Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 40, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this flash flood warning at Sep 18, 2026, 3:10 PM EDT for Davidson County, Guilford County, Randolph County, North Carolina. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Sep 18, 2026, 3:10 PM EDT (19:10 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 18, 2026, 5:27 PM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Davidson County, NC, Guilford County, NC, Randolph County, NC
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:12 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 flash flood 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 nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 15 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 587 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -78 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1404 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 16 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 55 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 46 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
954
WGUS52 KRAH 181910
FFWRAH
NCC057-081-151-182215-
/O.NEW.KRAH.FF.W.0040.260918T1910Z-260918T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
310 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Eastern Davidson County in central North Carolina...
Southwestern Guilford County in central North Carolina...
Northwestern Randolph County in central North Carolina...
* Until 615 PM EDT.
* At 310 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain
have fallen near High Point. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2
inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing
or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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...
Greensboro, High Point, Randleman, McLeansville, Archdale, Trinity,
Pleasant Garden, Jamestown, Randleman Regional Reservior Marina,
Oak Hollow Marina, Climax, Forest Oaks, Lake Jeanette Marina and
Colfax.
This includes the following frequently flooded locations...
South Buffalo near Holden Rd and I-40, Latham Park near North Buffalo
Creek, Brush Creek at Muirfield Rd, Muddy Creek at Bessemer Ave near
US-29, North Church Street near East Cone Blvd and West Fork Deep
River near NC-68 and Rivermeade Dr.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3587 8005 3592 8005 3601 8004 3617 8003
3615 7967 3582 7969 3582 8005
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
221 follow-up statement
978
WGUS72 KRAH 182127
FFSRAH
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
527 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026
NCC057-081-151-182137-
/O.CAN.KRAH.FF.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260918T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Davidson NC-Guilford NC-Randolph NC-
527 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EASTERN DAVIDSON,
SOUTHWESTERN GUILFORD AND NORTHWESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTIES...
Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining
road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3587 8005 3592 8005 3601 8004 3617 8003
3615 7967 3582 7969 3582 8005
$$
LHWhat 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 Sep 18, 1:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- As of 215 AM Friday... 1) Scattered to locally numerous showers and storms will be possible this afternoon/evening and be capable of strong to severe straight- line wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall amounts of > 1". 2) Monday into Tuesday will likely feature scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Beneficial rain possible for some areas. Hot Monday, cooling by Tuesday especially north. 3) A NE flow and cold air damming will yield much cooler and cloudier conditions, possibly accompanied by periods of light rain and drizzle, by the middle of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 18, 1:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 130 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Locations where strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening has been expanded to cover areas along and west of the I-95 corridor, including the Triangle, Fayetteville, and the Triad. && .KEY MESSAGES... As of 215 AM Friday... 1) Scattered to locally numerous showers and storms will be possible this afternoon/evening and be capable of strong to severe straight- line wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall amounts of > 1". 2) Monday into Tuesday will likely feature scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Beneficial rain possible for some areas. Hot Monday, cooling by Tuesday especially north. 3) A NE flow and cold air damming will yield much cooler and cloudier conditions, possibly accompanied by periods of light rain and drizzle, by the middle of next week. && .DISCUSSION... As of 215 AM Friday... KEY MESSAGE 1... Scattered to locally numerous showers and storms will be possible this afternoon/evening and be capable of strong to severe straight-line wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall amounts of > 1". A pair of fronts are expected the shift across our area over the next 24 to 36 hours. The lead boundary will be a pre-frontal trough, currently stretching roughly from Richmond to Charlotte in the 05z obs, which will mix southeast throughout the morning and bring atypical hot and humid conditions within northerly flow across the forecast area. Trailing this boundary will be the synoptic cold front, which will likely be working through the Virginias and southern Ohio Valley through the daylight hours. In between these two boundaries, surface dew points should remain in the mid/upper 60s to low 70s throughout peak heating as temperatures rise well into the 90s. This should provide a moderately unstable air mass with instability ranging from 1000-2000 J/kg. Although isolated pulse air mass showers/storms can't be ruled out anywhere through the afternoon (with convective temps in the low 90s), the greatest convective coverage will likely be along a the track of upstream showers and storms currently working through Ohio as of 06z. Mean-wind steering flow should continue to track this cluster towards the central Appalachians by early afternoon and then track generally south and into central NC during peak heating. Poor mid-lvl lapse rates and related marginal instability should preclude a more widespread severe threat, however, steep low-lvl lapse rates in excess of 9 C/km over the Piedmont could favor storms organizing along a common cold-pool and result in localized strong to severe straight-line wind gusts, despite weak tropospheric wind shear (5-10 kts). The synoptic cold front should start to working into the area from the north around or shortly after midnight and may support a continuation of shallow showers through the overnight period. KEY MESSAGE 2... Monday into Tuesday will likely feature scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Beneficial rain possible, remaining hot Monday. Turning cooler later Tuesday, especially over north-central areas. Models continue to suggest a potentially moist period for our region Monday into Tuesday. This is due to the mid/upper trough approaching from the Midwest and Ohio Valley. One cold front is expected to reach NC Monday afternoon and possibly stall, with another