SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 526, PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING, IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES IN PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA CABARRUS CLEVELAND GASTON MECKLENBURG ROWAN UNION NC IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA GRAHAM HAYWOOD HENDERSON JACKSON MACON POLK RUTHERFORD SWAIN TRANSYLVANIA THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALARKA, ALMOND, BREVARD, BRYSON CITY, CANTON, CEDAR MOUNTAIN, CHARLOTTE, COLUMBUS, CONCORD, COVE CREEK, CRUSO, CULLOWHEE, DANA, EAST FLAT ROCK, ETOWAH, FLETCHER, FOREST CITY, FRANKLIN, GASTONIA, HENDERSONVILLE, HIGHLANDS, HUNTERSVILLE, INDIAN TRAIL, KANNAPOLIS, KINGS MOUNTAIN, KYLE, LITTLE RIVER, LUADA, MATTHEWS, MILL SPRING, MONROE, RAINBOW SPRINGS, ROBBINSVILLE, RUTHERFORDTON, SALISBURY, SALUDA, SHELBY, SPINDALE, STECOAH, SYLVA, TRINITY, TRYON, TUCKASEGEE, TUXEDO, WATERVILLE, WAYNESVILLE, WEDDINGTON, AND WESSER.