Charlotte North Carolina News

Chimney Rock State Park will reopen on June 27, marking a comeback after Hurricane Helene’s damage. CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. — After nine long months of recovery, Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is set to reopen to the public on Friday, June 27—a major milestone following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. The park, a beloved destination in western North Carolina, was forced to close in September after the hurricane caused significant damage to…

Even though there won’t be many storms this weekend, the ones that do form will bring gusty winds and heavy rain. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Welcome to summertime in the Carolinas – where most days have at least a small risk for strong storms. Saturday will be one of those days. Multiple waves of storms will move across the Southeast this weekend. With plenty of storm fuel due to high temperatures near 90 degrees, the severe weather…

Duke’s Power Distribution Center in Charlotte uses high-tech workstations to manage line crews across the Carolinas and restore power without human intervention. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy is highlighting new technology and grid improvements designed to keep power flowing during major storms as the 2025 hurricane season officially gets underway. The utility opened its Power Distribution Control Center in Charlotte to demonstrate how operators use high-tech workstations to manage line crews across the Carolinas and…

On Wednesday, June 4, at 8 p.m., you can stream the WCNC Weather Impact Team’s Hurricane IQ special on WCNC+. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — June 1 is the start of hurricane season, so the WCNC Weather Impact Team wanted to take a look back at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and then forecast what the 2025 hurricane season might look like.  On Wednesday, June 4, at 8 p.m., you can stream the WCNC Weather Impact Team’s…

Malachi Chaney’s high school diploma was found 11 miles from his tornado-leveled home as he recovers in ICU and takes first steps after the storm. HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Less than a week after an EF-2 tornado ripped a teen from the second floor of his family’s home in Locust Grove, he is awake, talking — and took his first step with the help of a physical therapy team at Grady Hospital. Malachi Chaney remains…

TDOT has restored nearly 94% of Tennessee roads damaged by Hurricane Helene in the past eight months. Here’s what work is left. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Nearly 94% of bridges and roads in Tennessee that were closed due to Hurricane Helene are now fully restored, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. TDOT has spent the past eight months repairing infrastructure damaged by the storm. Spokesperson Mark Nagi said the closures had a significant impact on…

Annual simulation of lane reversals in the coastal areas of South Carolina should not affect normal flow of traffic from Hilton Head to Columbia COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you are travelling between the South Carolina coast and the Columbia area/Midlands on Wednesday do not be surprised to see a large amount of Highway Patrol and local sheriff’s deputies deployed along major interstate and highways. Multiple state government and law enforcement agencies will be conducting their…

Meteorologists warn that the 2025 hurricane season could resemble the destructive 2017 season. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins, meteorologists are sounding the alarm that this year could resemble one of the most destructive seasons in recent memory—2017, the year of Harvey, Irma, and Maria. WCNC Weather Impact Meteorologist Chris Mulcahy drew a striking comparison between current atmospheric conditions and those that preceded the catastrophic 2017 season. “What I went through…

Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich received a video of the tornado from a WCNC Charlotte viewer. ROCK HILL, S.C. — A brief tornado occurred in York County on Friday, the National Weather Service confirmed on Monday. On Friday, WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich received a video from viewer Amber Burns Irvin of what appeared to be a tornado. Irvin shot the video along Percival Road just north of South Fork Road near Brattonsville and McConnells. Irvin…

Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich received a video of the tornado from a WCNC Charlotte viewer. ROCK HILL, S.C. — A brief tornado occurred in York County on Friday, the National Weather Service confirmed on Monday. On Friday, WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich received a video from viewer Amber Burns Irvin of what appeared to be a tornado. Irvin shot the video along Percival Road just north of South Fork Road near Brattonsville and McConnells. Irvin…

Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. FLIN FLON, MB — More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated…

An EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds hit Clarendon County, South Carolina, on Friday, damaging homes, snapping trees, and knocking out power. CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Hurricane season officially began Sunday, but the winds of a different kind of storm had many South Carolina residents on edge on Friday. Two days later, many are still cleaning up.  In Clarendon County, cleanup continues after a Friday afternoon tornado that damaged homes, roads, and trees across several…

Nearly two dozens wildfires were burning in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is just north of Minnesota and North Dakota. MANITOBA, Canada — Air quality in some parts of the United States is worsening as smoke from dozens of wildfires in Canada travels south, pushed by winds high in the atmosphere. Through parts of Minnesota and into Wisconsin, the air quality is deemed unhealthy for people and animals sensitive to pollution and other airborne…

WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich said some rotation was spotted on the radar in the area. ROCK HILL, S.C. — Weather radar data suggests a brief tornado may have happened Friday evening in the Rock Hill area. WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich received a video of what appeared to be a tornado from viewer Amber Burns Irvin. Irvin shot the video along Percival Road just north of South Fork Road near Brattonsville and told…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — All clear from severe weather this evening and throughout the weekend. Cooler and drier air moves in behind Friday’s storm system, dropping lows to the upper 50s Saturday morning with abundant sunshine and daytime highs in the low 80s. Sunday will see a similar start with an isolated storm chance by the afternoon. Sunday also begins meteorological summer and the first day of hurricane season!