Updated 12:01 p.m.
The National Weather Service said hazardous weather could be on the way to the area Saturday. A tornado watch was in effect from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Gaston, Cabarrus and other western North Carolina counties. The bad weather also is bringing event cancellations.

The forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 p.m., with wind and rain possibly heavy at times. Winds will be 17 to 22 miles per hour, with gusts up to 34 mph and we could get 3/4 to 1 inch of rain. The high temperature today will be around 71 degrees. Skies should clear by tonight, when it will be windy and 43 degrees.

In a hazardous weather outlook issued at 4:30 a.m. (and updated at 8:25 a.m.), the weather service said:

Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms will move east across the area today. Damaging straight line winds and isolated tornadoes will be possible … mainly across the Piedmont. Rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches are expected across the mountains and adjacent foothills by the time the rain ends later today. Some urban and small stream flooding can be expected.

Meanwhile, at 6 a.m., the weather service issued a tornado watch through 1 p.m. for Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Henderson, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Union counties. A lake wind advisory is in effect until 8 p.m., for the foothills and Piedmont. It said winds could cause rough waters and bank boating hazardous.

See the latest National Weather Service forecats on Weather.gov.

WEATHER AFFECTS EVENTS

The bad weather threatens outdoor events today and has already brought some cancellations.

Davidson Farmer’s Market called off its sales today.

The Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games said it would be held rain or shine, though the schedule could be shifted depending on the weather. It was posting updates on its website this morning. “We are optimistic that the storm will be passed by early morning and we will see little effect on the weekends events,” the website said Friday night. Early Saturday, Neck Road leading to Rural Hill was closed for a time because of a downed tree. That has now been cleared.

The Artisan Market and Bazaar that was scheduled Saturday at The Palace, 8325 Copley Drive, Cornelius, has been postponed until Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Charity Ride & Poker Run benefit motorcycle ride scheduled Saturday to raise money for the Cornelius Veterans Monument has been rescheduled to May 7. See our news item here.

Cornelius Parks Arts Recreation & Culture has canceled Saturday afternoon’s Hop into Spring egg hunt and festival at Bailey Road Park. The department cited the threat of bad weather and poor field conditions at the park.

The Charlotte Clean and Green Festival at CPCC has been moved to Sunday.

HAVE A CANCELLATION NOTICE?

Send it to editor@davidsonnews.net

Comments Disabled To "Tornado watch issued for area through 1 p.m. Saturday"

#1 Comment By David Boraks On April 16, 2011 @ 10:35 pm