ideas.

“I see Representative Caskey over here laughing so I assume he has some snide remark,” Freedom Caucus member and Republican Josiah Magnuson said as he spoke from the well.

Conflict between the Freedom Caucus and other Republicans has brewed all session. Mainstream Republicans say their more conservative party members are more determined to score points on social media than governing and trying to defeat other Republicans in primaries.

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A severe thunderstorm with 90 mph winds and 2-inch hail caused widespread damage in Rock Hill, destroying over a dozen homes.

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster requested federal assistance with storm cleanup in Rock Hill after severe weather caused widespread damage last month. 

A line of severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds and large hail on April 20, destroying 16 homes and damaging a dozen more. McMaster’s request is for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, which provides financial assistance for homeowners affected by the storm. 

“I have determined that the situation and survivor recovery needs in York County are of such severity that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments,” McMaster said in a press release. “Indeed, the impacts of the April 20 storm have resulted in threats to the safety, security, and welfare of residents of York County, particularly the most vulnerable residents in the storm’s path.”

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The National Weather Service determined the damage was caused by damaging winds and hail, not a tornado. The supercell produced winds up to 90 mph and 2-inch hail. 

One family along Crawford Road in Rock Hill is still working to survey damages after multiple trees landed on two of their sheds causing havoc for them. 

“All of my husband’s tools, generators, I can’t even put a price on it, it’s just gone,” homeowner Angie Johnson explained while surveying the damages for the first time. “We’re lost, we’re forgotten, no one cares. It just hurts me to my core, but I give it to God. I know he’s going to handle everything and everything’s going to be alright. But in the meantime, we’re over here. We’re just waiting.

Johnson added that “FEMA, the government, or someone” needs to step help and help those still suffering in that community. 

On Jones Avenue, the Redeeming Life Christian Center also suffered major damage. The church is the site of the first school to integrate in South Carolina. While, on Monday, the historic building seemed to be okay, the storm toppled trees and damaged buildings elsewhere on the center’s campus

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A large tree destroyed two trailers, formerly used as portable classrooms and a youth center. The trailers were being used as storage when they were destroyed.

“I really wanted to cry, but then I recognized, you know, everything happens for a reason,” Bishop Eric Gailliard said. “Even though we may not like it, you’ve got to find a way to maintain your joy in the midst of the storm. Find a way to maintain your joy. Keep your peace. Keep your joy. So, now we have to clean up, but guess what? Something new is going to happen.”

Rock Hill City Councilman Perry Sutton said he doesn’t believe any funding will come. 

“We know we’re not going to hit the threshold for FEMA. We’re not even close to that. But that doesn’t stop us from sending the information we can and we still want people to go to the York county website and fill out the information of the damage,” Sutton told us. 

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WCNC Charlotte’s Weather IQ YouTube channel gives detailed explainers from the WCNC Charlotte weather meteorologists to help you learn and understand weather, climate and science. Watch previous stories where you can raise your Weather IQ in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded. 

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The driver narrowly missed children playing in the yard at the time.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A car barreled through an east Charlotte child care center’s yard where several children were playing before slamming into a home across the street.

The harrowing moment was captured on video.

Anointed Future Child Development Center’s Janice White said she’s owned the facility for more than 20 years. She’s thankful none of her children or staff were hurt.

“This could have been a terrible, terrible situation,” White said.

Surveillance video shows the moments when the car came flying through the yard Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m just thankful for my teacher, just to stretch her arms out like an angel from heaven to cover those children and keep them safe,” White said.

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Just thinking of the narrow miss brought tears to White’s eyes.

“Just to know they were possibly in harm’s way, I don’t know, it’s hard,” White shared.

The video also shows her staff running inside after sweeping kids up into their arms.

“As [the car] reached this point, it began to flip, and it went across the street and landed at the house across the street,” White said.

Car drives over day care’s yard, crashes into nearby house

The car’s bumper is still wrapped around one of the kid’s toys near the day care center’s fencing.

