A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for much of the Charlotte metro region until 10 p.m., as heavy thunderstorms form this afternoon across parts of the Carolinas.
The storms are being triggered by hot and humid air across the area, and by an advancing cold front that will end the heat wave.
In the Charlotte area, the severe thunderstorm watch includes Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Anson, Stanly, Richmond, and Gaston counties in North Carolina; and York, Chester, Cherokee, Lancaster and Chesterfield in South Carolina.
Forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., say damaging winds of 70 mph, large hail, dangerous lightning and heavy rain could accompany the storms this afternoon and evening.
The watch does not include the area north of Charlotte.
A cluster of storms that formed about 3 p.m. caused severe weather in southern Anson and Lancaster counties. Spotters reported large hail -- at least quarter-sized -- in a thunderstorm about 11 miles south of Wadesboro. And police report a few trees were blown down in the town of Kershaw, S.C., in Lancaster County.
Temperatures again have climbed into the 90s this afternoon. The heat, along with high humidity, are creating uncomfortable heat index readings across the region. Forecasters say the heavy thunderstorms will come to an end later tonight, when the cold front moves south and east of the Charlotte area.
Then conditions will turn much more tolerable. For example, morning temperatures Saturday and Sunday will be in the lower 60s, and 90-degree temperatures aren't forecast again for at least a week.
The heat wave, which has included 12 consecutive days of 90 degrees or higher, appeared to reach a peak Wednesday. The high temperature at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was 99 degrees, equaling the hottest reading so far this year.
But it reached 100 degrees in at least three area cities. Monroe had the hottest temperature, 102 degrees. It reached 101 in Gastonia and 100 in Rock Hill. Concord, at 99, was not far behind.
Highs on Friday are expected to be in the upper 80s, and more of the same is predicted into the middle of next week.
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