Updated: 10:11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2009 | Posted: 10:58 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
Huge tree limbs could be seen laying across a parking lot in south Charlotte, where just hours before the area looked more like a river, and people had to be rescued from their homes by boats.
Meteorologist John Ahrens said today could bring more severe weather to Charlotte and surrounding areas.
After the fog begins to fade, a hint of sunshine will fire up the storm engine once again.
Strong to severe storms are a distinct possibility with damaging winds by the late afternoon.
Eyewitness News will keep watching those creeks that, if they haven't already, may overflow their banks.
Ahrens said you can expect to see scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, and a few may be severe.
Flood conditions caused major problems for some Charlotte residents Tuesday.
IMAGES: Rain Storms Cause Flooding in SE Charlotte, Viewer and Chopper Pics RELATED VIDEO: Heavy Rain Triggers Floods Across Charlotte
Firefighters rescued at least 50 people stranded by flash floods triggered by heavy rains which fell across Charlotte on Tuesday evening. No one was hurt, firefighters said.
Bo Thompson and his two small children were rescued from their home near Randolph Road in south Charlotte. Neighbors said they could not believe how quickly the water rose.
Eyewitness News crews found one car almost completely underwater on Chilton Place in Myers Park.
One long-time resident, Boyd Falls, even took it upon himself to set up trash cans as barricades to prevent other drivers from getting in over their heads. He said, "Well, it just what happens here when it floods. [The water] gets one or two [vehicles] every time." A city worker came by with real barricades later Tuesday night.
A short drive south, near Park Road Shopping Center, Kristin Dodd-Tarleton said, "It is scary when it gets that high because it gets very high, very fast. And we noticed within about five minutes, it had gone over the bridge and flooded the road so it doesn't take very long for that to happen."
She lost power and water got into her garage. Water almost got into some of her neighbors' homes.
One of them, Tracy Strickland, said, "It was pretty much a pool in our backyard and our front yard. It almost covered the fire hydrant."