Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 67, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

July 20, 2026Beaufort County, Martin County, Pitt County, North Carolina

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 20, 2026, 4:31 PM EDT for Beaufort County, Martin County, Pitt County, North Carolina. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 2026, 4:31 PM EDT (20:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Beaufort County, NC, Martin County, NC, Pitt County, NC

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:32 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 98 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1678 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 122 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
1678 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
846 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
122 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
100 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
5.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 20, 3:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Hot and humid for the next few days. Additional chances for heat headlines on Tue and Wed. 2) A week that will help drought conditions ahead. Unsettled pattern through much of this week with at least a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms through midweek. 3) After a strong front moves through the area late Wed into Thu, a brief reprieve from the heat end of next week, though showers and tstorms chances remain above Climo until next weekend keeping localized flood threat due to rain in the cards.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 3:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
308 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Small craft advisory has been issued for all waters starting on
Tuesday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Hot and humid for the next few days. Additional chances for heat
headlines on Tue and Wed.

2) A week that will help drought conditions ahead. Unsettled pattern
through much of this week with at least a risk of strong to severe
thunderstorms through midweek.

3) After a strong front moves through the area late Wed into Thu, a
brief reprieve from the heat end of next week, though showers and
tstorms chances remain above Climo until next weekend keeping
localized flood threat due to rain in the cards.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Stalled front bisects the Hwy 64 corridor this
afternoon with a secondary leftover outflow boundary noted along
the Hwy 70 corridor. These two boundaries have been the focus
for ongoing shower and thunderstorm activity this afternoon.
Given the ongoing cloud cover temps outside of the Onslow and
Duplin Counties have not increased much today which has kept the
area in the mid 80s to low 90s today. Have kept heat headlines
in place across Duplin and Onslow Counties. As we get into
tomorrow and Wed, less cloud cover and warmer temps as highs get
into the upper 80s to mid 90s. Combined with dewpoints in the
mid to upper 70s each day, heat indices could range from
105-109F each afternoon across a larger footprint of ENC. As a
result could see a broader heat headline tomorrow for ENC once
the ongoing heat advisory ends.

KEY MESSAGE 2...An unsettled pattern will persist over the next few
days with several factors forecast to increase shower and
thunderstorm chances this week.

A stalled boundary currently bisecting Hwy 64 and a remnant
outflow boundary along Hwy 70, combined with persistent inland
troughing, and plenty of moisture influx from the S and SW will
keep a cloudy and active forecast in place this afternoon and
early evening. Fortunately, the mid and upper level trough over
NECONUS is pushing offshore this afternoon, ending the little
mid and upper level dynamic support for organized convection. A
fair amount of cloud coverage has dampened heating today from
what we have experienced over the weekend with 2000-3000 J/kg
MLCAPE currently noted across the FA this afternoon. Iso strong
storms with damaging wind gusts will be possible. PWATs still
greater than 2" will keep threat for heavy rain which could lead
to localized flooding in place through tonight. Tonight, the
outflow boundary dissipates and the frontal boundary lifts back
N, "warm- sectoring" the FA once again for Tue and Wed.

Tue features slight dip in available moisture with drier 850-700mb
layer getting pushed up the SECONUS coast ahead of the next upper
trough which will be pushing SE across the Ohio River Valley,
leading to more typical summer-time PoPs of 20-40% through Tue
night.

