Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 131, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 12, 20264 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 12, 2026, 8:43 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 47 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 12, 2026, 8:43 PM EDT (00:43 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2026, 9:30 PM EDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Harnett County, NC, Johnston County, NC, Nash County, NC, Wake County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 2 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:47 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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 137 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 00:00Z on 2026-07-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 302 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 00:00Z on 2026-07-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 36 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
302 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-33 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
944 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

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 Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 12, 2:50 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 2:50 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 12, 3:02 PM EDT, 5 hours 41 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
302 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-131000-
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-
302 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a slight risk (level 2 of 4) of excessive rainfall and a
marginal risk (level 1 of 5) of severe thunderstorms across central
North Carolina today, mainly mid-afternoon through the evening, with
the greatest risk of both hazards in areas south of Highway 64.
Heavy rainfall rates may lead to localized flooding in urban and
poor-drainage areas. The strongest thunderstorms may have gusty
winds that may blow down trees and branches.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

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 12, 7:27 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 12, 7:46 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 7:52 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 7:58 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
758 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

NCZ008-025>027-041-043-130100-
Nash NC-Franklin NC-Durham NC-Wake NC-Granville NC-Wilson NC-
758 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN NASH...SOUTHERN
GRANVILLE...CENTRAL WAKE...NORTHWESTERN WILSON...SOUTHERN DURHAM AND
FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM EDT...

At 758 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles west of Nashville to 6 miles south of
Louisburg to near Wake Forest to 6 miles east of Durham. Movement was
southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea 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...
Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Nashville, Creedmoor, Louisburg, Wilson, Wake
Forest, Butner, and Zebulon.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 95 between Mile Markers 127 and 119.
 Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 174 and 188.
 Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 278 and 301.
 Interstate 440 between Mile Markers 1 and 15.
 Interstate 540 between Mile Markers 0 and 24.
 US 1 between Mile Markers 95 and 101.
 NC Highway 264 between Mile Markers 20 and 37.
 the Durham Freeway between Mile Markers 2 and 15.

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.

Very heavy rain can be expected due to the slow movement of some of
these storms. Prolonged heavy rain will result in ponding of water
on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding
of creeks and streams. Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra
caution to avoid hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3608 7796 3573 7792 3577 7824 3582 7826
      3578 7833 3579 7845 3570 7884 3608 7896
      3615 7852
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 336DEG 8KT 3600 7808 3602 7834 3603 7859 3598
7880

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

LH
Local storm report, Jul 12, 8:21 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
821 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

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

0816 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SSW Pilot             35.82N 78.31W
07/12/2026                   Wake               NC   911 Call Center

            Trees were reported down near the 310 block
            of East Vance Street in Zebulon.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 12, 8:34 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
834 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

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

0822 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 WSW Pilot             35.86N 78.33W
07/12/2026                   Wake               NC   911 Call Center

            A tree was reported down along Weavers Pond
            Drive in Zebulon.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 8:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham, Franklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson47 min
Jul 12, 8:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHSampson48 min
Jul 12, 9:00 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHJohnston, Wake30 min
Jul 12, 9:11 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHWake2 hr
Jul 12, 9:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Harnett, Johnston, Wake, Wayne, Wilson48 min
Jul 12, 9:30 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHJohnston, Wake3 hr
Jul 12, 9:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Sampson and 3 more46 min
Jul 12, 9:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHJohnston, Wayne, Wilson5 hr
Jul 12, 9:59 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHHarnett, Johnston, Wake, Wayne5 hr
Jul 12, 10:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson, Wayne52 min
Jul 12, 10:43 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHCumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson, Wayne4 hr
Jul 12, 10:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHStanly90 min
Jul 12, 11:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHChatham, Harnett, Lee3 hr
Jul 12, 11:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston, Sampson, Wayne52 min
Jul 13, 5:36 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHFranklin, Nash3 hr
Jul 13, 1:15 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHForsyth2 hr
Jul 13, 4:11 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDavidson, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly3 hr
Jul 13, 4:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHDavidson, Montgomery, Stanly3 hr
Jul 13, 5:32 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAnson, Richmond4 hr
Jul 13, 7:06 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAnson, Richmond, Scotland40 min
Jul 13, 7:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAnson, Richmond, Scotland3 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.