Tropical Storm Zeta Knocks Out Power For 45,000 In Mecklenburg

CHARLOTTE, NC — Nearly nine percent of Mecklenburg County residents were without electricity midday Thursday as winds from Tropical Storm Zeta hit the Charlotte metro region, bringing down trees and power lines. The PowerOutage.US website, which tracks problems nationwide, said Duke Energy alone had more than 39,000 customers offline at noon.

A tropical storm warning was issued for the greater Charlotte metro region before dawn Thursday morning as Zeta began its assault on western North Carolina. Heavy winds and 1 to 3 inches of rain are expected throughout the region, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 12:11 p.m., Energy United reported 2,200 outages, and Union Power Cooperative reported 3,901, according to the site. Statewide, more than 430,000 residents were without power as more than 30 electric utilities in the state reported outages Thursday morning.

SEE ALSO: Tropical Storm Warning In NC As Zeta Remnants Advance

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the greater Charlotte metro as of 12:15 p.m.

Midday Thursday, the storm was about 100 miles northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, quickly moving northeast and clocking sustained winds of about 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. "An even faster northeastward motion is expected later today, followed by a rapid east-northeastward motion tonight and Friday," NHC said in an advisory. "On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will move across the Mid-Atlantic states this afternoon, and emerge over the western Atlantic by tonight."

Deb Belt, Patch Editor, contributed