Alert archive / New Hampshire / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Gray, ME

June 26, 2026Merrimack County, Rockingham County, Strafford County, New Hampshire

NWS Gray, ME issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 26, 2026, 4:44 PM EDT for Merrimack County, Rockingham County, Strafford County, New Hampshire. It was in force for 61 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 26, 2026, 4:44 PM EDT (20:44 UTC)
Expired
Jun 26, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Gray, ME
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Merrimack County, NH, Rockingham County, NH, Strafford County, NH

The radar

The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:43 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 26, 4:44 PM EDTHAIL 1Pembroke, NHFacebook photo of hail in garden from a Pembroke resident. Time estimated by radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 0 minutes after it went out.

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
Jun 26, 2:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Gray, ME (KGYX), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 126 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, Gray, ME at 12:00Z on 2026-06-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Gray, ME at 12:00Z on 2026-06-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 132 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
921 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
132 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

743 
WUUS51 KGYX 262044
SVRGYX
NHC013-015-017-262145-
/O.NEW.KGYX.SV.W.0021.260626T2044Z-260626T2145Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Gray ME
444 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

The National Weather Service in Gray Maine has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Rockingham County in southern New Hampshire...
  Southern Strafford County in central New Hampshire...
  Southeastern Merrimack County in central New Hampshire...

* Until 545 PM EDT.

* At 443 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hooksett, or
  8 miles southwest of Northwood, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Manchester, Concord, Derry, Durham, Exeter, Northwood, Dover,
  Hooksett, Barrington, Epping, Epsom, Brentwood, Raymond, Newmarket,
  Hampstead, Bow, Kingston, Auburn, Chester, and Danville.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 293 near mile marker 11.
 Interstate 93 between mile markers 24 and 35.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4299 7139 4301 7140 4302 7145 4304 7146
      4304 7148 4305 7149 4305 7151 4307 7152
      4307 7154 4311 7162 4332 7130 4328 7124
      4330 7122 4321 7087 4298 7095 4288 7119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 285DEG 17KT 4312 7134 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

DS
4 follow-up statements
710 
WWUS51 KGYX 262104
SVSGYX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
504 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

NHC013-015-017-262145-
/O.CON.KGYX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260626T2145Z/
Rockingham NH-Strafford NH-Merrimack NH-
504 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN ROCKINGHAM...SOUTHERN STRAFFORD AND SOUTHEASTERN
MERRIMACK COUNTIES...

At 503 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Raymond, or 11
miles south of Northwood, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Manchester, Derry, Durham, Exeter, Northwood, Dover, Hooksett,
Barrington, Epping, Epsom, Brentwood, Raymond, Newmarket, Hampstead,
Kingston, Auburn, Chester, Danville, Lee, and Allenstown.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 293 near mile marker 11.
 Interstate 93 between mile markers 24 and 28.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4305 7150 4311 7146 4326 7126 4330 7122
      4321 7087 4298 7095 4288 7119 4299 7139
      4301 7140 4302 7145 4304 7146 4304 7148
      4305 7149
TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 288DEG 23KT 4305 7119 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

DS
639 
WWUS51 KGYX 262118
SVSGYX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
518 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

NHC013-262128-
/O.CAN.KGYX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260626T2145Z/
Merrimack NH-
518 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MERRIMACK COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
southern and central New Hampshire.

&&

LAT...LON 4299 7139 4305 7138 4311 7135 4312 7114
      4314 7089 4298 7095 4288 7119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 290DEG 18KT 4304 7115 

$$

NHC015-017-262145-
/O.CON.KGYX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260626T2145Z/
Rockingham NH-Strafford NH-
518 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL ROCKINGHAM AND SOUTH CENTRAL STRAFFORD COUNTIES...

At 518 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Raymond, or 10
miles west of Exeter, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Derry, Durham, Exeter, Epping, Brentwood, Raymond, Newmarket,
Stratham, Hampstead, Kingston, Auburn, Chester, Danville, Lee,
Fremont, Deerfield, Candia, Newfields, Sandown, and Nottingham.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4299 7139 4305 7138 4311 7135 4312 7114
      4314 7089 4298 7095 4288 7119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 290DEG 18KT 4304 7115 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

DS
710 
WWUS51 KGYX 262130
SVSGYX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
530 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

NHC017-262140-
/O.CAN.KGYX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260626T2145Z/
Strafford NH-
530 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL STRAFFORD COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
southern New Hampshire.