A strong front is forecast to approach and cross the area late Wed
into Thu, posing the next threat for severe weather. Upper level
pattern for this frontal passage appears more supportive of stronger
storms with a sharper trough aloft digging further S than this
weekend's trough. Moisture increases ahead of this front with low to
midlevel flow opening up moisture advection channel from the E side
of what is now Tropical Depression 2. The National Hurricane Center
continues issuing advisories for TD2, but poses no tropical threat
to ENC at this time, as it is forecast to meander slowly W across
the Nern Gulf of America.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Wed/Thu stronger front is forecast to make it
through the entirety of the land area of ENC, but still stall
offshore. This will lead to mostly N-NEerly flow late week into the
weekend, cutting down on the heat (low to mid 80s/upper 60s splits
into the weekend). Severe threat appears minimal behind the midweek
front, but the multi day period of showers in the forecast could
lead to hydro issues.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Have a mix of VFR to IFR conditions (primarily reductions in
visibility) due to ongoing scattered showers and thunderstorms
this afternoon with visibility in thunderstorms generally around
1-4 SM. Have all TAF sites and surrounding areas under TEMPO
groups between 18-00Z this afternoon with OAJ/EWN having a TEMPO
group between 18-21Z and ISO/PGV between 20-00Z today. In
addition to the reduction in visibility wind gusts of 20-30 kts
would be possible in any storm that impacts the TAF sits or
surrounding airports. As we get closer to 00Z tonight expect
outflow boundaries to either depart the area or dissipate and
frontal boundary near Hwy 64 to lift north as a warm front
essentially warm sectoring the area and ending the thunderstorm
threat between 00-06Z tonight. Strengthening low level flow
tonight should preclude any low stratus or fog threat tonight so
once conditions go VFR this evening they should remain that way
into Tue afternoon.

Outlook (Tue afternoon through Saturday): More climo PoPs TUE
keeping VFR probs higher. A stronger front approaches late WED,
renewing stronger shower and thunderstorm chances WED into THU.
This front will stall offshore where it will linger into the
weekend, keeping rain and subVFR flight cat threat up into this
weekend.

&&

.MARINE...
Latest surface analysis shows a front currently bisecting the
northern coastal waters just south of Roanoke Island this
afternoon. To the north of the front, SE-E winds at 5-10 kts
with gusts up to 15 kts are noted while to the south of the
front S-SW winds at 5-10 kts are noted. At the same time, seas
of 2-4 ft are noted along the coastal waters. Finally scattered
showers and thunderstorms are also occuring across our waters
this afternoon bringing a threat for locally enhanced winds and
seas to the area. As we get into tonight, shower and
thunderstorm chances decrease as the aforementioned front lifts
north. This will allow winds to become SW'rly across all waters
at 5-15 kts with 3-5 ft seas noted across the coastal waters
into Tue morning. The pressure gradient then tightens late Tue
morning into Tue evening as a strong front begins to approach
from the N and W allowing winds to increase further to 15-25 kts
with gusts up to 30 kts across all waters Tue afternoon with
4-7 ft seas. This has resulted in the issuance of small craft
advisories for all waters starting up between 15-19Z tomorrow
and persisting into Thurs. There could be a few gusts up towards
35 kts mainly across our northern coastal waters but felt this
threat was low enough to preclude a gale watch for now.

Outlook (Tue night through Saturday): For the outer waters,
elevated winds and seas will continue into Thurs. This is in
association with a stronger front that is forecast to approach
and cross regional waters late Wed into Thurs, keeping elevated
winds and seas in place and increased tstorm chances, mainly.
Front moves through by Thurs with winds shifting to a NE'rly
direction and easing to a 10-15 kts with seas falling to 2-5 ft
thus ending the SCA threat by Thurs night.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for NCZ090-198-199.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Tuesday to 5 AM EDT Thursday
     for AMZ131-230-231.
     Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM Tuesday to 11 AM EDT Thursday
     for AMZ135-150.
     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Tuesday to 2 AM EDT Thursday
     for AMZ136-137.
     Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM Tuesday to 2 PM EDT Thursday
     for AMZ152-154.
     Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM Tuesday to 11 AM EDT Thursday
     for AMZ156-158.

&&

DISCUSSION...CEB/RCF
AVIATION...CEB/RCF
MARINE...CEB/RCF
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 3:40 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
340 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

NCZ195-196-204-205-211945-
West Carteret-East Carteret-Ocracoke Island-Hatteras Island-
340 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Moderate Rip Current Risk.

There is potential for strong storms this afternoon into tonight.
The greatest threat is for storms to produce strong wind gusts,
periods of heavy downpours, and frequent lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Dangerous heat potential Tuesday and Wednesday.

