A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect through 8 p.m. for the entire Charlotte metro and surrounding communities, including Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties. The strongest storms could produce wind gusts as high as 70 mph, hail and torrential rain.
The devastation inflicted by Hurricane Michael came into focus Thursday with rows upon rows of homes found smashed to pieces, and rescue crews began making their way into the stricken areas in hopes of accounting for hundreds of people who may have defied evacuation orders.
Supercharged by abnormally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Michael tore away tree limbs and sent pieces of buildings flying Wednesday as it struck Panama City, Florida.
Michael continues to move northeast and will continue to weaken over the Atlantic.
UNC Charlotte has cancelled classes until 11:59 p.m. tonight.
The Florida Highway Patrol has closed an 80-mile stretch of Interstate 10 to clear debris from Hurricane Michael.
The National Hurricane Center says Michael is making landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, as a catastrophic Category 4 Hurricane, pushing a deadly storm surge and whipping the coast with 155 mph (250 kph) winds.
North Carolina’s governor, Roy Cooper, has declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Michael.
Gaining frightening fury overnight, Hurricane Michael closed in Wednesday on the Florida Panhandle with potentially catastrophic winds of 145 mph, the most powerful storm on record ever to menace the stretch of fishing towns, military bases and spring-break beaches.
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