Severe thunderstorms with winds up to 70 mph push through area

Strong storms that brought high winds, heavy wind, lightning, and hail have caused widespread damage across the Charlotte area. There have been several reports of downed trees and power lines, which caused more than 100,000 Duke Energy customers to lose power Wednesday afternoon.

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There is a severe thunderstorm watch issued for local counties until 10 p.m.

After these storms pass another round is in store after midnight.

UPDATES:

6 p.m.: Severe Weather Center 9 update

6 p.m.: One person was killed, and another was hurt Wednesday afternoon after a tree fell on a vehicle south of Belmont, Gaston County emergency services said. Read more here.

5:45 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning for Richmond County until 6:15 p.m.

5:35 p.m.: Severe thunderstorms warnings in effect for Anson, Lancaster, Stanly, and Chesterfield counties.

5:30 p.m. : Severe thunderstorm warning for Chesterfield County until 6:30 p.m.

5:20 p.m.: Severe Weather Center 9 updates (Video below)

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VIDEO: Glenn Counts covers storm damage in Gaston County

VIDEO: Ken Lemon in Shelby

VIDEO: Gaston County, Cleveland County

VIDEO: East Charlotte

VIDEO: Plaza Midwood

4:50 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Cabarrus, Chester, Union, Anson, Lancaster, Stanly, Chesterfield, and York counties.

4:45 p.m.: Tens of thousands of Duke Energy customers have lost power

4:40 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning extended for areas of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties until 5:15 p.m.

4:20 p.m.

4:15 p.m. Forecast update

4:05 p.m.: Message from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: The storm may delay bus transportation for CMS. After school activities may also experience impacts. All outdoor activities will be moving indoors and some schools may have late dismissals due to the weather conditions.

Gaston County Schools officials said that dismissal was delayed.

4 p.m.:

3:50 p.m.

3:45 p.m.: Tornado warnings have expired.

3:20 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, and York counties until 4:45 p.m. This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 mph.

3:10 p.m.: VIDEO BELOW: Channel 9′s Ken Lemon reports from Shelby

3 p.m.: A tornado warning was issued for Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln counties until 3:45 p.m.

>>STAY UPDATED WITH SEVERE WEATHER CENTER 9

2:30 p.m.: the first severe thunderstorm warning was issued for our area. That included Burke, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties until 3:45 p.m.

TIMELINE:

Noon – 3 p.m.: Storms are expected to build up in the mountains of western North Carolina.

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Severe storms will move to the Charlotte area, but the storms could last into Thursday morning.

5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Significant weather will move to the eastern part of the state and continue through the night.

WEATHER RESOURCES:

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The Severe Weather Center 9 team will be tracking the storms throughout the day, and we’ll update this article with new information when it’s available.

Be sure to download the WSOC Weather app to get notifications when storms are approaching your neighborhood, and you can use the app to watch Channel 9 when weather knocks out the power.

WEATHER RESOURCES:

(VIDEO: ‘The roof’s coming off!’: Baseball coach describes moment tornado hit Rowan Co.)