‘Extreme caution’ advised in Carolinas as gusts toss debris at roads and people Friday

The weather remains a threat in Charlotte and much of North Carolina, with winds strong enough to toss storm debris into the air and inhibit the ability to walk.

A wind advisory remains in effect for the Charlotte area until 6 p.m., and forecasters are advising people who must be outdoors to use “extreme caution.”

The National Weather Service says a gust of 53 mph was reported early Friday at an airport near Raleigh, and gusts of 47 mph were reported in Greenville.

Drivers are likely to find orange barrels and cones in the roadway and trees could fall, hitting power lines, the National Weather Service advises.

Adding to the troubles, 19,000 customers remained without power early Friday in Mecklenburg County, including areas where traffic signals were not working.

“The very windy conditions may impact residents and responders attempting cleanup and repairs from the damage on Thursday,” the National Weather Service said early Friday.

“Use extreme caution if working outdoors today, especially under trees or power lines. Wet soils from recent heavy rainfall may result in weakened root systems, causing more trees to fall from lower than usual wind speeds,” a release said.

Gusts 15 to 25 miles will be common and could reached 45 mph around the Charlotte area, the NWS said early Friday.

Pedestrians in uptown Charlotte will see the worst of it, as those winds are funneled down allies and between buildings.

“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” the National Weather Service said in a report.

“Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle.”

This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 4:58 AM with the headline "‘Extreme caution’ advised in Carolinas as gusts toss debris at roads and people Friday."