Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 28, 2026Rabun County, Georgia; Macon County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Jul 28, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT for Rabun County, Georgia; Macon County, North Carolina. It was in force for 23 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT (00:00 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 2026, 8:23 PM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Rabun County, GA, Macon County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:03 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 28, 6:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr
Jul 28, 1:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 212 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2026-07-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1932 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2026-07-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 46 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1932 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1381 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
108 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

875 
WFUS52 KGSP 290000
TORGSP
GAC241-NCC113-290045-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0011.260729T0000Z-260729T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
800 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Rabun County in northeastern Georgia...
  South central Macon County in western North Carolina...

* Until 845 PM EDT.

* At 800 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 4 miles southwest of Franklin, moving southeast at 30
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Sky Valley around 820 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include Otto,
Pine Mountain, and Scaly Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Please report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National
Weather Service by calling toll free, 1, 800, 2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, or by
posting on our Facebook page, or post it to X using hashtag nwsgsp.
Your message should describe the event and the specific location
where it occurred.

&&

LAT...LON 3519 8338 3493 8313 3493 8316 3492 8316
      3492 8317 3489 8320 3482 8341 3514 8352
TIME...MOT...LOC 0000Z 330DEG 27KT 3514 8344 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

JPT
1 follow-up statement
107 
WWUS52 KGSP 290023
SVSGSP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
823 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

GAC241-NCC113-290032-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-260729T0045Z/
Rabun GA-Macon NC-
823 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN RABUN AND SOUTH CENTRAL MACON
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and 
a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.  

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch also remains in effect until 900 PM EDT 
for western North Carolina. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch also remains 
in effect until 100 AM EDT for northeastern Georgia and Upstate 
South Carolina.


&&

LAT...LON 3519 8338 3493 8313 3493 8316 3492 8316
      3492 8317 3489 8320 3482 8341 3514 8352
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 330DEG 27KT 3500 8334 

$$

JPT

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 28, 1:34 PM EDT, 6 hours 26 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1. Severe weather is expected this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front with the main hazards being damaging winds and large hail, but there will also be an isolated tornado threat. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings. 2. Heat and humidity peak today. A Heat Advisory remains in effect until 8 PM for portions of northeast Georgia and portions of the western South Carolina Upstate. Stay hydrated, limit time outdoors and spend as much time in air conditioning as possible. Never leave people or pets alone in a closed car. Look before you lock! 3. Less humid, drier, and cooler behind the front Wednesday through Friday. Even cooler conditions expected over the weekend into early next week with shower and thunderstorm chances returning.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 1:34 PM EDT, 6 hours 26 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
134 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for western North Carolina
and is in effect through 8 PM this evening.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Severe weather is expected this afternoon and evening ahead of
a cold front with the main hazards being damaging winds and large
hail, but there will also be an isolated tornado threat. Make
sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings.
2. Heat and humidity peak today. A Heat Advisory remains in effect
until 8 PM for portions of northeast Georgia and portions of the
western South Carolina Upstate. Stay hydrated, limit time outdoors
and spend as much time in air conditioning as possible. Never
leave people or pets alone in a closed car. Look before you lock!
3. Less humid, drier, and cooler behind the front Wednesday through
Friday. Even cooler conditions expected over the weekend into
early next week with shower and thunderstorm chances returning.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Key message 1: Severe weather is expected this afternoon and evening
ahead of a cold front with the main hazards being damaging winds and
large hail, but there will also be an isolated tornado threat. Make
sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued and is in effect for western
North Carolina until 8 PM this evening. The watch may need to be
expanded southward later this afternoon or early this evening but
this will depend on how storms evolve over the next several hours.
The Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook continues to highlight a Slight
Risk for much of the GSP CWA with damaging winds and large hail
expected to be the main hazards, although there will also be an
isolated tornado threat, especially across western North Carolina. A
very favorable environment will be in place for late July with 30-40
kts of deep layer shear, 2,000-3,000+ J/kg of SBCAPE, and 2,000-
2,500 J/kg of MLCAPE, so any storms that develop will have the
potential to become severe. Any discrete supercells that develop
initially will have the potential to produce large hail but the hail
threat should gradually lower as cells attempt to converge more into
a line as storms push southward, per the 12Z CAMs. The tornado
threat and damaging wind threat will linger throughout the duration
of the event as both discrete supercells and storms eventually
trying to organize into more of a line will keep these hazards
around. With low-level 0-1 km shear ranging from mostly 10-20 kts
this afternoon and early evening, per 12Z high-res model soundings,
and with ~100-200 J/kg of 0-1 SRH expected, the tornado threat
should remain low and isolated. Storms should clear the GSP CWA by
around 9-10 PM.

