Charlotte North Carolina News

There is currently a Typhoon and a Tropical Storm that are in the Western Pacific a little to close for comfort to the Olympics TOKYO, Japan — There are two systems that are in the Western Pacific that are alarming Olympic enthusiasts. There is currently Typhoon In-Fa and Tropical Storm Nepartak. These are both too close to comfort to the Olympics but the Typhoon is not the problem, but rather the Tropical Storm. This Tropical…

A study conducted earlier this month that’s being shared online suggests wildfire smoke can actually increase the spread of the coronavirus. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Code Orange air quality alert is in effect for most of North Carolina Thursday because of the smoke and haze from wildfires burning in Canada and the Western United States.  With elevated smoke in the atmosphere, the Carolinas will be dealing with higher levels of particulates in the air. Some…

Forecast models predict two typhoons could develop over the next two weeks that could threaten the Olympics in Tokyo. TOKYO, Japan — The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will be juggling a lot of concerns over the next couple of weeks. There’s COVID-19, record hot weather and possibly a hurricane or two — or as they call them in the Northwest Pacific, typhoons. While the Atlantic Basin is quiet with tropical activity, the Pacific Ocean is…

Smoke can be seen as a ‘haze’ here in the Carolinas and will cause air quality problems for some. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Haze in the Carolinas: Wildfires in Canada and in the Western United States, have put enough smoke into the atmosphere that the effects are being seen as far east as the Carolinas. From extended drought and record-breaking heat, fires like the ones in the headlines here in mid-July 2021, are becoming a repetitive…

Smoke can be seen as a ‘haze’ here in the Carolinas and will cause air quality problems for some. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Haze in the Carolinas: Wildfires in Canada and in the Western United States, have put enough smoke into the atmosphere that the effects are being seen as far east as the Carolinas. From extended drought and record-breaking heat, fires like the ones in the headlines here in mid-July 2021, are becoming a repetitive…

Only three tropical systems in 200 years have struck the West Coast, because weather conditions in the Pacific are unfavorable for storms. GREENSBORO, N.C. — All is quiet right now in the Atlantic; it’s almost eerie, considering we’ve had an active and early season with five named storms. Last week, we verified why hurricanes spin the way they do — counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.  RELATED: VERIFY: Hurricanes always…

Horry County Emergency Management says strong storms don’t need to be active for rip currents to present a danger GREENSBORO, N.C. — Tropical Storm Elsa’s rains left parts of South Carolina underwater Thursday but, 24 hours later, it’s a different story.  Horry County Emergency Management officials are warning beach goers to take precaution when in the water as rip currents remain a threat though Elsa is gone from the Carolina Coast.  Rip currents are similar…

Elsa will bring tropical storm conditions to parts of New England Friday. NEW ORLEANS — As of the 4 am NHC update, Elsa is inching closer to NYC. It has winds of 50 mph and moving northeast at 31 mph.  Elsa will then track closer to New York City as early as Friday morning and then near Boston by Friday afternoon. It will continue to move NE towards Canada. Currently there are no impacts expected…

Elsa will continue to lose its tropical characteristics as it moves across the New England states and pushes offshore Friday night. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 5 a.m. Friday: Elsa has moved away from the First Coast, but will continue to bring a flash flooding threat to the New England region on Friday. NHC Discussion: It appears that the early stages of extratropical transition have begun with Elsa, with almost all of the deep convection…

Elsa may hold on to its tropical storm strength as it tracks near New York and Boston NEW ORLEANS — As of the 10 pm NHC update, Elsa slightly strengthens as it moves over Virginia. Winds of 50 mph and moving northeast at 25 mph. It is expected to bring tropical storm impacts to central and northern Virginia tonight. Elsa will then track closer to New York City as early as Friday morning as a…

Elsa may hold on to its tropical storm strength as it tracks near New York and Boston NEW ORLEANS — As of the 5 pm NHC update, Elsa slightly strengthens as it moves towards Virginia. Winds of 50 mph and moving northeast at 21 mph. It is expected to bring tropical storm impacts to areas like Raleigh and Norfolk Thursday evening. Elsa will then track closer to New York City as early as Friday morning…

Elsa may hold on to its tropical storm strength as it tracks near New York and Boston NEW ORLEANS — As of the 2pm NHC update, Elsa maintains its tropical storm strength as it moves across North Carolina today. Winds of 45 mph and moving northeast at 20 mph. It is expected to bring tropical storm impacts to areas like Raleigh and Norfolk Thursday evening. Elsa will then track closer to New York City as…

