Lake Norman

Heat returns with high temperatures reaching 95°F and high humidity, alongside isolated afternoon showers and potential storms in the High Country and areas from Cleveland County to Lake Norman. Storms are expected to weaken by 8 p.m. as clouds move east, with similar weather patterns continuing through the weekend before returning to normal summer temperatures next week.

Shea Homes, a California-based homebuilder, is launching its first project in Cornelius, North Carolina, with a 65-unit townhome development called 35eighty Townes. The company acquired a 17.6-acre site for $13 million to develop the project near West Catawba Avenue and Magnolia Estates Drive.

Harmful algae blooms in lakes like Lake Wylie and Norman pose risks to swimmers and pets due to drought, extreme heat, and stagnant water. The Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group is addressing lyngbya bacterial algae, which grows in shallow areas. Experts warn to avoid unknown water growths and report blooms to environmental authorities.

Lake Norman patrol officers are urging boaters to remain vigilant during the Fourth of July weekend due to drought conditions. Despite Jet Skis sitting higher in lower water levels, risks such as rocks and seaweed still pose threats to boaters.

Discussions are underway to potentially expand I-77 toll lanes in Lake Norman, including widening the northern section and allowing large commercial vehicles to use the express lanes. A Memorandum of Understanding between NCDOT and I-77 Mobility Partners outlines initial steps, but no formal proposal or guarantees exist. Support and opposition exist, with concerns about safety, toll rates, and community impact.

Boss Hog BBQ, a beloved barbeque restaurant in Sherrills Ford, N.C., will close on Saturday, July 4. The restaurant highlighted its community connections and events in a Facebook post, while confirming its food truck, 'The Boss’s Backyard Wagon,' will remain operational.

Boss Hog, a 30+ year-old BBQ restaurant near Lake Norman, is closing. It was known for its menu featuring pulled pork and homemade tomato-based sauce.

Twenty-two arrests were made and six firearms seized during a two-day public safety operation on Lake Norman led by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The operation, part of a large-scale effort during a high-attendance boating event, involved multiple agencies and resulted in numerous traffic stops, citations, and drug and weapons charges.

A woman was airlifted after a car crashed into a house in Rowan County. Twenty-two people were arrested and guns seized during a Lake Norman boating event, and a woman was stabbed with scissors outside a Charlotte strip mall. A heatwave with feels-like temperatures above 100 degrees is expected by the weekend.

Twenty-two people were arrested and multiple guns were seized during a high-attendance boating event on Lake Norman in Lincoln County, N.C., as part of a multi-agency safety operation. The event, which drew hundreds of vessels and thousands of visitors, resulted in 54 traffic stops, 15 arrests, and numerous citations by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

A law enforcement operation during a weekend boating event at Lake Norman resulted in 22 arrests. More than a dozen agencies collaborated on the two-day effort.

The Catawba Riverkeeper launched a floating classroom to educate students about river systems and environmental protection. The program, developed over years, includes hands-on water testing and lessons aligned with North Carolina educational standards. School administrators have tested sample tours, and field trips are set to begin in the fall.

Four of the six boat ramps at Blythe Landing in Lake Norman are closed due to low water levels. Despite the closures, boaters continue to use the lake. A boater, Tristan Pierce, noted the high temperatures exceeding 90 degrees.