CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – A tornado warning was issued for counties in the greater Charlotte area Thursday evening as Hurricane Helene barreled toward the Gulf Coast.

Several counties in North and South Carolina were under a tornado watch from Thursday evening, September 26th, until 8 a.m. Friday, September 27th. The National Weather Service placed the following counties under observation:

• Anson
• Cabarrus
• Chester (South Carolina)
• Chesterfield, South Carolina
• Gaston
• Lancaster (South Carolina)
• Mecklenburg
• Union (North Carolina)
• Union (South Carolina)
• Richmond
• York (South Carolina)

Difference Between Tornado Watches and Warnings

A Tornado watch is issued when a tornado is possible in and near the monitored area. When a watch is in place, the NWS urges affected people to discuss emergency plans, ensure there are enough supplies, and be prepared to act quickly if a tornado approaches.

A Tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been seen or indicated by a weather radar. When a tornado warning is active, there is “immediate danger to life and property,” the NWS says.

A Tornado emergency is the most severe tornado warning. A tornado emergency warning is issued when a violent tornado has touched down in an area – where there is a “significant threat to life and property and catastrophic damage has been confirmed.”

Find all active alerts for the greater Charlotte area here.

What to do if a tornado is approaching?

If a tornado warning is issued, people are urged to move indoors on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, avoiding all windows. Anyone in an RV, vehicle or outdoors should “go to the nearest safe shelter and protect themselves from flying debris,” the NWS said.

If you see a tornado approaching, you should not try to escape it in a vehicle.

“Sitting in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe,” the NWS website states. “The best course of action is to drive to the nearest animal shelter. If you are unable to reach safe shelter, either get into your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low area such as a ditch or ravine.”

The NWS encourages people to listen to local news or a NOAA weather radio to stay up to date on tornado watches and warnings.

“Several rounds of thunderstorms are possible during severe weather outbreaks, which can lead to tornadoes,” the NWS said.

Hurricane Helene hits the Carolinas

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a major hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida after 11 p.m. on Thursday.

The Category 4 hurricane was expected to bring strong winds, rain and storm surge to the Gulf Coast. The storm will then move north and is expected to impact the Carolinas on Friday, September 27th.

Helene will likely bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the Charlotte area Friday morning, according to our First Alert meteorologists.

WBTV meteorologist Rachel Coulter says: Catastrophic flash flooding and the possibility of landslides in our mountain and foothill communities are a major concern, and there is a rare high risk of excessive rainfall. There will likely be widespread flash flooding as far east as Charlotte, with isolated flash flooding occurring in our eastern counties.

Wind gusts could reach speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour, downing trees and causing numerous to widespread power outages. The strongest winds are expected locally Friday morning and a tropical storm warning is in effect for much of the area, including the Charlotte metro.

Click here for the full forecast.

—> Tracking power outages at Duke Energy in the Carolinas during Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024

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