Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 35, NWS Raleigh, NC

August 21, 20264 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this flash flood warning at Aug 21, 2026, 5:33 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 3 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
Aug 21, 2026, 5:33 PM EDT (21:33 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 2026, 8:11 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties Montgomery County, NC, Moore County, NC, Richmond County, NC, Stanly County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 147 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:33 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
Aug 21, 6:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Se Albemarle, NCMultiple water rescues along Woodhurst Lane, particularly near Henson St.

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 57 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 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 99 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 324 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
324 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-132 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
916 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
2.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

149 
WGUS52 KRAH 212133
FFWRAH
NCC123-125-153-167-220030-
/O.NEW.KRAH.FF.W.0035.260821T2133Z-260822T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
533 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Montgomery County in central North Carolina...
  Western Moore County in central North Carolina...
  Northeastern Richmond County in central North Carolina...
  Eastern Stanly County in central North Carolina...

* Until 830 PM EDT.

* At 533 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Albemarle, Troy, Badin Lake, Biscoe, Hoffman, Norwood, Badin, Mount
  Gilead, Robbins, Ellerbe, Foxfire, Star, Candor, Norman, Pekin,
  Steeds, Eagle Springs, Uwharrie Haven, Lake Tillery and Morrow
  Mountain State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3520 8028 3540 8026 3551 8009 3552 7952
      3500 7956 3499 7957 3495 7959 3517 7989
      3514 8005 3517 8011 3519 8011 3519 8013
      3517 8013 3517 8015 3516 8023 3521 8025

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

22
1 follow-up statement
787 
WGUS72 KRAH 220011 RRA
FFSRAH

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
811 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

NCC123-125-153-167-220021-
/O.CAN.KRAH.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-260822T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Montgomery NC-Moore NC-Richmond NC-Stanly NC-
811 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR MONTGOMERY, WESTERN MOORE,
NORTHEASTERN RICHMOND AND EASTERN STANLY COUNTIES...

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

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 AM EDT Saturday for a
portion of central North Carolina.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 AM EDT Saturday for a
portion of central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3520 8028 3540 8026 3551 8009 3552 7952
      3500 7956 3499 7957 3495 7959 3517 7989
      3514 8005 3517 8011 3519 8011 3519 8013
      3517 8013 3517 8015 3516 8023 3521 8025

$$

22

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 Aug 21, 2:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • As of 245 PM Friday... 1) There is a risk of excessive rainfall across the entire forecast area, primarily during the afternoon and early evening. 2) There is a risk of severe thunderstorms across the entire forecast area this afternoon and evening, with the greatest threat along and south of US-64.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 2:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
245 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...

*  Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for southern counties this
   afternoon.

*  Flood watch expanded to Anson county.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
As of 245 PM Friday...

1) There is a risk of excessive rainfall across the
entire forecast area, primarily during the afternoon and early
evening.

2) There is a risk of severe thunderstorms across the
entire forecast area this afternoon and evening, with the greatest
threat along and south of US-64.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
As of 245 PM Friday...

KEY MESSAGE 1... There is a risk of excessive rainfall across the
entire forecast area, primarily during the afternoon and early
evening.

The Weather Prediction Center has the entire forecast area
under a slight (level 2 of 4) risk for excessive rainfall. Locally,
a flood watch was issued overnight for much of the area, excluding
the Triad and areas northeast of the Triangle, going through
Saturday morning. A boundary is set up across southern counties,
having pushed slightly farther south than anticipated. From Sanford
and Erwin to the northeast, low clouds and northerly flow have kept
temperatures primarily in the 70s, while out in the Triad and
southern counties, more sun has allowed for temperatures to climb in
the 80s and lower 90s. While convective-allowing models have
performed poorly over the last day or two, there are still
indications that thunderstorms currently developing along the North
Carolina/South Carolina border will expand in coverage and push to
the north during the afternoon. With slow storm movement, deep
moisture, and "skinny CAPE", these storms will have the potential to
bring multiple inches of rain in a short period of time. In
particular, the 12Z HREF shows approximately a 50% potential for 3
inches of rain in 3 hours just to the south of the Triangle during
the late afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms will likely peak in
coverage before sunset, continue into the evening, then rapidly drop
off after midnight.

KEY MESSAGE 2... There is a risk of severe thunderstorms across the
entire forecast area this afternoon and evening, with the greatest
threat along and south of US-64.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the Triad and counties
along the VA/NC border in a marginal (level 1 of 5) risk, with the
rest of the forecast area in a slight (level 2 of 5) risk. The
primary threat is damaging winds, although large hail cannot be
ruled out. As of 2pm, there is minimal MLCAPE and large amounts of
CIN along and to the north of US-64, while the greatest instability
is to the south of the boundary that was discussed in Key Message 1.
That is the primary reason that the Severe Thunderstorm Watch that
was issued around 1:30pm only included the southern half of the
forecast area and did not extend any farther to the north. Across
Cumberland and Sampson counties, the MLCAPE is as high as 3000 J/kg.
There is at least 30 kt of effective bulk shear across the forecast
area, which should help to eventually organize storms. The greatest
threat for severe thunderstorms should be over the next several
hours, and the Severe Thunderstorm Watch is valid through 9pm.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 145 PM Friday...

TAF period: Confidence is lower than normal in the details of these
TAFs due to the uncertainty with thunderstorms and where they will
develop today; however, confidence is high that all terminals will
experience at least some rain this afternoon and have low ceilings
overnight.

