Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 253, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 4, 2026, 4:25 PM EDT for Vance County, Warren County, North Carolina. It was in force for 50 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
- Sep 4, 2026, 4:25 PM EDT (20:25 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 4, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 50 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Vance County, NC, Warren County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:24 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 143 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
- 1560 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -59 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1012 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 27 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 23 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 Sep 4, 2:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- As of 215 PM Friday... 1) A new Heat Advisory has been issued for Saturday from 11 AM until 8 PM. 2) Scattered to locally numerous showers/storms will be possible through this afternoon into the evening hours. 3) A conditional severe risk persists on Saturday ahead of a cold front. 4) A cold frontal passage Sunday will bring cooler and drier air early next week, but not before some isolated to scattered showers remain possible late this weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 4, 2:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 220 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Heat Advisory has been expanded to cover all of central NC until 8 PM this evening. * A new Heat Advisory has been issued for Saturday where forecast confidence was greatest. This Advisory will be in effect from 11 AM until 8 PM. && .KEY MESSAGES... As of 215 PM Friday... 1) A new Heat Advisory has been issued for Saturday from 11 AM until 8 PM. 2) Scattered to locally numerous showers/storms will be possible through this afternoon into the evening hours. 3) A conditional severe risk persists on Saturday ahead of a cold front. 4) A cold frontal passage Sunday will bring cooler and drier air early next week, but not before some isolated to scattered showers remain possible late this weekend. && .DISCUSSION... As of 215 PM Friday... KEY MESSAGE 1... A new Heat Advisory has been issued for Saturday from 11 AM until 8 PM. The Heat Advisory was expanded to all of central NC for today until 8 PM. Surface observations across the northern Piedmont up into Virginia have shown heat indices rising into 102 to around 105 and this will likely continue until convective outflow from developing showers/storms cool the area or until 8 PM as nocturnal cooling begins. A cold front is expected to remain well to our north through the daylight hours on Sat. However, the hot and humid air mass that has plagued the southern Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas this week will likely be convectively contaminated by cloud debris, lingering outflows, and pockets of rain cooled/moistened soils from convection this afternoon. Additionally, A canopy of mid- level convective debris cloudiness from the (probably weakening) remnants of an overnight convective cluster from OH to the Virginias may limit insolation and curb the heat over especially the nrn half of cntl NC on Sat. And if that convective cluster were to maintain intensity more than currently forecast, which they oftentimes do east of the Appalachians, then a more- prominent cold pool/outflow and possible ongoing convection would further limit early day heating there. The airmass will nonetheless have the potential to be as hot (or nearly so) as previous days in the absence of those lower predictability influences from convection/clouds. A Heat Advisory has been issued for Saturday across the southern half of central NC where confidence is greatest that at least two hours of +105 is probable before convection/cloud cover move into the area. This area may need to be adjusted with the overnight forecast update. KEY MESSAGE 2... Scattered to locally numerous showers/storms will be possible through this afternoon into the evening hours. The leading edge of a cold front is beginning to work down into northern VA this afternoon, but is expected to stay well north of the forecast area. The primary triggering mechanism for convection is expected to be along a leading pre-frontal trough acting as a low-lvl convergence boundary and is draped near or just south of the VA/NC border. The air mass in place remains hot and humid with temperatures regularly in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees and surface dew points in the upper 60s to low 70s. When combined with slightly cooler 500-700mb temperatures on the northeast side of the lower/mid level subtropical ridge over the southern Appalachians and extending into SC, moderate to high instability is expected (1500- 3500 MLCAPE) around the initiating boundary and locations to its south in central NC. Storm coverage and intensity remains uncertain given the lack of a strong forcing mechanism and minimal mid/upper lvl support from any upstream MCV's given our location relative to the strong ridge. If deep convection is able to develop, mean cloud-layer winds of 10- 25 kts over the southern Mid-Atlantic oriented about 30 degrees off the initiating boundary should allow for convection to shift off the boundary and track generally east- southeastward. Deep layer shear of 25-35 