White said bystanders helped pull two people out of the car. Medic said it transporting one person with serious injuries to the hospital. At this time, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said no charges have been filed.

According to White, speeding along east Charlotte’s Hickory Grove Road is a constant problem, which prompted them to erect fencing along the yard. White said all requested safety measures for the intersection have been denied.

“What is it going to take, for someone to die here for you to put a traffic light here?” White wondered. 

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Just a mile away in the Springhurst neighborhood, the tale is similar.

“This is the same issue that I am fighting in the city when it comes to getting speed humps in my neighborhood because of speeding cars,” another east Charlotte resident Johnnie Maebostick said. “This could have been my neighborhood because kids are always there all the time playing in the cul-de-sac.”

As the community hopes for a solution, White has one message to drivers.

“Slow down,” White advised. “You’re safer if you slow down. You’ll make it. Just slow down.”

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White said she is expecting to get estimate of damages within the next few days.  A GoFundMe page  has been started to support the center.

The Charlotte Department of Transportation released the following statement regarding the crash:We are sad to learn of this crash, but are grateful no one was injured. The City of Charlotte educates the public through its Vision Zero initiative to drive safely by always staying alert and adhering to the posted speed limit. When a crash occurs in our city, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is the first to investigate the circumstances and they complete a crash report. The Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) is working with CMPD to get a copy of the report to look for potential infrastructure enhancements, such as pavement markings and signage.

This location was most recently evaluated for a traffic signal in 2022. CDOT follows national guidance on where to recommend traffic signals and the data does not support one at this location at this time.

The cause of the wreck is not known at this time.

Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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Ronnie Long’s $25 million payout set records, but the Concord man says the money can’t make up for what he lost while behind bars.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was a record payout: The state of North Carolina, the city of Concord and the State Bureau of Investigation paid Ronnie Long $25 million after he spent 44 years in prison for a crime he never did.

Long was 21 years old in 1976 when he was sentenced to life in prison for the rape of then-54-year-old Sarah Bost that he didn’t commit. He spent 44 years behind bars until the courts finally overturned his conviction in 2020, citing the “troubling and striking pattern of deliberate police suppression of material evidence.” 

In an exclusive interview with WCNC Charlotte, Long said there’s still no justice because his case is about the people who knowingly helped convict him and those who withheld evidence that could have freed him sooner, including the former Cabarrus County district attorney who recently stepped down. 

“How does it feel to win the biggest settlement in North Carolina history? I don’t feel as though I’ve been truly compensated for the things that I lost,” Long explained. 

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Long lost his mother, father and two sisters during the 44 years before he was freed. 

“I ain’t been compensated for nothing,” Long said. “Bring my mother and father back. Bring me my 44 years back. Bring back my two sisters, [and] now I’m compensated.”

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Long’s attorneys filed a suit against the city of Concord, the state and SBI shortly after his release. The case was settled, and Long was awarded $25 million, a record amount for North Carolina. Part of the settlement included an apology from the city of Concord, something also rare in these kinds of cases. 

“If you have a chief of police, and he’s tampering with the jury list, if you’ve got detectives that plant evidence, you commit perjury, you destroy evidence, and you knew with all the things you were doing intentionally, you were seeing me to death row,” Long declared. “You were trying to kill me.”

The city’s apology included accepting responsibility for “significant errors in judgment and willful misconduct by previous city employees that led to Long’s wrongful conviction and imprisonment.” 

Among the detectives named in the civil suit was Van Isenhour, who had a criminal record for theft and forgery by the 1980s. WCNC Charlotte reached out to attorneys for Isenhour and detective John Taylor, also named in the case. They didn’t respond but told Long’s attorneys both men were not in good health and couldn’t even be deposed for the lawsuit. 

“You didn’t put me in the penitentiary wrongfully; you put me in there intentionally,” Long said. “There’s a difference between wrongful and intentional.”