Key message 2: Heat and humidity peak today. A Heat Advisory remains
in effect until 8 PM for portions of northeast Georgia and portions
of the western South Carolina Upstate. Stay hydrated, limit time
outdoors and spend as much time in air conditioning as possible.
Never leave people or pets alone in a closed car. Look before you
lock!

Increased SW'ly flow will allow highs to end up around 4-8 degrees
above normal this afternoon. Afternoon temperatures will climb into
the lower to mid 90s east of the mountains and the upper 80s to
lower 90s across the typically warmer mountain valleys. Heat indices
east of the mountains will climb into the upper 90s to lower 100s.
The Heat Advisory remains in effect through 8 PM for Elbert, Hart,
Franklin, and Stephens counties in NE GA and for Greenwood,
Abbeville, Anderson, and Oconee (non-mountains) counties in SC as
these locations will see heat indices range from 105-108 degrees.
Breezy W/SW winds ahead of the cold front will help provide a bit of
relief from the heat and humidity this afternoon and early evening.

Key message 3: Less humid, drier, and cooler behind the front
Wednesday through Friday. Even cooler conditions expected over the
weekend into early next week with shower and thunderstorm chances
returning.

The front will stall across the Deep South/Southeast during the rest
of the workweek as surface high pressure builds into the region from
the north. As a result, dry and cooler conditions will return
Wednesday into Friday night. The front will slowly lift back
northward this weekend into early next week allowing shower and
thunderstorm chances to return. Even cooler temperatures are
expected this weekend into Monday, with highs ending up just below
normal to start August.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Strong to severe TSRA will develop ahead of a
cold front this afternoon and evening. The main hazards are damaging
wind gusts and large hail but there will also be a isolated and low-
end tornado threat. Went with TEMPOs across the NC terminals as
confidence is highest that these areas will see TSRA and associated
restrictions. Maintained PROB30s across the SC terminals as
confidence on TSRA and associated restrictions is lower. VFR
conditions will prevail outside of TSRA this afternoon/evening but
KAVL could see MVFR stratus develop around daybreak. Winds will
generally be SW/W east of the mountains ahead of the front, turning
WNW/NW behind the front overnight. Winds at KAVL will start out
W/WNW ahead of the front, turning NW behind the front early this
evening. Low-end gusts from 18-22 kts can be expected this afternoon
and evening across the terminals, with higher gusts expected within
any TSRA that tracks directly over a terminal. Gusts will gradually
diminish by late this evening east of the mountains but will linger
at KAVL through the 18Z TAF period. Dry conditions return behind the
front late this evening and will linger through Wednesday.

Outlook: Dry and mostly VFR through Friday, with shower and
thunderstorm chances and associated restrictions returning this
weekend into early next week. Low stratus and/or fog will be
possible each morning, mainly in the mtn valleys.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for GAZ018-026-028-
     029.
NC...None.
SC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ010-011-019-
     104.

&&

AR

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 28, 6:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
657 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0633 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ESE Conover           35.71N 81.21W
07/28/2026                   Catawba            NC   Broadcast Media

            Trees down.

&&

PL
Local storm report, Jul 28, 7:00 PM EDT, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
700 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0633 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Conover           35.72N 81.20W
07/28/2026                   Catawba            NC   Broadcast Media

            Trees down.

&&

PL
Local storm report, Jul 28, 7:36 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
736 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0633 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 ESE Marshall          35.77N 82.63W
07/28/2026                   Madison            NC   Trained Spotter

            Trees down.

&&

PL
Local storm report, Jul 28, 7:38 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
738 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0622 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Weaverville        35.68N 82.58W
07/28/2026                   Buncombe           NC   Trained Spotter

            Trees down.

&&

PL
Local storm report, Jul 28, 7:40 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
740 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0655 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WSW Downtown Ashevill 35.56N 82.59W
07/28/2026                   Buncombe           NC   Trained Spotter

            Trees down.

&&

PL
Local storm report, Jul 28, 7:48 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
748 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0621 PM     Funnel Cloud     3 SSE Mars Hill         35.79N 82.54W
07/28/2026                   Madison            NC   Public

            Picture of funnel cloud reported.

&&

PL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 28, 8:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPFranklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun, Stephens54 min
Jul 28, 8:45 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPHabersham, Rabun30 min
Jul 28, 9:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert, Franklin, Hart, Stephens23 min
Jul 28, 9:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPFranklin, Habersham, Stephens40 min
Jul 28, 8:01 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPGraham, Swain3 hr
Jul 28, 8:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCabarrus, Rowan43 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2026Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.