News

County under tornado watch as storm knocks out power to 4,030 customers

By Bill Moss, Published: April 14, 2019

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 8 o'clock Sunday night and warned of high winds from a strong storm moving through the state. The tornado watch covered 49 counties in the mountains and Piedmont; a tornado warning in southeastern Burke County was in effect until 4 p.m.

Gusty winds were forecast to reach up to 35 mph. The storm had caused 4,030 power outages in Henderson County at 6 p.m., 662 in Transylvania, 405 in Polk  and 398 in Buncombe, Duke Energy reported. Restoration time in Henderson County was projected to be midnight. Henderson County's total outages at their peak represented almost a third of the 10,275 statewide. By 6 a.m. the number of customers without power had dropped to 1,632.

Monday should be sunny and much cooler, with a high near 58 and overnight low of 39. Tuesday was expected to be sunny, with a high near 70 and Wednesday even nicer, with a high of 73, the NWS said.