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The civil suit also points the finger at former Cabarrus County District Attorney Roxanne Vaneekhoven. Long’s attorneys claim when they asked for evidence to clear him, Vaneekhoven told them she “personally searched every file room” and “no items of evidence, test results or reports … were located.” According to the suit, Vaneekhoven also refused to release a key file to Long’s legal team. 

Vaneekhoven didn’t respond to WCNC Charlotte’s attempts to contact her about the case. 

Meanwhile, Long said he’s concerned other innocent people are being held in jail like he was for over 40 years. 

No one is investigating any of the accused officials in Long’s case. His attorneys said they’re not calling for an investigation because they believe Long was specifically targeted, not that this was a pattern of behavior. 

“There were two injustices done here,” Long said. “Not just to my family, but to the Bost family. You never took time to seek the real perpetrator.” 

Long said the $25 million settlement does nothing to fix what he believes is a broken system. He sued, in part, because after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper pardoned him, a North Carolina state commission only gave him $750,000, essentially paying him for only 15 of the 44 years he spent in prison. That’s because the law caps the amount of money a wrongfully convicted inmate can get. 

“They need to change that law,” he said. “I wasn’t the first, and I won’t be the last.”

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Despite everything he’s been through, Long admitted he’s settling into a life of freedom. 

“I got no complaints,” Long said. “I can’t complain. Any time I can get up and see the sunrise, I can’t complain. Any time I can walk out my door and not have police bothering me or giving me a direct order, I can’t complain.” 

Many people want to know how Long is spending the money he received. He did buy a fancy car and added a pool to his house, but Long lives in a modest home and has donated quite a bit of money to several charities, including the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic that worked to free him. 

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Ronnie Long appeal and prison release timeline

Nov. 1, 2009: Ronnie Long says he has evidence that proves his innocenceMarch 23, 2010: North Carolina Supreme Court agrees to take up Long’s caseAug. 18, 2014: Ronnie Long gets married in prison while fighting for his releaseFeb. 22, 2020: Long’s attorneys uncover that Concord police hid evidence and handpicked the jury that convicted himMarch 18, 2020: Long’s appeal is pushed back due to COVID-19 delays in the courtsMay 7, 2020: Long’s appeal is finally heard by North Carolina judgesJuly 24, 2020: Long’s mother dies while he awaits his release from prisonAug. 26, 2020: Ronnie Long’s 1976 conviction is vacated, effective immediatelyAug. 27, 2020: Ronnie Long is released from prison after 44 yearsAug. 31, 2020: Cabarrus County says it won’t retry Long’s case, ending the decades-long sagaSept. 9, 2020: Long admits he’s facing new struggles after spending 44 years in prisonDec. 20, 2020: Long is pardoned by Gov. Roy CooperApril 6, 2021: Long says $750,000 issued by state isn’t enough, fights to change lawMay 3, 2021: Long sues city of Concord, detectives accused of hiding evidenceJan. 9, 2021: Ronnie Long receives record $25 million settlement for wrongful imprisonment

Contact Michelle Boudin at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com. […]

Power lines toppled and huge trees fell, causing hazards across the metro area Wednesday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Strong severe storms passed through the Charlotte metro area on Wednesday, bringing damaging winds, heavy rains and toppling trees, causing widespread power outages.

The storm started to move into town around 3 p.m. when a tornado warning was issued for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties that stayed active for nearly an hour.  The National Weather Service reported widespread wind damage including downed trees and power lines in Gaston County around western Gastonia, Kings Mountain and Bessemer City after that storm cell passed. There are reports of quarter-sized hail in Bessemer City, too. 

????️ If you like weather, watch Brad Panovich and the WCNC Charlotte Weather Team on their Emmy Award-winning Weather IQ YouTube channel. ????

