Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 26, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 28, 2026Durham County, Orange County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 28, 2026, 8:14 PM EDT for Durham County, Orange County, North Carolina. It was in force for 2 hr. 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: Jul 28, 2026, 8:14 PM EDT (00:14 UTC)
Expired: Jul 28, 2026, 10:23 PM EDT
In force: 2 hr
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Durham County, NC, Orange County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:14 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 28, 9:15 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Se Bethesda, NC	Vehicle in floodwater at Lumley Rd and Appling Way.

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 flash flood warning; the first came 61 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 nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 80 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2896 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 934 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 131 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.7
Supercell composite: 10.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

315 
WGUS52 KRAH 290014
FFWRAH
NCC063-135-290315-
/O.NEW.KRAH.FF.W.0026.260729T0014Z-260729T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
814 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern Durham County in central North Carolina...
  Southern Orange County in central North Carolina...

* Until 1115 PM EDT.

* At 814 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain 
  has fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 2.5 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Carrboro, Parkwood, Jordan 
  Lake, Bethesda, Cane Creek Reservoir and Research Triangle.

This includes the following frequently flooded locations...
Fayetteville St at E Pilot St, Hwy 15-501 Business & Durham-Chapel 
Hill Blvd, Calvin St at Juniper St near Hyde Park, W Club Blvd 
between Hillandale Rd and Guess Rd, Club Blvd between Washington 
Street and Dearborn Dr, S. Roxboro St between Charles St and Summit 
St, S. Roxboro St at the Durham Freeway, Estes Dr, Camelot Dr and 
Cleland Dr along Bolin Creek, Elizabeth Street near Bolin Creek, 
South Estes Extension, Booker Creek Rd near Book Creek and Foxwood 
Dr, Eastgate Shopping Center and Franklin St near Dobbins Dr.

This includes the following flood prone locations...
Morgan Creek at Mason Farm Rd, Booker Creek and Willow Dr, Fordham 
Rams Place and Ephesus Church Rd, Fordham Bypass Lane by S. Elliot 
Rd., University between Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd and Forest Hills, 
Stagecoach Rd and Morehead Ave at Rex St.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3589 7925 3596 7926 3598 7925 3602 7921
      3606 7914 3606 7909 3605 7903 3602 7897
      3602 7887 3598 7882 3596 7880 3593 7880
      3593 7881 3588 7883 3587 7884 3586 7905
      3588 7920

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1.5-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

PWB

1 follow-up statement

670 
WGUS72 KRAH 290223
FFSRAH

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1023 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCC063-135-290233-
/O.CAN.KRAH.FF.W.0026.000000T0000Z-260729T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Durham NC-Orange NC-
1023 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN DURHAM AND 
SOUTHERN ORANGE COUNTIES...

Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3589 7925 3596 7926 3598 7925 3602 7921
      3606 7914 3606 7909 3605 7903 3602 7897
      3602 7887 3598 7882 3596 7880 3593 7880
      3593 7881 3588 7883 3587 7884 3586 7905
      3588 7920

$$

PWB

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 28, 8:09 PM EDT, 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

As of 705 PM Tuesday... 1) Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for most of central NC through 100 AM. Main threat damaging wind. Secondary threat isolated tornado. 2) Dry through Saturday, then unsettled into next week.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 8:09 PM EDT, 5 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
809 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* Updated aviation discussion.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
As of 705 PM Tuesday...

1) Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for most of central NC
through 100 AM. Main threat damaging wind. Secondary threat
isolated tornado.

2) Dry through Saturday, then unsettled into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
As of 705 PM Tuesday...

KEY MESSAGE 1... Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for most of
central NC through 100 AM. Main threat damaging wind. Secondary
threat isolated tornado.

There continues to be an isolated tornado threat within a
larger area of damaging thunderstorm wind threat as new storms
develop into north-central NC. There continues to be a low level
boundary (lee trough/outflow) in a SSW to NNE fashion from the
Triad into VA. Low level wind shear 30-35 knots exists with the
boundary. Severe storms have been rotating given the shear and
boundary. Mix layer CAPE is maximized 2000 j/kg over the central
Piedmont.

Deep convection will probably continue to develop into central
NC this evening, Shear profiles will be supportive of
supercells, particularly where coverage remains scattered and
cells discrete, versus a tendency for bowing segments within the
broken line of frontal convection. Storms should be enhanced
through late evening, and likely weakening as they move SE into
the Coastal Plain later.

Again, a tornado is possible with any of the initial
supercells. Incidents of wind damage are likely in the
developing clusters/bow segments.

Key Message 2: Dry through Saturday, then unsettled into next
week.

Late Week through Weekend: High pressure shifts from the Upper
Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, settling over the Mid-Atlantic by
Friday. Expect near to below-average temperatures and fair weather
through Saturday afternoon. The next round of precipitation arrives
late Saturday evening into Sunday morning as tropical moisture
interacts with a developing stationary boundary.

