UPDATE, 5:10 p.m.: Rowan is under a flood warning until 11 p.m.

UPDATE, 4:50 p.m.: County roads closed or narrowed:

• Bear Poplar Road closed in both directions to to high water.

• Graham Road, both directions, closed due to high water at bridge.

• Upright Road, both directions at bridge, due to high water.

• Old Beatty Ford Road impassable in both directions at Dutch Buffalo Creek

• Sisk carter Road, both directions due to trees and power lines down.

• U.S. 52, road narrowed by high water.

• Richfield Road flooded at Flat Creek.

• Mocksville Avenue, both directions due to high water.

• Hollywood Drive in Spencer, closed in both directions due to high water.

UPDATE, 4:31 p.m.: City of Salisbury updates road closings:

• 2100 North Park Drive (CLOSED near ball field)

• S. McCoy Road and E. Colonial Drive (open)

• Old Wilkesboro Road at Industrial Avenue (open)

• Old Mocksville Road (Prescott Drive and Dogwood Road) – CLOSED

• N. Main Street and E. Henderson Street (open)

• W. Park Road and Catawba Road (open)

• Statesville Blvd. and Meadowbrook (open)

• Mocksville Ave. and Mahaley Ave. (open)

• Rowan Circle and Terrace Drive Intersection – CLOSED

• 700 Block of N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue – CLOSED

• Sherwood Street and D. Avenue (open)

• 14th Street and Richard Street – CLOSED

•  Park Road near Knox Middle School (open)

• S. Railroad and E. Military Avenue (open)

• 700 block of Pinehurst Street (open)

• Prescott Drive and Knollwood Avenue (open)

• Town and Country trailer park on Mooresville Road (open)

• Town Creek trailer park on Bringle Ferry Road (open)

• W. 17th Street (open)

UPDATE, 2:47 p.m.: The tornado watch for Rowan County has been lifted.

UPDATE, 1:25 p.m.: Rowan is now under a flood advisory through 3:15 p.m, with widespread reports of street flooding, flooded creeks and standing water.

Areas of Rowan County have had almost 3 inches of rain.

Heavy rainfall will cause ponding of water in urban areas, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage areas and low lying spots. Rapid rises on small creeks and streams will also occur, possibly flooding low water crossings and farmland.

Do not attempt to travel across flooded roads. Remember: turn around, down’t drown.

The city of Salisbury has closed several roads:

• Old Mocksville Road and Caldwell Road

• N. Main Street and E. Henderson Street

• W. Park Road and Catawba Road

• Statesville Blvd. and Meadowbrook

• Mocksville Ave. and Mahaley Ave.

•  Pinehurst Street

•  Rowan Circle

• 700 Block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue

• Sherwood Street and D. Avenue

• 14th Street and Richard Street

• Park Road near Overton and Knox

• Military Avenue

Update, 11:45 a.m.: Tornado warning has been extended to 12:15 p.m.

Update: 10:50 a.m.: Tornado warning for most of Rowan County, including downtown Salisbury, through 11:30 a.m.

Severe thunderstorm warning for Rowan through 11:30 a.m.; winds could gust to 60 mph.

Salisbury City buses not running.

Original story: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch effective until 5 p.m. today. A watch means conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes.

A warning has been issued for western Iredell County. Strong to severe storms will approach Mount Ulla, Woodleaf and the area around 11 a.m.

The watch includes Cabarrus, Davie, Davidson, Iredell and Stanly counties, as well as the Charlotte are and the Triad.

Tornado warnings have been issued in southeastern Catawba County and  Lincoln County.

Rowan remains under a flood watch until midnight Friday, with a possibility the watch could become a warning. Heavy rainfall is impacting the morning commute, with even more intense rain and storms expected this afternoon.

Rain could fall at the rate of 1 inch per hour. Streams, creeks and rivers could flood. Flooded roads are also a possibility. Rowan will likely have 2-4 inches of rain.

In addition to the heavy rain, thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening, and could be strong to severe, with frequent lightning, damaging wind gusts and the possibility of tornadoes, along the southeast of I-85.

Patchy fog is also likely between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. The high will be 68, with south wind at 11-16 mph, gusting to 33 mph.

Tonight, thunderstorms should taper off by 11 p.m., followed by showers. The low will be 47, with south southwest wind at 8-14 mph, gusting to 23 mph. Another half to three-quarters inch of rain is possible.

Friday will start with a 30 percent chance of showers, then become partly sunny, with a cooler high of 52. The temperature will drop to 46 by 5 p.m. West wind will be at 16-18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Friday night will be clear and cold, with more wind. Winds will be west at 5-10 mph, with gusts around 18 mph. The low will be 29.

Saturday will be partly sunny and chilly, with a high of 47. A 40 percent chance of rain is possible after 3 p.m. Winds will be south southwest around 5-7 mph.

A few snow flakes are possible Saturday night, especially after 1 p.m., but it should be gone by morning. It will be partly cloudy and 32, with a 30 percent chance of precipitation.

Sunday will be sunny and 55. The low will be 38, with mostly cloudy skies.

Monday will be mostly cloudy, with a high of 62. A 40 percent chance of rain moves in after 1 p.m. The chance of rain Monday night will be 60 percent, mostly after 10 p.m. It will be cloudy and 50.

Tuesday will also have a 60 percent chance of rain. It will be cloudy and 65. The chance of rain decreases to 40 percent Tuesday night, with a low of 43.

Wednesday will be partly sunny and 60, with a 40 percent chance of rain.