WCNC Charlotte viewer Carlos Manuela said dozens of cars were trapped in between Lowell and Spencer Mountain. Huge trees fell, blocking the road, but residents banded together with Ranlo Fire Engine 191 to start to saw the tree limbs to clear the road.

“Thank God for these boys,” Manuela said. 

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They weren’t alone as reports of huge trees collapsing onto roadways barraged first responders from Belmont to Charlotte. It wasn’t just trees falling onto streets, as even a trampoline was spotted on Brookshire Boulevard. 

Passed a trampoline on Brookshire Blvd!!! Stay safe CLT! pic.twitter.com/oL1qQVZ7vz— Bekah Birdsall (@WeatherBBird) May 8, 2024

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Wild winds whipped around Uptown, turning patio umbrellas inside out.

Uptown Charlotte near 3rd & Tryon @wxbrad pic.twitter.com/0EgO6Ux0KI— Brock (@CPAPoke) May 8, 2024

Roads weren’t the only victims of trees, as many homes sustained significant damage, including one on Mack Street in Charlotte.

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The renter who lives in the house luckily only got scraped on his head from a part of the ceiling collapsing, but unfortunately, the house was deemed uninhabitable b the fire department. 

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Multiple severe thunderstorm watches and warnings are in effect for parts of the Charlotte area as a line of strong storms moves across the Carolinas Wednesday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Widespread power outages have been reported in the Charlotte area Wednesday afternoon as severe storms move through the Carolinas.

As of 4:30 p.m., there were more than 22,000 customers in Gaston County were without power and over 18,000 customers in Mecklenburg County are without power. Over 3,000 customers in Lincoln County are also without power, and 6,000 customers in Cleveland County are experiencing power outages.

A tornado warning was issued around 3 p.m. for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties and expired at 3:45 p.m. The National Weather Service reported widespread wind damage including downed trees and power lines in Gaston County around western Gastonia, Kings Mountain and Bessemer City after that storm cell passed. There are reports of quarter-sized hail in Bessemer City, too. 

RELATED: Weather Aware: Strong severe storms move through Charlotte area

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties through 4:45 p.m. In Chester and York counties in South Carolina, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued through 5 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning will remain until 5:45 p.m. for Union County. 

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Anson, Richmond and Stanly counties through 10 p.m. Wednesday.

WCNC Charlotte will continue to monitor and update the power outages as storms continue to move through the area.

WCNC Charlotte’s Weather IQ YouTube channel gives detailed explainers from the WCNC Charlotte weather meteorologists to help you learn and understand weather, climate and science. Watch previous stories where you can raise your Weather IQ in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded. 

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The crash happened near exit 31 in Mooresville on Wednesday afternoon.

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A crash involving a box truck is causing significant delays on Interstate 77 in Mooresville. 

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes of I-77. It happened just north of Langtree Road, which is exit 31. Four of five lanes on I-77 are blocked while crews work to clear the crash from the right shoulder. 

Viewer photos shared with WCNC Charlotte showed multiple ambulances and first responders on the scene. A large tow truck was positioned on the highway as well. One person who was driving through the area reported debris covering the road. 

Highways across the Charlotte area were already jammed up with traffic due to severe weather. This crash is making things worse north of Charlotte, where I-77 is notorious for being a parking lot in the afternoon. 

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May be a really bad situation on 77 if the hail continues. Southbound is completely shut down due to an accident just past Exit 33. Lots of debris in the road, probably won’t be cleared before the storm hits. pic.twitter.com/GfDsrbZLrp— michelle ✨????️‍???? (@michellanoo) May 8, 2024

Traffic is backed up for several miles to North Carolina 150 (exit 36). NCDOT is also showing heavy congestion on secondary roads in Mooresville as drivers try to find ways around the mess. Drivers can use North Carolina 115/Old Statesville Road as alternate route but there’s heavy traffic in the area due to the interstate backups. 

WCNC Charlotte has reached out to North Carolina State Highway Patrol for more information about the crash. 