cold front expected to backdoor the region late Tuesday into Tuesday night. There should be a couple of rounds of showers/storms, especially during the afternoon and evening Monday into Tuesday night. Some beneficial rainfall is expected, but as is typical with thunderstorms some areas will get the beneficial rainfall of 1 to locally 2 inches, while some others may be left out. Much more on this forecast through the weekend updates. It will likely continue very warm and humid Monday, with some cooler conditions Tuesday across the north (due to clouds/showers/storms). Monday highs should be in the mid 80s to lower 90s south. Highs Tuesday will be around 80 north to near 90 south. Lows in the mid 60s to around 70. KEY MESSAGE 3... A NE flow and cold air damming will yield much cooler and cloudier conditions, possibly accompanied by periods of light rain and drizzle, Tuesday night into Thursday. Once the cold front settles south of the region later Tuesday and Tuesday night, a low level NE flow will continue to feed low level moisture into the region. This would bring stable conditions and would mean that stratus, fog, and periods of light rain/drizzle or light showers will be likely Tuesday night into Wednesday and Thursday. The combination of the NE flow, moisture, cloudiness, and some light rain will keep daily highs in the 70s (or much below normal for the first time in weeks). Lows in the 60s, with some 50s possible north-central Wed-Fri. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 130 PM Friday... 24 hour TAF period: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are beginning to develop across central North Carolina, with the greatest coverage around INT/GSO. The coverage is expected to expand over the next few hours, and TEMPO groups for thunderstorms with gusty wind were maintained at 4 of 5 TAF sites - confidence is not high enough to go with a TEMPO group as far east as RWI. INT just had a wind gust to 31 kt with IFR visibility, and this will be possible at each of the terminals this afternoon into the evening. After convection comes to an end tonight, IFR/LIFR ceilings are expected to develop late tonight into Saturday morning, although again, there is slightly less confidence as far east as RWI with the amount of cloud cover and whether ceilings will form. While there could be some minimal visibility restrictions, low ceilings will drive the flight category. Conditions may be slow to scatter out Saturday morning. Outlook: There will be a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms at all terminals, with the highest chance at FAY. MVFR ceilings appear likely to develop Saturday night into Sunday morning. After mostly dry conditions Saturday night through Sunday night, expect widespread precipitation Monday through Tuesday, eventually becoming more scattered. Restrictions will be possible through this period as well. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...AS/Badgett AVIATION...Green
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 18, 2:48 AM EDT, 12 hours 22 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 248 AM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026 NCZ007>010-021>026-038>042-073>077-083>086-088-089-190700- Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange- Durham-Franklin-Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Stanly- Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland- Sampson- 248 AM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered to locally numerous showers and storms are expected this afternoon into the evening hours. Isolated instances of strong to severe winds, 40-60 mph, will be possible, but highly conditional in an otherwise unfavorable weather pattern to produce widespread severe weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NCZ011-027-028-043-078-190700- Halifax-Nash-Edgecombe-Wilson-Wayne- 248 AM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Sep 18, 2:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
206 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026
NCZ022-039-181845-
Guilford NC-Randolph NC-
206 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN RANDOLPH AND
SOUTHWESTERN GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...
At 206 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
High Point, moving southeast at 10 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...
Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro, Randleman, Archdale, Pleasant
Garden, Climax, and Randleman Regional Reservior Marina.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 33 and 35, and between Mile
Markers 109 and 123.
Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 75 and 99.
Interstate 74 between Mile Markers 71 and 79.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3594 8002 3604 7984 3583 7960 3568 7988
TIME...MOT...LOC 1806Z 325DEG 8KT 3593 7989
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GreenLocal storm report, Sep 18, 2:56 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
256 PM EDT Fri Sep 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0231 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 ESE Colfax 36.10N 79.94W
09/18/2026 M69 MPH Guilford NC ASOS
GSO reported a wind gust to 60 kt or 69 mph.
&&
22The office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2:06 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Randolph | 39 min |
| Sep 18, 2:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph | 41 min |
| Sep 18, 2:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Guilford, Randolph | 48 min |
| Sep 18, 2:59 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Guilford, Randolph | 11 min |
| Sep 18, 3:31 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Montgomery | 59 min |
| Sep 18, 3:38 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Cumberland, Scotland | 67 min |
| Sep 18, 3:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Lee, Randolph | 46 min |
| Sep 18, 3:55 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Davidson, Randolph | 92 min |
| Sep 18, 3:57 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Forsyth | 91 min |
| Sep 18, 4:05 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Harnett, Lee, Moore | 55 min |
| Sep 18, 4:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Franklin, Granville, Vance | 65 min |
| Sep 18, 4:10 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Harnett, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph | 50 min |
| Sep 18, 4:16 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Montgomery, Stanly | 44 min |
| Sep 18, 4:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Lee, Orange | 37 min |
| Sep 18, 4:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Harnett, Johnston | 44 min |
| Sep 18, 4:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland | 49 min |
| Sep 18, 5:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Cumberland, Sampson | 39 min |
| Sep 18, 5:31 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Wake | 44 min |
| Sep 18, 5:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Johnston, Wake | 44 min |
| Sep 18, 6:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Harnett, Johnston, Sampson, Wake, Wayne | 49 min |
| Sep 18, 6:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Johnston, Wayne, Wilson | 44 min |
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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.