&&

LAT...LON 4308 7107 4307 7092 4298 7095 4291 7113
      4292 7119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 310DEG 42KT 4297 7102 

$$

NHC015-262145-
/O.CON.KGYX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260626T2145Z/
Rockingham NH-
530 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL ROCKINGHAM COUNTY...

At 530 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brentwood, or
near Exeter, moving southeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Exeter, Epping, Brentwood, Newmarket, Kingston, Danville, Fremont,
Newfields, and Sandown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4308 7107 4307 7092 4298 7095 4291 7113
      4292 7119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 310DEG 42KT 4297 7102 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

DS
145 
WWUS51 KGYX 262139
SVSGYX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
539 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

NHC015-262148-
/O.EXP.KGYX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260626T2145Z/
Rockingham NH-
539 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL ROCKINGHAM COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 545 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
southern New Hampshire.

&&

LAT...LON 4308 7107 4307 7092 4298 7095 4291 7113
      4292 7119
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 285DEG 17KT 4296 7097 

$$

DS

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 26, 2:51 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1. Chances for showers and thunderstorms increase this afternoon. Some storms could be strong to severe with damaging winds and hail as the primary hazards. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Central and Southern New Hampshire and far southwest Maine. Fog could then be dense in some areas tonight. 2. A trough exits New England Sunday through Monday. 3. A substantial warming trend follows through the remainder of the week next week as a ridge builds across the eastern half of the US. The potential for hazardous heat is increasing for mid to late week next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 26, 2:51 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
251 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect through 9pm this
evening for most of New Hampshire and York County, Maine. Heat
looks increasingly likely for midweek next week.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Chances for showers and thunderstorms increase this
afternoon. Some storms could be strong to severe with damaging
winds and hail as the primary hazards. A Severe Thunderstorm
Watch has been issued for Central and Southern New Hampshire and
far southwest Maine. Fog could then be dense in some areas
tonight.

2. A trough exits New England Sunday through Monday.

3. A substantial warming trend follows through the remainder of
the week next week as a ridge builds across the eastern half of
the US. The potential for hazardous heat is increasing for mid
to late week next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...

Earlier rains have shifted off to the east as broad low pressure
approaches from the west this afternoon. Increasing lift and
instability will allow additional showers and thunderstorms to form
this afternoon, and this is already underway just upstream
across upstate NY and approaching VT.

Diving in a little deeper, latest SPC Mesoanalysis depicts
roughly 1000 J/kg of SBCAPE and 40-50 kt of effect shear across
much of NH and portions of far western ME, that will be
sufficient to support some of these storms becoming strong to
severe as the develop or move into the area. Damaging winds and
hail 1" or larger in diameter will be the primary hazards, but a
brief tornado or two can't be completely ruled out. A Marginal
Risk (Level 1/5) from the SPC continues for all of NH and into
portions of western ME, but within this Marginal Risk area, the
higher risk appears to be roughly along the CT River Valley
extending into central and southern NH and far southwestern ME
where the better overlap in shear/instability is forecast to be
SPC recently upgraded this higher risk area to a Slight Risk
level 2/5, which is also where a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has
been issued until 9PM this evening.

Another potential hazard is the risk for flash flooding within
slow-moving persistent showers/storms or where multiple rounds
occur. One area to watch in particular is in and around the NH
Lakes Region, where 1-2" of rain already fell overnight and this
morning around Lake Winnipesaukee.

Showers and storms will lessen in coverage and intensity toward
sunset, but the HRRR suggests a couple of showers or storms may for
an hour or two after. Other than a few upslope showers in the
mountains overnight, the rest of the area is expected to remain dry.
With light winds and saturated grounds from today's rain, most of
the area has fog in the forecast. Fog could be dense in some areas
with the higher probabilities of this occurring in western ME.