Download the WCNC Charlotte app for the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts. 

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A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for 5 p.m. for areas near Charlotte Wednesday. A tornado watch was issued for Cleveland, Lincoln and Gaston counties.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tornado warnings as well as multiple severe thunderstorm watches and warnings are in effect for parts of the Charlotte area as a line of strong storms moves across the Carolinas Wednesday afternoon. 

A tornado warning was issued around 3 p.m. for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties and expired at 3:45 p.m. The National Weather Service reported widespread wind damage including downed trees and power lines in Gaston County around west Gastonia, Kings Mountain and Bessemer City. There are reports of quarter-sized hail in Bessemer City, too. 

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties through 4:45 p.m. In Chester and York counties in South Carolina, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued through 5 p.m. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Anson, Richmond and Stanly counties through 10 p.m. 

RELATED: Weather IQ: Understanding watches and warnings

Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich is monitoring the line of strong thunderstorms that could produce damaging winds, heavy rain and and large hail in the Charlotte area from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday. Panovich said some of these storms could produce 70 mph winds and 2-inch hail. 

A second line of storms is expected overnight into Thursday. 

“These are going to be moving in, but this won’t be the only wave of storms,” Panovich said. “There’s another cluster developing back in Missouri that’s going to be here overnight into early Thursday morning.”

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2:30 pm ET: Considerable damaging Severe thunderstorm warnings out there today. These aren’t typical thunderstorm warnings, with 70 mph winds and golfball-sized hail likely. #cltwx #ncwx #scwx #wcnc pic.twitter.com/J6GyRCycO2— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 8, 2024

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Severe weather threat

Panovich said both Wednesday and Thursday are days to be Weather Aware in Charlotte and the Carolinas. This means there is a chance for severe weather that could impact people’s safety and their property. These storms are also expected to impact the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

Stay Weather Aware Today as we will have waves of scattered severe storms moving in from Tennessee. Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threat, but an isolated tornado risk can not be ruled out. There will be more strong storms overnight into early Thursday. #ncwx pic.twitter.com/N1szRgfWgW— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 8, 2024

Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats from Wednesday’s storms, but Panovich said you can’t rule out isolated tornadoes. 

“The damaging wind risk is about 15%, the tornado risk is about 2%, though that could go up or down,” Panovich explained. “The hail probability is a little bit more elevated, 15% if pretty significant.”

Panovich said he won’t be surprised if some areas see 2-inch hail as these storms push across the Carolinas on Wednesday. 

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Storm timing

The first line of storms is expected in the North Carolina mountains by noon Wednesday. Areas that will be in the path will include Blowing Rock, Boone and Jefferson. Scattered storms will the move east into the foothills toward Hickory, Marion and Morganton. 

After 2 p.m., the scattered storm threat moves into Gastonia, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Concord and other locations within the Charlotte metro.

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“By 4 p.m. it will be arriving in Charlotte,” Panovich said. “This is where I think we’ll probably see a new watch issued for areas around Charlotte and points east, because this is going to stay severe, it’s moving into a very unstable air mass.” 

Panovich said there could be an isolated storm or two after 7 p.m. but it should be mostly quiet until midnight into Thursday. The second wave is expected to hit the Charlotte metro around 3 a.m. 

A possible third round of storms could occur during the Thursday morning rush hour. Panovich said these waves of storms could produce heavy rain, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

Panovich said any Thursday morning storms could impact the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club. The good news is things should clear out by the middle of the day and we’re looking at much nicer weather through the weekend. 

18-hour Futurecast shows supercell possibilities with large hail and damaging winds. The large hail risk is higher than usual. #cltwx #ncwx #scwx #wcnc #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/tqks4Vcznj— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 8, 2024

“It looks like those storms will have used up so much energy in the atmosphere there may not be time for the atmosphere to reload or get re-intensified because at the same time, there’s a cold front sweeping in,” Panovich said. “So it’s a race to see if things get unstable again before the front or is there not enough time and the front gets in and clears everything out.”

