Greenville, South Carolina – Residents across the western Carolinas could wake up to severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds and a few tornadoes early Monday, with storms arriving during the morning commute in several metro areas.
According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, a strong line of thunderstorms will move across the region late Sunday night into Monday morning, placing much of Upstate South Carolina and parts of western North Carolina under a Level 3 of 5 “Enhanced Risk” for severe weather.
Storms are expected to begin impacting mountain communities between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday, including areas near Asheville and the North Carolina High Country. The line will then push east into the Upstate and Piedmont between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., affecting cities such as Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Anderson, and Charlotte.
The main hazards include damaging straight-line winds strong enough to snap trees and down power lines, along with isolated tornadoes, particularly east of the mountains along and east of the I-77 corridor and south of I-85.
Emergency officials urge residents to have multiple ways to receive warnings overnight, especially since storms could arrive before sunrise. People living in mobile homes should identify a sturdier shelter ahead of time, as these structures are especially vulnerable in strong winds.
The storm line should move east of the region by late Monday morning, but additional weather updates or warnings may be issued as the system develops overnight.