Into Next Week: Unsettled weather persists through at least mid-week
as the stationary boundary lingers overhead. Plentiful Gulf and
Atlantic moisture will tap into this lingering  boundary, bringing
multiple rounds of showers and isolated thunderstorms across the
region over several days.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 800 PM Tuesday...

24-hour TAF period: An area of showers and storms is currently
moving through the northern Piedmont including Alamance, Orange and
Person counties. It will continue moving SE, potentially congealing
into a line as it moves through the rest of the Piedmont and Coastal
Plain (including RDU and RWI) through about 04z. Sub-VFR
visibilities from heavy rain, damaging winds, and an isolated
tornado are possible with the storms. The best chance of a tornado
will be in any of the initial discrete supercells, including one
which is currently over Orange County that approach RDU within the
next half hour or so. Showers and storms may reach FAY later this
evening, but confidence is lower down there. Meanwhile clearing is
occurring around INT and GSO as the convection is pushing south and
east of there.

Drier air will move in overnight behind a cold frontal passage,
putting an end to any rain chances. However, it may not get to our
eastern TAF sites fast enough to prevent some patchy fog or very low
stratus from developing there. Guidance is not showing a strong
signal for it, so confidence is not high. The best chance would be
at RWI, but it can't be totally ruled out at RDU or FAY. Winds will
shift NW overnight into the day on Wednesday, gusting up to 15-20
kts at times especially over the Piedmont.

Outlook: VFR conditions are generally expected until probably
Sunday, when lift ahead of a mid/upr-level low approaching from the
OH Valley will favor above average chances of showers/storms and
flight restrictions. Can't rule out scattered showers and storms
beginning in the west on Saturday.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Badgett/MWS/CA
AVIATION...Danco/MWS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 1:15 PM EDT, 6 hours 59 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
115 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCZ007-021>023-038-039-073-291715-
Person-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Davidson-Randolph-Stanly-
115 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 526 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central 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.

 Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

NCZ008>011-024>028-040>043-074>078-083>086-088-089-291715-
Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-
Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Wilson-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-
Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson-
115 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a slight (level 2 of 5) risk of severe thunderstorms
this afternoon and evening. The greatest threat will be damaging
wind gusts, though large hail and an isolated tornado will also
possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 6:04 PM EDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
604 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCZ022-023-282315-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-
604 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ALAMANCE AND
NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM EDT...

At 604 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Reidsville, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon, McLeansville, Gibsonville, Haw
River, Lake Burlington, Monticello, and Lake Cammack Park & Marina.

This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 137 and 145, between
Mile Markers 149 and 151, and Mile Marker 153 and near Mile Marker
155.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Doppler radar has indicated weak rotation with this storm. If the
storm intensifies and rotation strengthens, a warning may need to be
issued.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3625 7942 3608 7926 3607 7926 3606 7959
      3625 7977 3624 7953 3625 7953
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 314DEG 18KT 3634 7971

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

1

Local storm report, Jul 28, 7:19 PM EDT, 55 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
719 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

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

0655 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 E Altamahaw           36.18N 79.48W
07/28/2026                   Alamance           NC   Emergency Mngr

            Trees down in the area of Basin Creek Rd and
            Danielly Waterwheel Rd.

&&

DL

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 7:30 PM EDT, 44 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
730 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCZ022-023-039-040-290030-
Guilford NC-Chatham NC-Alamance NC-Randolph NC-
730 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN ALAMANCE...NORTHEASTERN
RANDOLPH...SOUTHEASTERN GUILFORD AND NORTHWESTERN CHATHAM COUNTIES
THROUGH 830 PM EDT...

At 730 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Randleman, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Greensboro, Randleman, Siler City, Pleasant Garden, Liberty, Staley,
Climax, Forest Oaks, Snow Camp, and Randleman Regional Reservior
Marina.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 33 and 35, and between Mile
Markers 120 and 126.
 Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 83 and 98.
 Interstate 74 near Mile Marker 79.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central North Carolina. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch also remains in
effect until 100 AM EDT for central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3586 7992 3603 7985 3586 7918 3563 7927
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 288DEG 28KT 3593 7980

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

1

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 28, 8:03 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Alamance, Durham, Orange	42 min
Jul 28, 8:16 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Durham, Orange	21 min
Jul 28, 8:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Orange and 1 more	81 min
Jul 28, 8:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Halifax	57 min
Jul 28, 8:37 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Wake	3 hr
Jul 28, 9:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson, Stanly	22 min
Jul 28, 9:08 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe, Franklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson	67 min
Jul 28, 9:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Halifax	58 min
Jul 28, 9:33 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RAH	Franklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson	95 min
Jul 28, 9:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wake, Wayne, Wilson	54 min
Jul 28, 9:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland	81 min
Jul 28, 9:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe	22 min
Jul 28, 10:06 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Vance, Warren	54 min
Jul 28, 10:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore	61 min
Jul 28, 10:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wayne, Wilson	66 min
Jul 28, 10:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Cumberland, Harnett, Sampson, Wayne	53 min
Jul 28, 11:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Johnston, Sampson, Wayne	56 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2026 Every flash flood 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.