Panovich said it’s looking more likely that the front will arrive first, leading to a sunny, pleasant afternoon in the Carolinas. 

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FEMA is required by law to ensure that any help is given to those affected by a major disaster.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is calling on the federal government to approve funding for homeowners who are still cleaning up after severe weather caused widespread damage in Rock Hill last month. 

McMaster asked President Joe Biden to declare the situation a disaster so the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can send much-needed money to residents and businesses impacted by the storms. 

WCNC Charlotte’s Verify team examined who qualifies for FEMA assistance after severe weather. 

First, FEMA is required by law to ensure all help is given to those affected by a major disaster. With that in mind, a major disaster must be declared before FEMA offers any financial assistance. 

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OUR SOURCES

THE QUESTION 

If you are a renter can you get FEMA assistance?

THE ANSWER 

Yes, FEMA assistance is not just for homeowners. FEMA may also help renters who lost personal property or were displaced.

THE QUESTION

 If you have insurance, FEMA won’t help.

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THE ANSWER 

That is false. According to FEMA’s website, you can get assistance if you have insurance; however, you must also file an insurance claim. FEMA can’t help with expenses covered by insurance. 

THE QUESTION

If you receive a grant from FEMA, it has to be paid back.

THE ANSWER 

This is false. In most cases, those grants don’t have to be repaid. However, if you have insurance that covers temporary housing costs and receive an advance from FEMA while the insurance is processing, you will have to pay that money back to FEMA. 

Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

WCNC Charlotte’s Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don’t know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded. 

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Society can make growing old feel like life should slow down, but a group of Charlotte seniors is changing that narrative.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — What started as one woman’s goal to support herself and other seniors has become a movement to make a difference in the lives of all Charlotteans 50 and up.

Rovena Jasper started Seniors on the Move more than a decade ago after seeing a friend in need.

“I saw that her father’s house needed help and I’m like, gosh, she couldn’t afford to do it all,” Jasper said.

Home care is just one of the challenges seniors face. Another is inactivity, something the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says can lead to health complications over time.

Download the WCNC Charlotte app for the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts.

“I’m sure you say, ‘Granny. I love Granny.’ But, you don’t have much time for Granny,” Jasper said. “This gives us a gap where we’re together. Once you become a senior, sometimes you get where you’re not doing anything and you’re home. That’s the thing, we didn’t want to be home doing nothing.”

The group hosts fashion shows, events and volunteers in the community. Gwendolyn Wilson-Banks, the organization’s treasurer, said Seniors on the Move made all the difference in her move to Charlotte from Ohio. 

“Getting introduced to this group of ladies, it has brought energy,” Wilson-Banks said. “All of the women here have found a place that has ignited them to movement, to involvement, to community service.”

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Jasper hopes to see the movement extend beyond the organization.

“I want to say to the community of Charlotte, we need to be more active with our seniors,” Jasper said. “Give them a little love and show them they do exist because they were there for many of you when you were young.”

Those interested in volunteering or joining Seniors on the Move can learn more on its website or through the Seniors on the Move Facebook page. 

Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com. […]

Police found a woman with a single gunshot wound lying in the front yard of a home.

SHELBY, N.C. — A woman is dead after a fight ended in a shooting in Shelby on Monday night.

The Shelby Police Department said the shooting happened on Live Oak Street in Shelby just before 8 p.m. Monday. After responding to calls about gunshots, police found a woman with a single gunshot wound lying in the front yard of a home.

Police said the victim, later identified as 62-year-old Sarah Chambers, was not involved in the fight that led to the shooting. She was taken to a hospital where she later died. 

MORE: WCNC Charlotte wants to hear about your loved one

No arrests have been announced at this time. Anyone with information about this shooting should contact the Shelby Police Department at 704-484-6845 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers of Cleveland County at (704) 481-TIPS

Download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app for the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts.

