FORECAST: Strong winds usher in cool temps

These storms brought severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in several counties in the area.

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Looking ahead: Much drier weather will return Wednesday night, with the exception of the mountains, which will see snow showers overnight. About 1-3 inches are possible at the highest ridgetops.

7:30 p.m.: Queens Road is shut down in both directions at Henley Place due to tree down overnight and for morning commute, CMPD says.

5:50 p.m.: Virginia state police said three people are confirmed dead from storms; bringing the death toll to 6

4:26 p.m.: A Virginia wildlife official told the Associated Press that two more people were killed in the powerful storms over the past few days, raising the death toll to five.

4:09 p.m.: The tornado warning for Richmond County has been expired. John Ahrens said there are still strong winds in the area capable of bringing down trees. One direction of Wilkinson Boulevard was shut down after power poles were blown over.

3:47 p.m.: The tornado warning for Richmond County has been extended until 4:30 p.m.

The tornado warning for Chesterfield County has expired. We have crews heading to Cheraw and Patrick in South Carolina to follow-up on the possible storm damage.

3:05 p.m.: Tornado warning for Chesterfield County until 3:45 p.m.

2:10 p.m.: A strong line continues to push east with a few scattered thunderstorms near Lincoln and Gaston counties.

1:14 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm warning for Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union counties is extended until 2 p.m.

1:08 p.m.: Most severe part of today's storms have moved out of the Charlotte area but the weather has left damage behind. Conditions will remain windy this afternoon.

12:56 p.m.: According to Duke Energy, there are about 3,000 outages in Mecklenburg County.

12:48 p.m.: Roads are soaked but fast moving storms have moved through Charlotte.

12:38 p.m.: Highway Patrol reporting that trees are down on roads all over York County.

12:31 p.m.: National Weather Service has issued a weather warning for Charlotte Douglas International Airport for ground lightning until 1:15 p.m. High wind warning in effect until 7 p.m.

12:25 p.m.: Large tree has fallen and blocking part of Edgehill Road North near Queens Road in Charlotte.

12:19 p.m.: Tornado Warning in Alexander County now canceled.

12:15 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in place for Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union, Chester and York counties until 1:15 p.m.

12:11 p.m.: Tornado Warnings in Catawba and Iredell counties canceled.

12:03 p.m.: National Weather Service reporting power poles split in half due to thunderstorm on Hilltop Drive in Burke County.

11:48 a.m.: A tree has crashed down on a home in Long View. Husband and wife home at the time but not hurt.

11:42 a.m.: Catawba County officials reporting a tree on a house on 10th Avenue SW. No injuries.

11:39 a.m.: Eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 blocked in Burke County near mile marker 116 due to trees down, near Icard.

11:36 a.m.: Tornado Warning for Alexander, Catawba, Iredell and Lincoln counties until 12:30 p.m.

11:33 a.m.: Duke Energy reporting 4,200 customers without power in the area.

11:28 a.m.: The National Weather Service is reporting numerous trees down across the northern half of Cleveland County due to strong winds.

11:20 a.m.: A Tornado Watch has been issued for Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Richmond, Rowan, Stanly, Union, Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster and York counties until 7 p.m.

11:07 a.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland and Lincoln counties until 11:45 a.m.

10:59 a.m.: A Tornado Watch is likely going to be issued for the Charlotte area soon, according to Keith Monday.

10:44 a.m.: Winds knocked over a tree on the Wilmore neighborhood and crushed a car. Power was briefly knocked out to roughly 200 customers.

10:31 a.m.: Meteorologist Keith Monday warns that the strong winds will likely cause trees to topple across the region today.

10:16 a.m.: Severe Weather Center 9 is tracking lines of storms to the west of Charlotte with heavy rain and strong winds. More activity expected closer to Midday.

9:40 a.m.: Power lines down in the Sardis area have power knocked out to roughly 1,600 customers. Overall, 2,800 without power across Mecklenburg County.

9:12 a.m.: City of Rock Hill says about 2,700 without power due to fallen tree on Cherry Street.

Soggy start: The storm threat around the Charlotte region was slowly evolving Wednesday morning. Steadier rain was spreading in with pockets of more moderate rain across the area. Isolated downpours in some pockets around Charlotte will lead to ponding on the roadways for the morning commute. More widespread storms are possible around midday before we clear out by the afternoon.

Severe threat: Flooding risks will come up a bit as we head through the morning, with the heavier downpours. The main storm threat continues to be very heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through 6 p.m. The other storm threat is strong damaging wind (Wind Advisory is in place until midnight). Winds will be gusting near 40 mph at times Wednesday, even in areas without storms. Combined with the saturated grounds, this could lead to some weak trees falling.

Tornado threat: The latest models show storms redeveloping around midday near Charlotte, then quickly racing off to the east. These may not be around for long, but could pack a punch, with strong winds the main threat. The tornado threat appears to be shifting toward the Raleigh area Wednesday afternoon, but the threat is not completely gone around Charlotte.

National Weather Service warns of severe weather, tornadoes

The National Weather Service issued a warning for residents of central North Carolina on Tuesday to be on guard for the threat of severe weather.

With the prospect for severe weather, Gov. Pat McCrory advised the state's seven Urban Search and Rescue Teams and seven hazardous materials Regional Response Teams to be on standby.

A discussion of the forecast for Wednesday says the likelihood for pockets of straight-line wind damage is "a near certainty." The discussion also says the risk for one or more tornadoes in the area is fairly high.

Forecasters say straight-line wind gusts on Wednesday may be particularly strong, reaching 70 mph or greater, and associated damage with the wind gusts may be tornado-like in intensity.

While forecasters say central North Carolina will get scattered severe thunderstorms, areas east of U.S. Highway 1 will have the greatest risk for more numerous severe storms with greater impacts.

The weather service also says that with the system bringing severe weather expected to move across central North Carolina during school hours on Wednesday, schools and universities should take time to review their severe weather safety plans and review their tornado sheltering procedures.

Storms threaten South Carolina with high winds

A storm system that's killed at least three people in Louisiana and Mississippi is expected to bring severe weather to South Carolina.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Allendale County until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

A wind advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. in seven counties in the southeastern part of the state.

The advisory is in effect in Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Jasper counties.

A similar advisory is in effect in eight counties in the northeastern part of the state until 8 p.m. That advisory affects Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties.

Forecasters say winds could reach 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

Schools are closed in Georgetown and Horry counties.

A fallen tree knocked out power to roughly 2,700 people in Rock Hill early Wednesday morning.

The tree came down on power lines causing the outage along Cherry Road. Crews were on scene trying to restore power.

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Cox Media Group