Mooresville: Storm To Dump 4 Inches Rain, Flooding By Friday

MOORESVILLE, NC — Brace yourself for waterlogged streets and poor driving conditions: Heavy downpours could dump up to 4 inches of rain on much of the Charlotte metro and Lake Norman region by Friday, forecasters say.

The storm could lead to flash flooding, severe wind gusts and even a possible tornado, NWS said.

“Enough rain may fall to raise the potential for flooding along creeks, streams, and low-lying areas,” NWS said in a hazardous weather bulletin Wednesday. “A Flood Watch will likely be issued. Thunderstorms are also possible as the cold front crosses the region Thursday and Thursday evening. Some of the thunderstorms could be strong to severe with damaging wind gusts. A brief, isolated tornado will be possible mainly along and south and east of Interstate 85.”

There's only one day out of the next seven that the National Weather Service doesn't expect rain to fall in the Charlotte metro region.

Periods of heavy rain will begin Wednesday night and linger until Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. In our area, the downpours will likely hit hardest Thursday, with up to 4 inches of rain predicted, forecasters said .

Rain will continue steadily until Friday evening, but then the weather will briefly clear up. Saturday afternoon, the chance of rain returns however the sun is expected to come back out Sunday in earnest, with highs in the mid 50s, according to the NWS.

"A strong cold front with a deep surge of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of it, fueling multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms, especially from the central Gulf Coast to the southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic region" is approaching the state, the National Weather Service said. "Rainfall totals through Friday morning are expected to be on the order of 2 to 4 inches from the Florida Panhandle to New Jersey."

Here's what to expect in the days ahead, according to the National Weather Service:

Today (Feb. 5)
A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 68. South southwest wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers, mainly after 10pm. Low around 60. South wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday (Feb. 6)
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog before 7am. High near 67. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 48. South wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Friday (Feb. 7)
A 30 percent chance of showers before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Saturday (Feb. 8)
A 30 percent chance of rain after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.
Saturday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Sunday (Feb. 9)
Sunny, with a high near 54.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.