If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you’re ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com. 

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WCNC CHARLOTTE PODCASTS

Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora  || Google Podcasts || iHeart

Locked On is the leading podcast network for local sports and is owned by WCNC Charlotte’s parent company TEGNA.Listen to Locked On here.

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More than 30 performances will take place on multiple stages in the park over five weekends in July and August.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new tour has been added to the mix for the Carowinds Summer Music Fest series.

The Bret Michaels Parti-Gras Tour 2024 is set for Saturday, July 6, at the Paladium — the on-site and seldom-used amphitheater, which was transformed into a venue in 1991. 

Bret Michaels leads the lineup at the amusement park, along with guests Great White, Slaughter, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, and Journey’s former lead singer Steve Augeri.

More than 30 performances will take place on multiple stages in the park over five weekends in July and August. Flo Rida, LeAnn Rimes and Skillet are headlining the series.

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Headliners will perform at the Paladium. Charlotte-area bands and emerging artists will perform on stages throughout the park as well. 

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.

Since 1975, the Paladium has welcomed big names like Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Charlie Daniels, James Taylor, Mary J. Blige and the Temptations. 

The music series is free with park admission throughout the summer.

Here’s the full 2024 lineup that’s been released to date:

Friday, July 5: LeAnn RimesSaturday, July 6: Bret Michaels Parti-Gras Tour 2024 with Dee Snider, Steve Augeri, Great White, and SlaughterSaturday, July 20: TobyMac with Tenth Avenue NorthFriday, July 26: Brett Young with Restless RoadSaturday, July 27: Brantley Gilbert with Lauren AlainaFriday, Aug. 2: SkilletSaturday, Aug. 3: Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra and TonicFriday, Aug. 9:  Flo RidaSaturday, Aug. 10: Russell Dickerson with Tyler Rich

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From weak to devastating tornadoes, a visual explanation of tornado damage on the Enhance Fujita Scale.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The United States on average has over 1.200 tornadoes every year.

Based on its damage, each tornado is graded on a tornado scale called the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The scale ranges from the weakest tornadoes at EF0 to the strongest tornadoes at EF5.

What is the Enhanced Fujita Scale?

The Enhanced Fujita scale is fairly new. It upgraded the Fujita Scale in 2007. The new scale, often referred to simply as the EF Scale, assesses damage and assigns a specific wind speed based on the extent of that damage. 

When there is a suspected tornado, storm surveyors from the National Weather Service will first decipher if the damage from a storm was indeed a tornado. Storm surveyors are like severe weather detectives. Tree damage is frequently one of their biggest clues. 

Trees that fall in different directions are a common sign storm damage was caused by a tornado. When trees fall in the same direction, this is typically a sign of straight-line winds from a thunderstorm. 

RAISE YOUR WEATHER IQ: Wind damage from severe weather

Once a storm surveyor deems the damage was from a tornado, the inner workings of the EF Scale has 28 damage indicators that are broken down into degrees of damage. These indicators help officials estimate the wind speed that could have produced that damage. The National Weather Service uses those findings to determine the strength of the tornado on the EF Scale.

????️ If you like weather, watch Brad Panovich and the WCNC Charlotte Weather Team on their Emmy Award-winning Weather IQ YouTube channel. ????

EF0: Winds speeds 65-85 mph

Believe it or not, these tornadoes produce only minor damage. EF0 tornadoes typically create lots of broken limbs but very little structural damage. Typically structural damage is limited to a bent gutter or a few damaged roof singles. Isolated uprooted trees are possible.

EF1: Winds 86-110 mph

When a storm surveyor is reviewing the storm damage, a snapped tree typically means minimum winds of 93 mph. An EF1 will have multiple trees down. More structural damage is seen to homes than compared to an EF0. An EF1 tornado can even roll over mobile homes. Warehouses sometimes lose their roofs at winds over 100 mph. A strong EF1 can even flip cars.

