Weather

Severe weather spotter training classes offered

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 12:05pm

Severe weather spotter training classes offered

Severe weather season is underway in the Carolinas and the National Weather Service is looking to train severe weather spotters in our area.

The first of two classes in our area will be offered Thursday evening, May 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Iredell County Agriculture Center. Classes are about two hours long and covers the basics of thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure and how to identify potential severe weather features.

The class is free, but you will need to register by calling 704-878-5097. For directions and more information, click here.

The next class will be offered in Union, SC on Tuesday, May 21st.

For more information on the SKYWARN program, click here.

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Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 1:33pm

Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

While hurricane season is still two weeks away in the Atlantic, Wednesday is the start of hurricane season in the eastern Pacific.

On average, more storms will form in the Pacific basin, but rarely make landfall. The ocean waters off the west coast are far to cold to sustain a hurricane, which requires sea surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees.

Additionally, the trade winds usually carry the storms westward, away from the coast. Rarely, storms can recurve back toward the coastline and make landfall along Baja California. Occasionally, they can bring heavy rain to southern California, but by then have lost their tropical characteristics.

Forecasters expect an average to below-normal year in terms of cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific.

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Sunshine is back, but for how long?

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 4:59pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- The sunshine is back, but only for a limited time!

For the third straight weekend, rain is in the forecast as an area of low pressure moves in from the west.

Friday will start off sunny, but clouds build in for the afternoon with a few showers possible in the evening. The major moisture surge moves in Saturday, with showers and thunderstorms making a return along our next cold front.

The rain should taper off early Sunday, followed by much cooler temperatures early next week.

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Pleasant start to the week won't last, cold rain headed our way

Submitted by Nick Needham on Monday, April 1st, 6:02 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- A sunny and pleasant Monday will be the highlight of the week when it comes to weather.

An afternoon high of around 73 degrees and nice breeze will soon give way to chilly air and dreary skis as winter trys to hang on.

WBTV Meteorologist Ashley Batey says, after Monday, highs will only hangout in the lows 60s and drop down to 50 by Thursday.

Lows at night will be in the upper 30s.

Cold rains return Thursday and will stay in place through the day on Friday, Batey says.

Rainfall amounts between a quarter and a half inch of rain are forecast for the end of the week.

Click here for your complete forecast.

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Snow returns to mountains, more rain for Piedmont

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Monday, March 4th, 2013, 4:51pm

Snow returns to mountains, more rain for Piedmont

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Another storm system is heading toward the Carolinas bringing with it another round of rain in the Piedmont and prompting Winter Storm Watches in the mountains.

The Southeast-moving system was centered over the Dakotas Monday afternoon and will bring rain back to the area starting Tuesday afternoon. Rainfall totals will be generally between a quarter and half an inch in the Piedmont.

Most of the moisture will be wrung out over the mountains, where the switchover to snow will occur in the late evening hours Tuesday, with the heaviest snow expected early Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch beginning Tuesday night for the High Country due to the possibility of 2-6 inches of snow and strong, gusty winds that could create difficult traveling conditions and possible power outages.

Isolated totals of 7-9 inches will be possible on the ridge tops.

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Severe Weather Awareness Week: What makes a thunderstorm severe?

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Monday, March 4th, 2013, 4:00pm

Severe Weather Awareness Week: What makes a thunderstorm severe?

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- When determining if a thunderstorm is severe, there are two main criteria that the National Weather Service will look at. How strong are the winds, and how large is the hail?

Wind speeds in a Severe Thunderstorm must be at least 58 mph, or 50 knots. These wind speeds are strong enough to take down tree limbs and injure anyone caught outside. Hail of one inch (quarter sized) is large enough to cause roof damage and is also used as a criteria for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

If a warning is issued for your area, you should head inside a strong, sturdy building and wait until the storm passes.

If rotation is detected on radar, then the Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be upgraded to a Tornado Warning.

Lightning, no matter how frequent or whether it's striking the ground, is not used as criteria for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. That means any thunderstorm could be deadly.

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Chance of weekend snow in the mix

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Friday, February 15th, 2013, 3:20pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Come Saturday afternoon, a few flurries could fall across the Carolinas. In order to see it, there are a few obstacles we must overcome.

First, we need cold temperatures. In the mountains, that won't be a problem, but in the Piedmont, temperatures may not be quite cold enough and it's possible we end up with a very cold rain. Highs tomorrow are forecast to climb into the low 40s, but then will drop throughout the afternoon and evening.

Next, we require moisture. The farther east, the higher the moisture levels. Areas east of Raleigh are much more likely to see snow than the western Piedmont. Northwesterly winds will bring downslope flow from the mountains, bringing drier air in, especially to areas west of Charlotte.

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