The storm could bring impacts to places like NYC and Boston. NEW ORLEANS — Elsa remains a minimal tropical storm as of 4 am Thursday with winds of 40 mph. It is moving NE at 18 mph. It will bring tropical storm impacts to locations like Raleigh and Norfolk Thursday. By Friday it will move near Washington DC, New York and Boston as a tropical storm. We’re not expecting any impacts along our part of…

Elsa was expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to Georgia as it churns to the northeast before entering South Carolina to the west of Savannah early Thursday. ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — A weakened Tropical Storm Elsa dumped rain across Florida’s northern Gulf Coast early Wednesday, sparing the state from significant damage as it churned toward Georgia with threats of flooding downpours and possibly tornadoes. Elsa wobbled through the Gulf of Mexico,…

Tropical Storm Elsa continues to weaken as it moves across Florida toward the Carolinas. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for much of central North Carolina. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Wednesday morning with 65 mph winds and heavy rain battering the state.  As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Elsa continues to weaken with sustained winds of 50 mph. The storm is still moving north at 14…

The center of the storm is approaching southern Georgia on Wednesday afternoon. NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Wednesday at 10 a.m. It is spreading heavy rain bands, high winds and a tornado threat to the north and east of its center as it moves farther inland over Florida on Wednesday afternoon. The storm will continue moving north into Georgia late Wednesday. It will weaken as it…

The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and stronger gusts to 50 mph in severe storms. There is also a threat for isolated tornadoes. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Tornado Watch is in effect for northeast Florida and southeast Georgia until 1 p.m. Wednesday. There is also a Flood Watch in effect for the entire area until late Thursday night.  As of 11 a.m. Wednesday: Elsa has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and…

Elsa was blasted by wind shear and dry air Tuesday night. The center of the storm is moving into Florida as of Wednesday midday. NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Elsa is making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Wednesday at 10 a.m.  Elsa weakened into a tropical storm Wednesday morning after briefly regaining hurricane strength late Tuesday. Dry air and westerly wind shear caused the storm to weaken as it approached Florida. The storm…

The storm’s center went ashore in Taylor County, a lightly populated area. ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Elsa has made landfall along north Florida’s Gulf Coast. The storm’s center went ashore in Taylor County, a lightly populated area, on Wednesday morning. Forecasters say Elsa’s path will slice across inland north Florida with heavy rains and wind and then move on to Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia before…

Heavy rain and gusty winds are expected across northern Florida once the storm makes an expected turn to the northeast. ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — A weakened Tropical Storm Elsa dumped rain across Florida’s Gulf Coast early Wednesday but appears to have spared the state significant damage and widespread power outages. Elsa wobbled through the Gulf of Mexico, briefly reaching hurricane strength, but was expected to move ashore as a tropical storm. Tornado warnings were…

Elsa weakened to a tropical storm Wednesday as it threatened Florida’s northern Gulf Coast. The storm will bring rain and gusty winds to the Carolinas this week. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Elsa weakened to a tropical storm as it threatened Florida’s northern Gulf Coast Wednesday after raking past the Tampa Bay area with gusty winds and heavy rain.  As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Elsa is about 35 miles west of Cedar Key, Florida, with sustained winds…

A hurricane warning was in effect for a long stretch of coastline, from Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay to the Steinhatchee River in the Big Bend area. ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Elsa weakened to a tropical storm as it threatened Florida’s northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday after raking past the Tampa Bay region with gusty winds and heavy rain. The storm was moving northward, almost parallel to the west coast of…

Elsa was blasted by wind shear and dry air overnight and has weakened some. NEW ORLEANS — Elsa is back to a tropical storm as wind shear and dry air blasted the once hurricane. This choked off t-storms and allowed the winds to decrease to 65 mph as of 4 am. It is forecast to make landfall in the Big Bend of Florida Wednesday morning. The storm will then weaken and continue northeast through southern…

The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and stronger gusts to 50 mph in severe storms. There is also a threat for isolated tornadoes. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 2 a.m. Wednesday: Elsa has weakened to a tropical storm. However, our forecast and impacts for the First Coast are unchanged. The storm is located 60 miles west of Tampa.  The First Coast will feel its impacts from Elsa starting Wednesday morning and through…