EF2: Winds 111-135 mph

An EF2 is the basis for a strong tornado.

When trees look like a lawnmower cut them in half, it is a minimum of EF2 damage. Garage doors and exterior doors are blown off. Entire houses can shift off their foundation. Debris is everywhere. Mobile homes are blown away and small barns are often destroyed. EF2 tornadoes can also throw a vehicle.

EF3: Winds 136-165 mph

At this level, homes can be destroyed with roofs removed and exterior walls collapsed. Large sections of warehouses could see total destruction. This was seen in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in July 2023 when an EF3 tornado with peak winds of 150 mph hit a Pfizer plant.

EF4: Winds 166-200 mph

At this strength, everything is gone.

Instead of a pile of rubble left behind from an EF3 tornado, an EF4 tornado will scatter the debris miles away. Retail buildings are destroyed. Cars are flown far from where they are parked. A brick structure is the safest from a tornado but are often no match for a direct hit from an EF4.

EF5 Winds over 200 mph

The damage from an EF5 tornado is incredible.

These rare monsters leave nothing behind. An EF5 tornado can wipe towns off the map. The first ever EF5 happened when the EF Scale was adopted in 2007. This storm leveled 95% of Greensburg, Kansas.

And in rare cases are strong enough to rip the pavement off the road.

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In conclusion

An EF5 produces over 2,000 times the damage compared to an EF0. 

The limitation:

The Enhanced Fujita scale is a damage scale. If a tornado does not produce damage, it will be given the determination of an “EF Unknown.” 

Contact Chris Mulcahy at cmulcahy@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

WCNC Charlotte’s Weather IQ YouTube channel gives detailed explainers from the WCNC Charlotte weather meteorologists to help you learn and understand weather, climate and science. Watch previous stories where you can raise your Weather IQ in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded. 

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s no secret that inflation is taking a toll on American shoppers, and a new report broke down how much North Carolinians are spending at the grocery store. 
WCNC Charlotte is always asking “where’s the money?” If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com. 
As for what foods have gone up the most, it’s no surprise to find out it’s eggs. Researchers say egg prices have gone up by 50% since March 2020. Beef roast, flour and sugar have increased by over 33% during that span. Other items with significant price increases since 2020 include soda (32.1%) and canned goods (31.6%). 
WCNC Charlotte’s Where’s The Money series is all about leveling the playing field in the Carolinas by helping others and breaking down barriers. WCNC Charlotte doesn’t want our viewers to be taken advantage of, so we’re here to help. Watch previous stories where we ask the question “Where’s the Money” in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded. 
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Police posted a video of the burglary on their YouTube page and are hoping someone can identify the suspect.

This time, the dragon helped extinguish a fire.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Knights mascot Homer the Dragon flipped the script Tuesday: he helped put out a fire. 

When a small brush fire broke out in a flower bed near Truist Field and Romare Bearden Park, the Charlotte Fire Department said, “Homer was in the neighborhood and assisted Charlotte Fire Engine 4 with putting the fire out.”

Walter Hawkins, who shared photos of the event with WCNC Charlotte, said he was at Romare Bearden park Tuesday around noon when he noticed the fire. Hawkins said while waiting for a fire engine to arrive, multiple people stopped to help — among them, Charlotte’s favorite dragon. 

Homer the Dragon told WCNC Charlotte he was shooting a video in the team store when the team store manager noticed a fire across the street. Homer ran over, and when he noticed an extinguisher in use had emptied, he said he knew it was time to step up.

At that point, Homer said they pulled the pin on their extinguisher, working to get the fire out. When Engine 4 pulled up, Homer said the firefighters had big smiles and let Homer use the fire hose to cover the fire in water. 

“I’m so thankful for the brave citizen that started putting the fire out, those that called 911, and the Engine 4 crew!” Homer said in a statement. “It was an honor to protect and serve the neighborhood and city that I love.” 

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