Storms weaken as they move northeast

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and NewsChannel 36
WCNC News
Posted: Thursday, Apr. 08, 2010

Tornadoes may have touched down in Lincoln and Catawba Counties, meteorologists say, though the storm system that caused them is weakening as it moves northeast this evening.

Jeffrey Taylor, with the National Weather Service said the bulk of the line of storms is pushing through the greater Charlotte area now, but is weaker than an hour or two ago.

Meteorologists could see rotation indicative of tornadoes on radar, but haven't received confirmation reports from the ground.

"A lot of these tornadoes that form in this environment, they form quickly and are maybe be on the ground five or 10 minutes. They're quick and often in rural areas, so they're hard to confirm."

The fire chief of Lawndale said his department was responding to reports of a tree that fell on a mobile home.

Emergency responders said there were reports of trees down there and in the town of Lattimore, which is also in western Cleveland County.

Earlier tornado warnings had been issued for a wide swath -- Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston and Lincoln Counties. Most of those have been downgraded, but forecasters believe parts of those counties will still get severe weather.

Showers and storms will be coming to an end around midnight and much cooler air will begin to rush in. Overnight low temperatures will drop down into the upper 40s by Friday morning.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/08/1364972/tornado-watch-in-effect.html#ixzz0kZTYZllL