ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg is warning of the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia on Wednesday afternoon and evening, with damaging wind gusts and isolated flash flooding possible.
The Storm Prediction Center is monitoring much of the Asheville area for a Severe Thunderstorm Watch this afternoon, the National Weather Service said shortly after 1 p.m. Damaging winds are possible along with locally heavy rain.
Some storms may produce torrential rainfall, with localized amounts exceeding 2 inches, leading to isolated flash flooding in low-lying and urban areas.
Residents in the Asheville area should be careful on the roads and keep an eye on small creeks and streams that could rise quickly, forecasters said.
The Weather Service has outlined the primary threat as damaging winds, particularly from wet microbursts, but noted there is also a risk of large hail in storms that develop with stronger instability. High atmospheric moisture levels are expected to contribute to heavy rainfall and storm organization.
The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into the weekend, with strong to severe storms possible each afternoon through at least Friday. Rain chances remain high, with precipitation probabilities ranging from 60 to 90 percent daily through the end of the week.
Today’s forecast calls for a high near 88 with showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Storms are expected to continue into the evening with patchy fog forming after 2 a.m. Thursday’s high will be near 86 with widespread thunderstorms again likely in the afternoon and evening hours.