Multiple days of afternoon and evening strong to severe
thunderstorms will keep the threat of damaging winds and localized
flooding in place through midweek when a stronger cold front will
cross the area late Wednesday to early Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193-194-198-211945-
Martin-Pitt-Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Greene-Beaufort-
Mainland Hyde-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Pamlico-Northern Craven-
Southern Craven-Inland Onslow-
340 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is potential for strong storms this afternoon into tonight.
The greatest threat is for storms to produce strong wind gusts,
periods of heavy downpours, and frequent lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Dangerous heat potential Tuesday and Wednesday.

Multiple days of afternoon and evening strong to severe
thunderstorms will keep the threat of damaging winds and localized
flooding in place through midweek when a stronger cold front will
cross the area late Wednesday to early Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ203-211945-
Northern Outer Banks-
340 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is potential for strong storms this afternoon into tonight.
The greatest threat is for storms to produce strong wind gusts,
periods of heavy downpours, and frequent lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Multiple days of afternoon and evening strong to severe
thunderstorms will keep the threat of damaging winds and localized
flooding in place through midweek when a stronger cold front will
cross the area late Wednesday to early Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ199-211945-
Coastal Onslow-
340 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Moderate Rip Current Risk.

There is potential for strong storms this afternoon into tonight.
The greatest threat is for storms to produce strong wind gusts,
periods of heavy downpours, and frequent lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Dangerous heat could linger Tuesday and Wednesday.

Multiple days of afternoon and evening strong to marginally severe
thunderstorms will keep the threat of damaging winds and localized
flooding in place through midweek when a stronger cold front will
cross the area late Wednesday to early Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:39 PM EDT, 52 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:01 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:14 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:19 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The office that day

Everything else NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 8:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPitt52 min
Jul 19, 8:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin43 min
Jul 19, 8:56 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX64 min
Jul 19, 9:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXTyrrell35 min
Jul 19, 10:01 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX73 min
Jul 19, 11:14 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX61 min
Jul 19, 11:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDare20 min
Jul 19, 11:58 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX62 min
Jul 20, 12:32 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPamlico28 min
Jul 20, 2:59 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryMHXDuplin, Onslow13 hr
Jul 20, 12:08 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX47 min
Jul 20, 12:24 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX51 min
Jul 20, 12:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDare26 min
Jul 20, 1:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDare48 min
Jul 20, 1:14 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX46 min
Jul 20, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXJones50 min
Jul 20, 1:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX67 min
Jul 20, 2:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXJones29 min
Jul 20, 2:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin38 min
Jul 20, 2:25 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryMHX69 hr
Jul 20, 2:59 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX46 min
Jul 20, 3:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDare28 min
Jul 20, 3:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXJones24 min
Jul 20, 3:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXWashington36 min
Jul 20, 3:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPitt49 min
Jul 20, 3:27 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX63 min
Jul 20, 3:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXBeaufort36 min
Jul 20, 3:41 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX64 min
Jul 20, 3:49 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX56 min
Jul 20, 3:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMHXBeaufort21 min
Jul 20, 4:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXHyde44 min
Jul 20, 4:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMHXBeaufort, Hyde, Martin, Washington42 min
Jul 20, 4:11 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMHXBeaufort3 hr
Jul 20, 4:12 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX41 min
Jul 20, 4:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXHyde31 min
Jul 20, 4:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXMartin41 min
Jul 20, 4:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMHXBeaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell3 hr
Jul 20, 4:52 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX38 min
Jul 20, 5:07 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMHXBeaufort, Pitt2 hr
Jul 20, 5:09 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX51 min
Jul 20, 5:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin33 min
Jul 20, 5:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPitt29 min
Jul 20, 5:48 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX27 min
Jul 20, 5:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin34 min
Jul 20, 6:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXMartin38 min
Jul 20, 6:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin34 min
Jul 20, 6:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXLenoir32 min
Jul 20, 7:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXJones37 min
Jul 20, 7:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXLenoir29 min
Jul 20, 7:51 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMHXCraven, Jones3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.