CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — A few scattered to isolated showers and thunderstorms are returning to North Carolina this Friday afternoon and evening, bringing typical summertime pop-up storm activity across much of the state. Coverage is expected to remain pretty isolated and hit or miss, meaning many locations will see nothing at all while others get hit with gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall. An isolated stronger storm capable of damaging winds cannot be completely ruled out. Forecasters describe this as a very typical summertime thunderstorm pattern with nothing too extreme anticipated through the evening hours.
Future Radar Shows Scattered Cells Developing by 3 PM
Future radar guidance valid at 3 p.m. Friday shows scattered storm cells developing across a broad area of North Carolina, with activity visible from the western mountains near Asheville and Bristol eastward through Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Raleigh-Durham. Additional storm development is depicted near Greenville, Rocky Mount, and the coastal areas near Newport and Cape Hatteras.
Heaviest Activity Shown Near Myrtle Beach and Charleston
The most intense storm activity depicted on future radar Friday afternoon is concentrated near Myrtle Beach, Orangeburg, and Charleston, where the deepest radar returns in red and purple shading indicate the potential for locally heavy downpours and the strongest wind gusts. This coastal and southern zone appears to be the most focused area of storm development through the late afternoon.
Gusty Winds and Heavy Rainfall the Main Concerns
Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall will accompany any storm that develops this afternoon, with forecasters noting that coverage will remain limited enough that the majority of locations will likely avoid significant impacts entirely. An isolated storm could produce damaging winds, but this scenario is not expected to be widespread.
Evening Updates Planned as Storms Develop
Forecasters will be providing radar updates through the evening as storm activity evolves across the state. Residents across the Piedmont, coastal plain, and mountain communities are encouraged to stay weather aware during peak afternoon heating and monitor local radar if storms approach their area.
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