Thunderstorms are beginning to develop along the North
Carolina/South Carolina border and will increase in coverage as they
move northeast. Have gone with prevailing showers at all sites,
continuing a TEMPO group during the most likely 4 hour window for
thunderstorms. Visibility reductions with the storms may be slightly
greater than normal considering heavy rain rates are expected today.
There is a bit of uncertainty as to how long the prevailing rain
will last into this evening, but IFR ceilings are likely to quickly
expand from INT/GSO south and east after dark, with all sites
expected to eventually develop LIFR ceilings. The ceilings should
lift to MVFR by late Saturday morning, with scattered showers
developing by that time at RDU/FAY/RWI.

Outlook: Precipitation will primarily be at RDU/FAY/RWI Saturday
afternoon, although it cannot be ruled out at INT/GSO. Widespread
restrictions are not currently forecast for any sites Saturday
night, although if precipitation is heavy enough, there could be
local restrictions. Dry VFR conditions are expected Sunday through
Tuesday night before a chance of thunderstorms returns to all
terminals Wednesday.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through Saturday morning for NCZ023>025-039>043-
073>078-083>086-088-089.

&&

DISCUSSION...Green
AVIATION...Green
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 21, 11:44 AM EDT, 5 hours 49 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1144 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

NCZ023>025-039>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-221545-
Alamance-Orange-Durham-Randolph-Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-
Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-
Cumberland-Sampson-
1144 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

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.

   Flood Watch.

Flood Watch.

There is also a marginal to slight risk of severe thunderstorms
through this evening. The main threat will be damaging wind.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

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

   Flood Watch.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ007>011-021-022-026>028-038-221545-
Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Forsyth-Guilford-Franklin-Nash-
Edgecombe-Davidson-
1144 AM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms into this evening.
The main threat is from damaging wind.

Locally heavy rain is also possible, with localized minor flooding
of urban and poor drainage areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 21, 3:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
344 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

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

0305 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 SSW Roseboro          34.86N 78.55W
08/21/2026                   Cumberland         NC   911 Call Center

            Tree down on NC HWY 242 near NC 210.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 21, 4:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
402 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

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

0314 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 N Roseboro            34.98N 78.51W
08/21/2026                   Sampson            NC   911 Call Center

            tree down along Salemburg Hwy in Roseboro.

&&

CA
Local storm report, Aug 21, 4:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
405 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

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

0339 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 E Roseboro            34.96N 78.46W
08/21/2026                   Sampson            NC   911 Call Center

            tree reported down.

&&

CA
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 4:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
408 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

NCZ022-038-039-073-074-083-084-212100-
Guilford NC-Stanly NC-Anson NC-Richmond NC-Randolph NC-Davidson NC-
Montgomery NC-
408 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN DAVIDSON...ANSON...
MONTGOMERY...NORTHWESTERN RICHMOND...RANDOLPH...STANLY AND
SOUTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

At 406 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking clusters of strong
thunderstorms extending from near Lexington to near Mt Pleasant to
near Marvin. Movement was east at 35 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...
High Point, Asheboro, Lexington, Albemarle, Wadesboro, Randleman,
Troy, Badin Lake, North Carolina Zoo, and Ansonville.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 92 and 99, and between Mile
Markers 104 and 108.
 Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 58 and 90.
 Interstate 74 between Mile Markers 77 and 79.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3550 8030 3551 8018 3558 8021 3568 8033
      3581 8023 3603 7954 3596 7954 3551 7977
      3486 8001 3488 8031 3519 8028 3517 8035
      3518 8037 3516 8046 3518 8051
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 253DEG 30KT 3578 8020 3540 8048 3501 8078

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

CA
Local storm report, Aug 21, 4:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
415 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

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

0310 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SE Roseboro           34.93N 78.48W
08/21/2026                   Sampson            NC   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Fleet Cooper Road.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 21, 4:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
419 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

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

0346 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ESE Clinton           35.00N 78.32W
08/21/2026                   Sampson            NC   911 Call Center

            trees reported down around city of Clinton.

&&

CA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 21, 2:13 AM EDTFlood WatchRAHAlamance, Anson, Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Harnett and 14 more24 hr
Aug 21, 7:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHForsyth91 min
Aug 21, 9:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth59 min
Aug 21, 12:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHRichmond49 min
Aug 21, 12:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland47 min
Aug 21, 1:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHoke55 min
Aug 21, 1:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke, Scotland62 min
Aug 21, 1:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHHoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland92 min
Aug 21, 2:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Hoke54 min
Aug 21, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHSampson44 min
Aug 21, 2:47 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHCumberland3 hr
Aug 21, 2:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Sampson49 min
Aug 21, 3:07 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHSampson, Wayne4 hr
Aug 21, 3:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHSampson, Wayne65 min
Aug 21, 3:27 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHCumberland, Sampson3 hr
Aug 21, 3:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHSampson41 min
Aug 21, 4:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAnson, Davidson, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly52 min
Aug 21, 4:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Richmond, Scotland59 min
Aug 21, 4:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Davidson, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Stanly64 min
Aug 21, 5:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHMontgomery, Stanly3 hr
Aug 21, 5:15 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAnson, Montgomery, Richmond3 hr
Aug 21, 5:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond and 2 more67 min
Aug 21, 5:27 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAnson, Richmond, Stanly3 hr
Aug 21, 5:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAlamance, Chatham, Orange54 min
Aug 21, 5:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Orange, Randolph41 min
Aug 21, 6:03 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHChatham, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph27 min
Aug 21, 6:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke, Richmond, Scotland38 min
Aug 21, 6:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatRAHChatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore47 min
Aug 21, 6:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Wake41 min
Aug 21, 7:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHGranville, Vance, Warren59 min
Aug 21, 7:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham, Harnett, Wake53 min
Aug 21, 7:09 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAlamance, Durham, Orange3 hr
Aug 21, 7:39 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Granville, Person, Vance3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2026Every 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.