Flash flood warnings remain in effect tonight for parts of Cabarrus, Catawba and Iredell counties, while the National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm watches for other parts of the Charlotte region.In the meantime, a severe thunderstorm warning is set to expire for Gaston and eastern Lincoln counties at 9:45 p.m. The other severe weather bulletins include:Flash flood warning for eastern and central parts of Catawba County, and the western-central part of Iredell County until 10 p.m.Flash flood warning for Cabarrus County until 11 p.m.Thunderstorm watches for several counties, including Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell and Rowan until 10 p.m.A line of severe storms has moved across the Charlotte region since late this afternoon, and the National Weather Service said the systems are capable of producing penny-size hail and winds in excess of 60 miles per hour.The storms have also dumped large amounts of rain in some areas. As of 6:55 p.m., as much as four inches of rain had fallen near the Catawba-Iredell county line, the weather service reported.In Cabarrus County, the weather service said radar showed very heavy rainfall along the Interstate 85 corridor with a “nearly stationary thunderstorm” reaching from Lowes Motor Speedway north into Concord. The weather service said torrential rain will continue to fall through the evening.The Catawba sheriff’s office said it has received lots of calls tonight about the weather. Iredell authorities said some trees had fallen because of the storm, and crews were working to clear the damage.Rain is expected to continue throughout the evening, and could produce flash flooding along smaller creeks and streams.