Drier conditions are forecast for Saturday with light winds and
seasonable temperatures in the 70s to lower 80s. Aloft, weak
troughing will still be overhead, so as daytime instability builds
scattered showers and isolated storms will develop from late morning
and through the afternoon hours before waning toward sunset. A
couple of storms could produce small hail. There are also
indications of slower-moving storms and heavy downpours, so the next
shift may to take another look at potential hydro issues.

Light winds Saturday night will again promote patchy fog, especially
in valley and areas that receive rain during the day. Overnight
temps will be in the 50s.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...

The influence of the lingering trough will still be felt on
Sunday with increased chances for pop up showers and storms
during the afternoon hours. The best chance for these will be
across the higher terrain and central Maine, with generally
lower chances toward western New Hampshire. Temperatures also
begin to rebound with relatively more sunshine on Sunday.
Central and southern New Hampshire likely warm into the low to
mid 80s, with mainly 70s expected elsewhere.

By Monday, chances for showers drop off significantly as the
trough exists to the east, and the warm up begins. Highs are
expected to warm into the 80s across most of the region, with a
sea breeze knocking back temps along the coast by the afternoon
hours.

KEY MESSAGE 3 DESCRIPTION...

The main warm up then gets underway by Tuesday as a highly
amplified ridge builds across the Midwest and Great Lakes. New
England looks to be positioned on the eastern portion of this
ridge, but the trend since yesterday has been for the ridge to
set up a little further east. This progression has been
supported by the full suite of the Euro, Euro Ensembles, and
AIFS models. The GFS has been a cool outlier, but looks to be
following the way of the Euro on it's latest run. We'll continue
to monitor for any changes in trends over the next few runs.

This pattern supports at least a couple days of widespread
highs in the 90s, and potentially more days should the ridge
remain amplified enough to ward any backdoor fronts or
retrograding trough from the Canadian Maritimes. Tuesday looks
like the potential first day of 90s reaching into southern New
Hampshire. Wednesday and Thursday then bring the potential for
the most widespread heat with highs into the 90s across much of
the area. This heat also brings with it some deep moisture
originating from the Gulf of Mexico, and transiting through the
Midwest and Great Lakes. This brings dew points into the upper
60s and 70s, combining with highs in the 90s to bring heat
indices potentially into the triple digits.

This pattern progression is a reversal from the trends seen
yesterday, but appears substantial and consistent enough across
most of the model suites to be believed. This weekend would be
a good time to get any air conditioners and fans set up before
the most substantial heat and humidity of the year arrives.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Through Saturday...RKD may stay LIFR to IFR this afternoon with
MVFR to VFR cigs elsewhere. Showers and storms could also
produce MVFR to IFR restrictions along with gusty winds,
especially for the southern NH terminals and maybe PWM. For
tonight, IFR to LIFR from fog and low stratus will be likely
over much of western ME, but fog and low stratus may bring IFR
elsewhere overnight.

Improvement to VFR is expected Saturday morning, which will
prevail most of the day. TEMPO MVFR possible from scattered SHRA
and isolated TSRA in the afternoon.

Outlook:

Saturday night: Mainly VFR. IFR/LIFR possible from valley fog at
HIE, LEB, and CON.

Sunday: Mainly VFR, but brief restrictions in showers and
storms possible across northern and eastern terminals.

Sunday Night - Tuesday: Mainly VFR, but nighttime valley fog
possible.

Tuesday night - Thursday: Mainly VFR, but rounds of showers and
storms possible at times.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Saturday night...Conditions will remain below SCA
levels through Saturday night. Southerly flow continues into
this evening as low pressure approaches from the west. This low
will bring an ongoing chance of rain showers into this evening
along with the possibility of offshore-moving thunderstorms,
especially from around Casco Bay southward. Winds briefly turn
light and north to northwest tonight and then will be more light
and variable in direction Saturday and Saturday night.

Extended...Generally fair conditions are expected as broad high
pressure gradually build across the waters early to midweek
next week.

&&

.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Combs/Clair

The office that day

Everything else NWS Gray, ME issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 26, 3:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXCoos62 min
Jun 26, 4:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXGrafton, Merrimack, Sullivan53 min
Jun 26, 5:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGYXHillsborough, Merrimack63 min
Jun 26, 5:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXRockingham46 min
Jun 26, 6:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXHillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New Hampshire, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.