Mountain Island Lake’s floodwaters are rising quickly as Duke Energy moves water

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – A flash flood warning was issued around Mountain Island Lake Friday afternoon as Duke Energy prepared to move significant amounts of water through the area.

Residents near Mountain Island Lake were ordered to evacuate early Friday, September 27, as the lake was expected to overflow and flood the area. A voluntary evacuation order was initially issued on Thursday evening.

Residents of Riverside Drive, Lake Drive, Riverhaven Drive and portions of Beagle Club Road and Hart Road were asked to leave the area. A voluntary evacuation order was issued for the Nivens Cove neighborhood adjacent to the lake Friday afternoon.

During what was then known as Hurricane Helene, the region experienced significant rainfall overnight from Thursday to Friday morning – although several inches of rain fell before the storm even passed through. Mountain Island Lake, a lake controlled by Duke Energy, was expected to reach or exceed at least 110 feet on Friday, which would mark the highest level ever recorded at the lake.

Early Friday morning, the lake level was about 103 feet.

Duke Energy was preparing to “transport large volumes of stormwater through the Catawba River system from Lake Norman to Lake Wylie through Mountain Island Lake,” the Charlotte Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office reported Friday at 2:30 p.m.

“Floodwater will rise RAPIDLY and conditions will change quickly,” officials said.

Nearby residents have been asked to prepare for immediate evacuation due to expected flooding. Officials said a shelter for residents is open at the Tuckaseegee Recreation Center (4820 Tuckaseegee Road) in Charlotte.

The lake level can be monitored Hereor via the Duke Energy Lake View mobile app.

Related: 1 dead, 1 seriously injured after a tree crushes Charlotte’s house while Helene flies through

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