The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and stronger gusts to 50mph in severe storms. There is also a threat for isolated tornadoes. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 2AM Wednesday: Elsa has weakened to a tropical storm.  The storm is located 60 miles West of Tampa.  The First Coast will feel impacts from Elsa starting Wednesday morning and through the Evening. The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and 60 mph…

NEW ORLEANS — Hurricane Elsa is just to the west of Sarasota, FL on the W coast heading N at 14 mph, having picked up some forward speed since earlier this afternoon. The storm became a bit more organized this evening, although satellite imagery shows the strongest storms have collapsed. Dry air and wind shear have made it difficult for Elsa to rapidly intensify. Landfall is now expected to be as a tropical storm.  Landfall…

Elsa to bring rain and some wind to the Carolinas. Author: Iisha Scott (WCNC), Larry Sprinkle, Brad Panovich, Chris Mulcahy Published: 9:02 PM EDT July 6, 2021 Updated: 9:05 PM EDT July 6, 2021 Elsa has strengthened into a hurricane just southwest of Tampa Bay. As of the 8 o’clock advisory, Elsa has sustained winds of 75 mph and wind gusts up to 85 mph. It has picked up speed and is moving north at…

Roughly 400 workers from North Carolina are already positioned in Florida, according to the company. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy is taking advantage of resources available to help areas that’ll be impacted by Hurricane Elsa. The company operates in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, the Carolinas and Florida, giving Duke Energy the ability to move resources from other areas not affected by the storm’s path when severe weather hits.   According to Duke Energy’s website, “the company’s storm…

Roughly 400 workers from North Carolina are already positioned in Florida, according to the company. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy is taking advantage of resources available to help areas that’ll be impacted by Hurricane Elsa. The company operates in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, the Carolinas and Florida, giving Duke Energy the ability to move resources from other areas not affected by the storm’s path when severe weather hits.   According to Duke Energy’s website, “the company’s storm…

The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and stronger gusts to 60 in severe storms. There is also a threat for isolated tornadoes. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 8 p.m. Tuesday: Elsa has officially been upgraded to a hurricane.  Located 100 miles SSW of Tampa.  The First Coast should expect to feel impacts from Elsa with a continued stormy pattern through Wednesday. The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and 60…

NEW ORLEANS — Hurricane Elsa is just to the west of Fort Myers, FL on the SW coast heading N at 14 mph, having picked up some forward speed. The storm has become a bit more organized over the last several hours, despite dry air and wind shear. Storms are now developing around the center.   A landfall somewhere along the west coast of Florida, possibly as far north as the big bend, looks likely early…

NEW ORLEANS — Elsa is just to the west of Naples and Fort Myers, FL on the SW coast heading N at 10 mph. The storm is trying to become a bit more organized over the last several hours, despite dry air and wind shear. It could become a hurricane before landfall Wednesday.  A landfall somewhere along the west coast of Florida, possibly as far north as the big bend, looks likely early Wednesday. Models…

The First Coast will feel the effects of Tropical Storm Elsa from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 2 p.m. Tuesday: Elsa is spreading tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall over the Florida Keys. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding continue over west-central Cuba. The storm’s center is located about 65 miles west-northwest of Key West, Florida, and about 215 miles south of Tampa, Florida. Tropical Storm Warnings are posted for the Suwannee…

Elsa could strengthen to a strong tropical storm as it runs along the west coast of Florida Tuesday and Wednesday. NEW ORLEANS — Elsa is in the extreme southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday heading NNW at 10 mph. The storm is still rather lopsided but will likely organize some as it heads north Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s possible the storm becomes a strong tropical storm or even weak category 1 hurricane as it nears…

Elsa could strengthen to a strong tropical storm as it run along the west coast of Florida Tuesday and Wednesday. NEW ORLEANS — Elsa is in the extreme southeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning heading NNW at 12 mph. The storm is still rather lopsided but will likely organize some as it heads north Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s possible the storm becomes a strong tropical storm or even weak category 1 hurricane as it nears…

The First Coast will feel the effects of Tropical Storm Elsa from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 5 a.m. Monday: Tropical Storm Elsa is reorganizing south of The Keys.  The First Coast should expect to feel impacts from Elsa with a continued stormy pattern late Tuesday through Wednesday. The biggest impact to monitor will be heavy rainfall and stronger, damaging winds in severe storms. There is also a threat for…

