Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 153, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 20, 2026Edgecombe County, Halifax County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 20, 2026, 3:53 PM EDT for Edgecombe County, Halifax County, North Carolina. It was in force for 32 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 20, 2026, 3:53 PM EDT (19:53 UTC)
Expired: Jul 20, 2026, 4:25 PM EDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.88 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Edgecombe County, NC, Halifax County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:53 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

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 160 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: 1678 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 846 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 122 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 100 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 5.1

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 20, 3:10 PM EDT, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 3:10 PM EDT, 43 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 4:37 AM EDT, 11 hours 16 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
437 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

NCZ042-073>078-083>086-088-089-211200-
Johnston-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson-Richmond-
Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson-
437 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a Slight risk of severe thunderstorms with damaging wind
gusts and also excessive rain with flash flooding throughout central
NC today and early tonight. This Level 2 of 5 risk means that
scattered instances of damaging downburst winds and flash flooding
may result.

Additionally, heat index values will increase to between 100 and 105
degrees between showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

A Marginal, level 1 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms with damaging
wind gusts will exist again Tuesday. A Slight, level 2 of 5 risk of severe
thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and also excessive rain with
flash flooding will exist for Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed at times today through Wednesday.

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>041-043-211200-
Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-
Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Wake-
Wilson-
437 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a Slight risk of severe thunderstorms with damaging wind
gusts and also excessive rain with flash flooding throughout central
NC today and early tonight. This Level 2 of 5 risk means that
scattered instances of damaging downburst winds and flash flooding
may result.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

A Slight, level 2 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms with damaging
wind gusts will exist again Tuesday and Wednesday, as will a
Marginal to Slight risk, Level 1 to 2 of 5, for excessive rain and
flash flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed at times today through Wednesday.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 2:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
229 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

NCZ041-201915-
Wake NC-
229 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY THROUGH 315
PM EDT...

At 229 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Raleigh, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, RDU International, Knightdale,
Rolesville, William B Umstead State Park, and Falls Lake.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 287 and 293, and between Mile
Markers 298 and 301.
 Interstate 440 between Mile Markers 1 and 16.
 Interstate 540 between Mile Markers 3 and 24.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3576 7877 3591 7879 3597 7849 3588 7844
      3574 7844
TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 264DEG 16KT 3584 7869

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Kren

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:12 PM EDT, 41 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:15 PM EDT, 38 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:30 PM EDT, 23 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:38 PM EDT, 15 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:44 PM EDT, 9 minutes before

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The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 19, 8:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Anson	51 min
Jul 19, 8:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wayne	63 min
Jul 19, 8:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Cumberland, Sampson	59 min
Jul 19, 8:47 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly	3 hr
Jul 19, 8:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wayne	31 min
Jul 19, 8:55 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland	3 hr
Jul 19, 9:06 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Hoke	54 min
Jul 19, 9:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Richmond, Scotland	51 min
Jul 19, 9:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Anson, Richmond	54 min
Jul 19, 9:55 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Anson, Richmond, Scotland	2 hr
Jul 19, 9:56 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Cumberland, Hoke, Scotland	49 min
Jul 19, 10:01 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Cumberland, Harnett, Sampson	2 hr
Jul 19, 10:04 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Moore	41 min
Jul 19, 10:31 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Richmond, Scotland	44 min
Jul 19, 10:33 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Montgomery	57 min
Jul 19, 10:44 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Davidson, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Stanly	3 hr
Jul 19, 10:56 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RAH	Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly	3 hr
Jul 19, 11:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Scotland	36 min
Jul 19, 11:51 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Anson, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Scotland and 1 more	4 hr
Jul 20, 12:01 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RAH	Anson, Richmond	5 hr
Jul 20, 12:12 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Montgomery, Moore	63 min
Jul 20, 1:33 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RAH	Anson	3 hr
Jul 20, 1:46 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Franklin, Granville, Nash, Vance	73 min
Jul 20, 1:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Cumberland	37 min
Jul 20, 1:42 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Halifax	48 min
Jul 20, 1:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Richmond	46 min
Jul 20, 1:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wake	53 min
Jul 20, 2:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Halifax	50 min
Jul 20, 2:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wilson	57 min
Jul 20, 2:22 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Halifax, Warren	113 min
Jul 20, 2:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wake	46 min
Jul 20, 2:50 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson	106 min
Jul 20, 2:50 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Edgecombe, Halifax	25 min
Jul 20, 3:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wilson	48 min
Jul 20, 3:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Edgecombe	30 min
Jul 20, 3:23 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe, Wilson	40 min
Jul 20, 3:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Durham, Wake	60 min
Jul 20, 3:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Warren	52 min
Jul 20, 3:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Edgecombe	61 min
Jul 20, 4:02 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Guilford	58 min
Jul 20, 4:06 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford	39 min
Jul 20, 4:13 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Durham, Granville, Wake	74 min
Jul 20, 4:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wake	61 min
Jul 20, 4:17 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Guilford	106 min
Jul 20, 4:19 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Franklin	93 min
Jul 20, 4:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Chatham, Wake	40 min
Jul 20, 4:31 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Franklin	59 min
Jul 20, 4:35 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Wake	2 hr
Jul 20, 4:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Johnston	68 min
Jul 20, 4:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wake	46 min
Jul 20, 4:55 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Bladen	65 min
Jul 20, 4:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Lee	62 min
Jul 20, 5:05 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson	105 min
Jul 20, 5:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Nash	63 min
Jul 20, 5:16 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Forsyth	59 min
Jul 20, 5:22 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Forsyth, Guilford	103 min
Jul 20, 5:22 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Johnston	68 min
Jul 20, 5:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston	44 min
Jul 20, 5:35 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Granville	55 min
Jul 20, 5:59 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Edgecombe	61 min
Jul 20, 6:05 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson	80 min
Jul 20, 6:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wake	63 min
Jul 20, 6:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Guilford	60 min
Jul 20, 6:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Person	53 min
Jul 20, 6:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wayne	66 min
Jul 20, 6:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Sampson, Wayne	38 min
Jul 20, 6:57 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Alamance, Guilford	98 min
Jul 20, 7:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Orange	48 min
Jul 20, 7:16 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Sampson, Wayne	58 min
Jul 20, 7:16 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Davidson	59 min
Jul 20, 7:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Lee	57 min
Jul 20, 7:19 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Granville, Person	85 min
Jul 20, 7:38 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Alamance, Orange	73 min
Jul 20, 7:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Durham, Orange	33 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2026 Every 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.