Big Storm Forecasted for our area.

We've been watching the big storm heading toward us and for a while it looked like it would miss us, but as of 4:30pm it looks like Charlotte will get some rough weather.  There isn't a lot we can do about it and have put some papers and stuff in a bag in case we have to get out of here.

It seems like the storms are getting bigger and bigger each year and causing a lot more damage.  Charlotte has been on a flood watch the past week or so at various times.  Fortunately, we are high and dry.   There is a chance of 1" hail during this latest storm and that would make it three years in a row that we've run into hail.  

Stay tuned for a later report on this lousy weather event.  We are the circle with lines through it just east of Charlotte.

Time to think to bring in the slides and batton down the hatches.

As the sky darkened, shelter at Barbara's house came to mind and we packed a few important things, brought in the slides and started to head there.  We made it about a block when the storm was right on us.  Lightning bolts were a flying in the air, the wind really picked up and shoved the car around.  That is when I decided to get off the road, seek some shelter and parked next to a building to get out of the wind and have some shelter from the rain.

We parked across from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and tried to get a picture of it during the storm.  It was raining so hard that the speedway disappeared even though we were about a half block away from it.  

Taken with windshield wipers going full blast.

Signs were flying down the road.

While waiting it out, we called Barbara and warned her it was heading her way.  She said it was sunny and then said, oh boy here it comes.  She had heavy rain and some hail and then lost the power at her house.  So much for going over there for dinner.  She made it through the storm in fine shape except for the power problem.  Henry had been out of town and had to drive through the rain to get back home.  He made it, but even after the rain stopped, didn't agree to do some grilling and opted for a tuna sandwich.

Although we did have power, since we were out, we stopped by a local restaurant and were seated quickly.  The previous customers were just finishing up and we thought that was great.  By the time we finished our meals there must have been 50 or more people waiting to be seated.  It seems all those people lost power and were coming in for dinner.  I almost had to fight my way out of the restaurant.

There were a lot of trees down along the road back and one had blocked a lane in a side road.  I'm glad we weren't driving by when that one came down.

This large tree fell across a busy highway and the road crew had cleared a path through and went on to other fallen trees.  If you look closely, you can see the power lines that were downed by the branches as the tree fell.

 All in all we lucked out on this one.  Areas north of us were hit with microbursts and there was a lot of damage due to trees falling on houses.  I think part of the reason for so many trees falling was a combination of very wet ground and the high winds.  I haven't heard of any deaths associated with the storm and hope it stays that way.

We did not get any hail and for that I am thankful.  That was our day, how was yours?