Severe storms that moved through Charlotte on Friday afternoon produced hail, heavy rain and winds approaching 60 mph, leaving about 21,000 Duke Energy customers without power and prompting damage assessments and repair efforts across the region.
Outages, travel disruption and downed trees
Early reports on the Duke Energy outage map showed roughly 17,000 customers in Charlotte without electricity, along with about 3,000 in Gaston County and 1,000 in Fort Mill. By 6:15 p.m., the company reported roughly 20,000 customers still without power — including 13,000 in Charlotte and 4,000 in Gaston County. Within Charlotte, notable concentrations included about 2,000 customers in South End and another 2,000 in the Park Road–Kenilworth Avenue areas.
- Initial estimates: 21,000 customers without power across the region.
- Later update: approximately 20,000 customers remained without service at 6:15 p.m.
- Airport impact: at least 480 flights delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and a federal ground stop was issued.
Traffic signals failed at multiple intersections — including North Graham Street and University City Boulevard — and crews reported downed power lines near West Boulevard and Remount Road. A tree fell onto a pickup truck in a driveway on Phillips Avenue in South Charlotte. In Davidson, town officials closed North and South Main streets between Chairman Blake Lane and Griffith Street after power lines and large trees fell near Concord Road.
Local emergency response and damage
Fire departments and municipal crews responded to numerous storm calls. Huntersville firefighters said they answered many incidents involving fallen trees, and posted photos of a tree that struck a home in the Wynfield community.
“Fortunately no injuries, but significant damage to the home.”
Town officials in Davidson warned residents that all lanes of travel in the affected area were closed because of dangerous conditions and said there was no estimated time for utility repairs when they posted the notice. Huntersville and other local departments continued clearing debris and coordinating with utilities.
| Time | Customers without power (regional) | Charlotte customers |
|---|---|---|
| Around 4 p.m. | 21,000 | 17,000 |
| 6:15 p.m. | 20,000 | 13,000 |
The storms also affected air travel; FlightAware tracking showed at least 480 incoming and outgoing flights delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport around 5:40 p.m., and federal aviation officials had issued a ground stop as the weather moved through the region.
What this means for Charlotte and the region
Storm-related outages and blocked roads complicate commutes, emergency response and utility restoration work. Large numbers of customers without power can also affect traffic signal operation, increasing collision risk at intersections. Municipalities and Duke Energy crews must prioritize hazardous downed lines and trees that endanger neighborhoods, arterial roads and critical infrastructure like the airport.
Officials continued assessing damage and working to restore service Friday evening. Residents in affected neighborhoods were advised to avoid downed lines, report outages to Duke Energy and follow local emergency department guidance while crews make repairs.
