Asheville, N.C. – Large hail and powerful wind gusts could slam parts of western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate this afternoon as severe thunderstorms move through the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, storms will intensify after 3 p.m. Thursday and continue through midnight, bringing the threat of damaging straight-line winds, frequent lightning, and hail as large as 2 inches in diameter. Areas in the mountains, including Waynesville, Asheville, and Morganton, are especially at risk for hail larger than 2 inches.
Counties across western North Carolina—particularly along the Tennessee border—are under a slight risk for severe weather. Cities like Hickory, Statesville, and Gaffney may also experience brief but intense storms. In South Carolina, Anderson, Union, and Rock Hill face lower but still notable risks of lightning and wind damage. Travelers on I-40 and I-26 should prepare for sudden visibility loss and slick roads…