Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 29, 2026, 9:29 PM EDT for Alamance County, Guilford County, Orange County, North Carolina. It was in force for 46 min. 5 reports 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
- Apr 29, 2026, 9:29 PM EDT (01:29 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 29, 2026, 10:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Alamance County, NC, Guilford County, NC, Orange County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 9:45 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nne Lake Townsend, NC | Hundred power outages reported due to trees on powerlines. |
| Apr 29, 9:48 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Nnw Lake Townsend, NC | Hundred power outages from trees down on power lines. |
| Apr 29, 10:10 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | Mebane, NC | |
| Apr 29, 10:12 PM EDT | HAIL 1.25 | 3 Sw Mebane, NC | Picture passed along via social media shows a hail stone ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches. Time and approximate location estimated from radar. |
| Apr 29, 10:15 PM EDT | HAIL 0.75 | 2 S Mebane, NC | mPING report of dime sized hail near the 3900 block along Long Meadow Drive. |
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 4 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 16 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, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 31 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
- 512 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1132 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 52 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 142 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 270 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 3.4
The text
As transmitted.
866
WUUS52 KRAH 300129
SVRRAH
NCC001-081-135-300215-
/O.NEW.KRAH.SV.W.0013.260430T0129Z-260430T0215Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
929 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northern Alamance County in central North Carolina...
Northern Orange County in central North Carolina...
Northern Guilford County in central North Carolina...
* Until 1015 PM EDT.
* At 929 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Reidsville to near Ellisboro, moving southeast
at 30 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...
Greensboro, Burlington, Graham, Hillsborough, Mebane, Elon,
McLeansville, Summerfield, Gibsonville, and Stokesdale.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 127 and 131.
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 132 and 161, and between Mile
Markers 217 and 226.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3624 7957 3625 7949 3624 7915 3610 7901
3598 7950 3602 7982 3622 8004 3626 8004
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 300DEG 28KT 3630 7964 3626 7994
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Kren3 follow-up statements
028
WWUS52 KRAH 300143
SVSRAH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
943 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
NCC001-081-135-300215-
/O.CON.KRAH.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260430T0215Z/
Alamance NC-Orange NC-Guilford NC-
943 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM EDT
FOR NORTHERN ALAMANCE...NORTHERN ORANGE AND NORTHERN GUILFORD
COUNTIES...
At 943 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Camp Springs to 7 miles southwest of Monroeton,
moving southeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Greensboro, Burlington, Graham, Hillsborough, Mebane, Elon,
McLeansville, Summerfield, Gibsonville, and Stokesdale.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 127 and 131.
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 132 and 161, and between Mile
Markers 217 and 226.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3624 7957 3625 7949 3624 7915 3610 7901
3598 7950 3602 7982 3622 8004 3626 8004
TIME...MOT...LOC 0143Z 303DEG 31KT 3623 7952 3620 7983
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Kren915
WWUS52 KRAH 300155
SVSRAH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
955 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
NCC001-081-135-300215-
/O.CON.KRAH.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260430T0215Z/
Alamance NC-Orange NC-Guilford NC-
955 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM EDT
FOR NORTHERN ALAMANCE...NORTHERN ORANGE AND NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD
COUNTIES...
At 955 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 6 miles northeast of Burlington to near McLeansville,
moving southeast at 35 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...
Greensboro, Burlington, Graham, Hillsborough, Mebane, Elon,
McLeansville, Gibsonville, Haw River, and Swepsonville.
This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 132 and 161.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3624 7957 3625 7949 3624 7915 3610 7901
3598 7950 3609 7976 3616 7982 3623 7971
TIME...MOT...LOC 0155Z 296DEG 33KT 3617 7937 3614 7970
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Kren201
WWUS52 KRAH 300207
SVSRAH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1007 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
NCC081-300217-
/O.CAN.KRAH.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260430T0215Z/
Guilford NC-
1007 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 3608 7950 3620 7932 3610 7901 3598 7949
TIME...MOT...LOC 0207Z 312DEG 29KT 3607 7932
$$
NCC001-135-300215-
/O.CON.KRAH.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260430T0215Z/
Alamance NC-Orange NC-
1007 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL ALAMANCE AND NORTHERN ORANGE COUNTIES...