The main impact for the First Coast looks to be on Wednesday. Continue to stay tuned for updates. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 5 p.m. Monday: Tropical Storm Elsa over Cuba. Tropical Storm Warnings have been extended northward along the west coast of Florida. The storm is expected to weaken slightly as it is now over Cuba. The First Coast should expect to feel impacts from Elsa with a continued stormy pattern late Tuesday through…

The storm is already responsible for three deaths across the Caribbean. HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba evacuated 180,000 people amid fears Sunday that Tropical Storm Elsa could unleash heavy flooding after battering several Caribbean islands, killing at least three people. The Cuban government had opened shelters and moved to protect sugarcane and cocoa crops ahead of the storm. Most of those evacuated went to relatives’ homes, while some people sheltered at government facilities. Hundreds living in…

The National Hurricane Center has a set time they update their public advisories and will switch to intermediate advisories when watches and warnings are present. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The National Hurricane Center: The National Hurricane Center is responsible for the forecast cones and updated tropical storm and hurricane information throughout the year. Even before a storm forms, areas of thunderstorms and low pressure systems in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are monitored for possible…

The storm is responsible for one death in St. Lucia. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Hurricane Elsa fell back to tropical storm force as it brushed past Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Saturday and threatened to unleash flooding and landslides before taking aim at Cuba and Florida. The storm was centered about 255 miles (410 kilometers) east of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving west-northwest at 29 mph (46 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 70…

The main impact for our area looks to be Tuesday and Wednesday. Continue to stay tuned for updates throughout the weekend. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 11 AM SATURDAY:  Elsa has weakened and is now a tropical storm. The storm is still moving rapidly across the Caribbean at about 29 MPH towards the west/northwest. This system is expected to pass over Haiti and the Dominican Republic later today. Once this storm moves over land, it…

The main impact for our area looks to be Tuesday and Wednesday. Continue to stay tuned for updates throughout the weekend. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of 8pm on Friday:  Elsa is not getting stronger with winds of 85 and pressure up  to 995 mb.  Any impact to our area, if at all, will be after the weekend toward Wednesday. FIRST COAST BIG THREE: We will continue to refine the extent of our local impacts, but…

Hurricane Elsa is the first hurricane of the 2021 hurricane season which outpaced 2020’s first by three weeks. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 2020 Hurricane season will always be the benchmark that we compare upcoming seasons to since it was the most active. Well For the second day in a row, 2021 has outdone that infamous year. Elsa on July 1, became the earliest 5th named storm of the season on record, beating out last year’s…

The state of Florida is included in the 5 day cone, but impacts, if any, are still very unclear. Continue to stay tuned for updates throughout the weekend. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Elsa has strengthened into a hurricane – the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic season. Impacts, if any, to the state of Florida or the United States, are still unclear. There remains a great deal of uncertainty on the intensity and track…

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for a portion of the Lesser Antilles. Impacts, if any, to Florida are still unclear. Stay tuned for updates. Author: Lauren Rautenkranz, TimDeegan, Makayla Lucero (WTLV) Published: 5:06 AM EDT May 20, 2021 Updated: 4:53 PM EDT July 1, 2021 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Elsa  is gradually strengthening. Impacts, if any, to the state of Florida or the United States, are still unclear. There remains a great…

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for a portion of the Lesser Antilles. Impacts, if any, to Florida are still unclear. Stay tuned for updates. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Depression Five has formed into Tropical Storm Elsa as of early Thursday morning. Impacts, if any, to the state of Florida or the United States, are still unclear. There remains a great deal of uncertainty of the intensity and track forecast in the long range. …

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for a portion of the Lesser Antilles. Impacts, if any, to Florida are still unclear. Stay tuned for updates. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Depression Five has formed into Tropical Storm Elsa as of early Thursday morning. Impacts, if any, to the state of Florida or the United States, are still unclear. There remains a great deal of uncertainty of the intensity and track forecast in the long-range.  Make…

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for a portion of the Lesser Antilles. Impacts, if any, to Florida are still unclear. Stay tuned for updates. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Depression Five has formed into Tropical Storm Elsa. Impacts, if any, to the state of Florida or the United States, are still unclear. Continue to stay tuned for updates. We will be watching this system as it heads into the Caribbean by Friday and toward…