Charlotte North Carolina News

Rain rates were up to 5 inches per hour at times. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dozens of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton caught many Floridians by surprise as they braced for heavy rain, strong winds and especially storm surges. Violent twisters were seen crossing highways, ripping off roofs and downing trees and power lines. There have been 38 preliminary eyewitness reports of tornadoes since Wednesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm…

Swift announced her generous donation to Feeding America. TAMPA, Fla. — Taylor Swift is helping hurricane-stricken communities by donating $5 million to Feeding America. The organization’s CEO, Clarie Babineaux-Fontenton, announced the music superstar’s generous donation to help victims of Hurricane Milton and Helene Wednesday on social media, saying they thank her for “standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need…” “We’re incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous…

A Rutherford County family booked a hotel in their time of need, but ended up paying more than they expected. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sisters Karen Metcalf and Sherri Splawn, along with their families, were left without power, water, or cell service after Hurricane Helene hit their Bostic Sunshine neighborhood in western North Carolina. With Metcalf’s mobility issues and Splawn’s daughter in a wheelchair, they were desperate to find a safe place to stay, so they…

Applications for jobless benefits are widely considered representative of U.S. layoffs in a given week, but they can be volatile and susceptible to historic events. WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for for unemployment benefits last week jumped to its highest level in a year, which analysts are saying is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene — and the Boeing machinist strike — than a broader softening in the labor market. The Labor…

Applications for jobless benefits are widely considered representative of U.S. layoffs in a given week, but they can be volatile and susceptible to historic events. WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for for unemployment benefits last week jumped to their highest level in a year, which analysts are saying is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene than a broader softening in the labor market. The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for jobless…

As dawn broke Thursday, officials repeated that the danger had not passed. TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, where it knocked out power to more than 3 million customers and whipped up 150 tornadoes. The storm caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit. The system tracked to the south in the final hours and…

Though the deadly storm surge feared for Tampa appears not to have materialized, the situation in the area was still a major emergency. TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit. The storm tracked…

Albert Whitted Airport, which is just two miles from Tropicana Field, recorded wind gusts of 101 miles per hour. ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Hurricane Milton brought devastating rains and damaging winds through the Tampa Bay area, including the iconic Tropicana Field. Video shows the roof completely ripped off the top of the Trop, exposing the stadium lights and inner workings of the baseball field. MILTON DAMAGES THE TROP: Video shows the roof of the…

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday night near Siesta Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. Florida started to see conditions deteriorating late in the morning on Wednesday ahead of landfall. 10 Tampa Bay is keeping you ahead of the storm: Download our free mobile app for real-time storm information and breaking alerts, and…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph Wednesday at 9 p.m. Landfall occurred near Siesta Key, Florida with a life-threatening storm surge, high winds, heavy rain and isolated flash flooding. The storm will race across the state of Florida, reemerging into the western Atlantic by early Thursday. This will bring 3 – 5 feet of storm surge to coastal Georgia on Thursday from Savannah down to…

A decision to open a floodgate in northwest Charlotte proved costly for four families on Riverhaven Drive. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents in Charlotte are continuing to recover after Hurricane Helene swept through the area. Four homeowners along Riverhaven Drive are starting from ground zero after Duke Energy opened the flood gate during Hurricane Helene’s aftermath to relieve water pressure at Cowans Ford. Water rushed through the street, knocking down trees, destroying homes, and pulling down…

Many popular small businesses in Charlotte also have locations in Asheville, which are now dealing with serious damage. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The small business community is banding together to help each other heal from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.  Many popular places in Charlotte also have locations in Asheville, which are now dealing with serious storm damage.  Burial Beer Company‘s taproom in Asheville was spared from damage but currently can’t operate, so, it’s turned its…

The estate remains closed due to storm damage. ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On Monday night, the Biltmore Estate and its family owners announced they are launching the Biltmore Relief Fund for Western North Carolina to help victims of Hurricane Helene. As part of the launch, the estate has pledged $2 million in “immediate localized Helene relief alongside additional resource commitments and employee crisis support,” according to a release. The Biltmore Estate is still closed after the…

All proceeds from the concert will benefit Hurricane Helene relief efforts in western North Carolina. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some of North Carolina’s biggest artists are coming together for a concert in Charlotte that will benefit communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.  Eric Church, Luke Combs, Billy Strings and James Taylor will perform a special “Concert for Carolina” on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Bank of America Stadium. The show will be presented by Explore Asheville with all…

Hurricane Milton’s massive size was on display as the International Space Station flew over the monstrous storm. WASHINGTON — Hurricane Milton remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populous region with towering storm surges and turning debris from Helene’s devastation two weeks ago into projectiles. NASA released footage of the view of Milton from the International Space Station on Tuesday as it approached as…