At 1007 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Mebane, or
near Graham, moving southeast at 35 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...
Burlington, Graham, Hillsborough, Mebane, Haw River, Swepsonville,
Alamance, and Efland.
This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 142 and 161.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3608 7950 3620 7932 3610 7901 3598 7949
TIME...MOT...LOC 0207Z 312DEG 29KT 3607 7932
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
KrenWhat 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 Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 29, 7:21 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- As of 335 PM Wednesday... 1) Although the Marginal(level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont, mainly between 8 PM and 11 PM. 2) Next widespread chance for precipitation comes Friday night through Saturday night. 3) Temperatures will be near normal for the end of the work week drop below normal for Saturday and Sunday, then rise above normal for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 7:21 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 721 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Although the Marginal (level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the most likely window for the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont between 8 PM and 11 PM. * Updated the aviation discussion to reflect the latest thoughts on the convective evolution tonight and timing for the 00z Thurs TAFs. && .KEY MESSAGES... As of 335 PM Wednesday... 1) Although the Marginal(level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont, mainly between 8 PM and 11 PM. 2) Next widespread chance for precipitation comes Friday night through Saturday night. 3) Temperatures will be near normal for the end of the work week drop below normal for Saturday and Sunday, then rise above normal for Tuesday and Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... As of 335 PM Wednesday.. KEY MESSAGE 1... Although the Marginal(level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont, mainly between 8 PM and 11 PM. Widespread (low) overcast, and also subsidence in the wake of a convectively-amplified trough and MCVs across the Southeast since last night, have kept cntl NC stable and dry today. However, the poleward retreat of a warm front, which extended at 19Z from a lee low near HKY esewd across the Sandhills and srn Coastal Plain, will yield lifting and scattering of the low clouds and related ssw to nne diurnal destabilization across cntl NC through 22-23Z. Despite what may be a relative minimum in larger-scale forcing for ascent over cntl NC between now and 06Z, between the aforementioned convectively-amplified trough (and 70 meter 500 mb height falls observed at GSO at 12Z) and a perturbation that will shear quickly ewd from CO this afternoon to the srn Middle Atlantic early Thu, glancing influence from a couple of other shortwave perturbations pivoting across the Great Lakes may prove sufficient to support the development of showers/storms just upstream of cntl NC this afternoon-evening. Specifically, scattered cells may develop along a surface trough in the immediate lee of the Appalachians, one anchored by the aforementioned lee low near KHKY, and also possibly over the Blue Ridge in the next few hours - all of which should then move generally ewd with wly mean winds of 35-40 kts, and should some indeed develop, across cntl NC between 22Z and 03-04Z. VWP data and forecast hodographs depict veering in the lowest 2-3 kilometers beneath much stronger wly flow (50-90 kts) through the mid and upr- levels. Those (supercell) shear profiles will conditionally support splitting cells capable of producing hail and locally damaging wind gusts. Low-level shear will also be adequately strong to support isolated tornado potential, with strengthening of that shear with at least some nocturnal, low-level flow acceleration centered around 00Z. That isolated tornado potential would be highest for right- moving cells whose motions would be favorably aligned along the retreating surface warm front across the Piedmont, where both shear and low LCLs would also be relatively maximized. KEY MESSAGE 2... Next widespread chance for precipitation comes Friday night through Saturday night. Tonight's cold front will drop south along the Gulf Coast, become nearly stationary along the coast through Friday, then have a coastal low develop along the Atlantic coastline. While the forecast has trended drier for Friday evening, rain should begin to move into the region from south to north Friday night into Saturday, with the greatest chances of rain occurring Saturday morning. Rain chances will then decrease, coming to an end by midnight. While this is still three to four days away, the current forecast calls for anywhere between a quarter inch of rain in the Triad to an inch of rain in the southeast across Sampson county. Warmer temperatures between 500 and 700 mb should limit any instability and have removed any mention of thunder from the forecast. KEY MESSAGE 3... Temperatures will be near normal for the end of the work week, drop below normal for Saturday and Sunday, then rise above normal for Tuesday and Wednesday. While tonight's front will bring drier air into the region, the temperature of the new air mass will not be much different, and highs on Thursday and Friday should be in the low to mid 70s. As the coastal low develops, winds will take on a northerly component, resulting in a chilly day on Saturday - locations near the VA/NC border will struggle to reach 60 degrees, with low 60s elsewhere. With clearing skies on Sunday as the low departs, temperatures will climb slightly, but still remain mostly in the 60s. Monday will be a transitional day with temperatures near normal, then southerly flow will help raise highs into the 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Saturday night should be the coldest night, with temperatures ranging from the upper 30s to the mid 40s - too warm for concern about frost potential. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 715 PM Wednesday... MVFR cigs has cleared central NC terminals with scattered 3,500 to 5,000 ft cumulus in its wake. Convection along and immediately ahead of a cold front moving into/through southwest VA is expected to shift across central NC between 00z until approximately 05z. Scattered to locally numerous showers and mostly isolated thunderstorms may affect any central NC terminals and bring briefly heavy rain, risk for infrequent lightning, and gusty winds. Small hail can't be ruled out from the stronger convective clusters. Areas of fog and stratus may develop in the wake of that convection early tonight, especially at RWI, amid residually moist low-levels and ahead of a cold front and following drier air and light nwly flow that will move across the region overnight. Mid and high-level (VFR) ceilings and occasional light rain may lift into FAY Fri morning; prevailing flight restrictions are not expected at this time. Outlook: Rain and flight restrictions will accompany an area low pressure that is forecast to track along the coast of the Carolinas on Sat. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...MWS/TG AVIATION...AS/MWS
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 29, 4:08 AM EDT, 17 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 408 AM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-300815- Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance- Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Wake- Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson- Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 408 AM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few isolated strong to severe storms may be possible this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 29, 9:16 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
916 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
NCZ007-008-022>024-300215-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-Person NC-Granville NC-Orange NC-
916 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ALAMANCE...PERSON...
NORTHERN ORANGE...NORTHWESTERN GRANVILLE AND NORTHERN GUILFORD
COUNTIES THROUGH 1015 PM EDT...
At 915 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Elmo to near Wentworth to Pine Hall.
Movement was southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size 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, Burlington, Graham, Roxboro, Mebane, Elon, McLeansville,
Concord, Summerfield, and Gibsonville.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 128 and 131.
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 132 and 155, and between Mile
Markers 221 and 226.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3630 7883 3607 7926 3602 7977 3622 8004
3626 8004 3624 7915 3654 7914 3654 7859
TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 306DEG 28KT 3661 7918 3636 7973 3631 8003
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KrenThe office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 9:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Guilford, Person | 59 min |
| Apr 29, 9:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Granville, Person, Vance | 44 min |
| Apr 29, 9:43 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Stanly | 47 min |
| Apr 29, 9:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Stanly | 43 min |
| Apr 29, 10:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Orange | 39 min |
| Apr 29, 10:10 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Stanly | 12 min |
| Apr 29, 10:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, Warren | 48 min |
| Apr 29, 10:15 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Richmond | 45 min |
| Apr 29, 10:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Durham, Orange | 41 min |
| Apr 29, 10:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Durham, Orange, Wake | 38 min |
| Apr 29, 10:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Nash, Vance, Warren | 51 min |
| Apr 29, 10:49 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Richmond | 26 min |
| Apr 29, 11:15 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Wake | 60 min |
| Apr 29, 11:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Nash | 63 min |
| Apr 30, 12:15 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Harnett, Johnston | 60 min |
| Apr 30, 12:19 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Wilson | 26 min |
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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.