Gaston County Schools closed Friday due to continued outages caused by storms

CHARLOTTE — Gaston County Schools will be closed for students on Friday as power and internet outages continue following recent storms. There are also several road closures in the county. Friday will be an optional teacher workday.

Strong storms on Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday brought high winds, heavy wind, lightning, and hail causing widespread damage.

The National Weather Service confirmed there was an EF-1 tornado reported in Gaston County and another one in Cleveland County.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools provided an update at 9 p.m. Thursday saying that three schools didn’t have power. They are Harding University, Independence, and Phillip O. Berry high schools.

More than 100,000 Duke Energy customers lost power Wednesday night. There were still more than 30,000 outages at 6 p.m. Thursday.

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In Gaston County, officials declared a state of emergency, and school was canceled for Thursday. Strong winds knocked a large tree over onto an SUV traveling on South New Hope Road, killing the driver and injuring a passenger.

Cleveland County Schools announced the district will not hold classes on Thursday.

School officials announced that North Brook Elementary School and Union Elementary School in Lincoln County will be closed on Thursday due to power outages.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools also announced closures due to power outages on Thursday morning.

Those schools include:

Albemarle Road Elementary School, Briarwood Academy, Cochrane Collegiate Academy, Devonshire Elementary School, Garinger High School, Harding High School, Hidden Valley Elementary School, Independence High School, Lincoln Heights Montessori School, Merry Oaks International Academy, Montclaire Elementary School, Oaklawn Language Academy, Paw Creek Elementary School, Phillip O. Berry High School, Rocky River High School, Sharon High School, Steele Creek Elementary School, Villa Heights Elementary School, Westerly Hills Elementary School, and Wilson Middle School.

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VIDEO BELOW: Chopper 9 flies over widespread damage

VIDEO: Storm damage seen from Chopper 9

THURSDAY MORNING WEATHER UPDATES:

5 a.m.:

One person has been hospitalized after a tree fell on them on Murrayhill Road in south Charlotte, according to reports from MEDIC.

3 a.m.:

The National Weather Service announced it will survey damage from Wednesday’s storms on Thursday. They are expected to survey Charlotte, Cleveland, and Cabarrus County.

2 a.m.:

A tornado watch issued for Upstate South Carolina has been extended to include Chester and York counties until 4 a.m. Storms moving through those areas could briefly produce a tornado, but there is no immediate threat.

WEDNESDAY UPDATES:

9:15 p.m.: Cleveland County Schools will not have class on Thursday due to Wednesday’s storms.

9 p.m.: American Red Cross disaster-trained volunteers are currently assisting people in Gaston County. The Red Cross opened a shelter at 519 W. Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia.

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8:45 p.m.: There will be no school for students in the Gaston County Schools district on Thursday, officials announced.

6:45 p.m.

6:15 p.m.: Gaston County declared a state of emergency as first responders work to clear roads of downed power lines, and broken trees and provide aid to residents in need.

At 5:30 p.m., more than 37% of Gaston County power customers were without power.

“We’re working as quickly as we can to make sure our residents are safe and downed trees and debris is moved out of roadways so power crews can work on getting power restored,” Chairman Chad Brown said.

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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.

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

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

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

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

5:20 p.m. Severe Weather Center 9 update

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VIDEO: Glenn Counts covers storm damage in Gaston County

Glenn Counts covers storm damage in Gaston County

VIDEO: Ken Lemon in Shelby

Ken Lemon covers storm damage in Shelby

VIDEO: Gaston County, Cleveland County

Storm damage in Gaston County, Cleveland County

VIDEO: East Charlotte

Storm damage in east Charlotte

Wednesday’s storms caused a lot of damage around Mecklenburg County. We saw trees down along with thousands of outages.

Near Hawthorne Lane in Plaza Midwood, Channel 9′s Almiya White found a massive tree that took down the entire roof of someone’s front porch. Insulation from inside the home was exposed and a window was damaged. Even the car in the driveway took a hit.

VIDEO: Plaza Midwood

Storm damage in Plaza Midwood

Hawthorne Lane eventually reopened at Parkwood Avenue, but as the storm moved through Wednesday, it was completely blocked.

There were plenty of downed powerlines in the area and debris and tree branches scattered across the road.

Many who White spoke with said the damage impacted their afternoon commutes. One couple said they were home at the time the storm rolled through.

“The first thing I saw was the the power line,” Kendall Gardner said. “All these sparks flew and then there was quite a loud bang. I was coming out and saw the tree down here.”

The family inside the damaged Plaza Midwood home spoke with White, telling her they’re OK, but they’re just trying to process the damage left behind.

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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.

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4:20 p.m.

4:15 p.m. Forecast update

4 p.m. Update: Severe thunderstorm warnings issued with winds of up to 70 mph

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.

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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.

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

Severe weather update from Shelby

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

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.

3 p.m. severe weather update

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