kts should support storm organization along a common cold pool within small scale bowing clusters, although splitting cells and transient mid-lvl rotation will be possible with short, straight hodographs if storm collisions can remain at a minimum (00z HREF highlights 10-30% of short segments of either right or left moving storms in the 6-11 PM timeframe). Steep low-lvl lapse rates, high LCLs, and strong DCAPE, will favor strong diabatic cooling within collapsing deep-convection and result in the primary risk coming from damaging straight- line winds, especially within any storm clusters oriented along a common cold pool. Isolated large hail can't be ruled out, but given the hot temperatures, it will likely require an incredibly deep storm and/or some mid-lvl storm rotation to have the hail survive its journey to the surface. KEY MESSAGE 3... A conditional severe risk persists on Saturday ahead of a cold front. A decaying, convectively-induced mid-level disturbance over the lower Ohio Valley will interact with a backdoor cold front sliding south through the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday. Deep-layer shear will increase compared to Friday, with mid-level flow strengthening as the East Coast trough digs further west, supporting multicell storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail. A Slight Risk remains in place for the majority of central North Carolina. This severe threat, however, remains conditional. Upstream decaying convection out of western VA could focus debris cloudiness across our northern tier of counties. Realistically, a gradual thinning of these clouds will take shape through the late morning and early afternoon. A southward moving effective front/outflow may then trigger afternoon and evening convection. Where that convection initiates will depend on conditional factors mentioned, but could be most focused from along and south of US-64 per the latest 12z HREF. WPC has much of the area in an excessive rainfall risk, but this is also conditional. Nevertheless, brief heavy rainfall in some slow- moving storms could favor isolated flash flooding given the anomalous moisture in place. KEY MESSAGE 4... A cold frontal passage Sunday will bring cooler and drier air early next week, but not before some isolated to scattered showers remain possible late this weekend. The cold front is expected to push through by Sunday morning. However, the trend since Monday has been for a slow erosion of the low-level moisture, coupled to the fact that a moist northeasterly flow behind the front could favor upslope stratus in the morning and early afternoon. The guidance is now honing in on a weak mid-level impulse diving down out of WV/VA during the day Sunday. Coupled to the still high dewpoints in the upper 60s for most areas, weak instability could support low-topped isolated to scattered showers, especially along and west of the Triangle into the western/southern Piedmont. Drier air and more seasonal temperatures will arrive in time for Labor Day and persist into Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday should feature much lower humidity, with dewpoints expected to range from the upper 50s to lower 60s, and highs largely in the 80s. Unfortunately, this reprieve from the heat will be brief, with high temperatures expected to rebound into the low-to- mid/upper 90s by Wednesday and Thursday. The ridge is expected to extend from the central US this time late next week as opposed to over the southern Appalachians, which may limit our overall heat risk. And ensembles continue to suggest a late-week front sometime Thu-Fri. There is a large degree of spread, however, in the trough/ridge pattern at this time range, so confidence on storm chances are low, though highest late Thu- Fri. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 215 PM Friday... Convection remains the primary driver in aviation restrictions through the 24 hour TAF period. Today features a noticeable increase in potential showers/storms at the northern 4 terminals (less chance for TSRA to reach FAY) and PROB30s have been maintained. Any terminals that receive heavy rainfall may bring a risk for morning stratus/mist or even fog. Outlook: Convective coverage and intensity is expected to increase on Sat relative to the past several days ahead of a cold front slow shifting south into the Carolinas from VA. Northeast flow behind a backdoor cold front may support areas of IFR-MVFR ceilings Sun morning and Mon morning. && .CLIMATE... Records within reach this forecast period: Record High Temperatures: September 4: KRDU: 100/1925 KFAY: 100/1944 September 5: KGSO: 97/1954 KRDU: 98/2023 KFAY: 99/1932 Record High Minimum Temperatures: September 4: KGSO: 72/2018 KRDU: 74/1921 KFAY: 75/2020 September 5: KGSO: 73/2018 KRDU: 74/2012 KFAY: 74/1935 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ007>011- 021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089. Air Quality Alert until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ021>023- 038-039. Heat Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday for NCZ042- 073>078-083>086-088-089. && DISCUSSION...AS/MWS/Kren AVIATION...AS/MWS
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 4, 2:24 PM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 224 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026 NCZ021>023-038-039-051830- Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Davidson-Randolph- 224 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. Air Quality Alert. Heat Advisory. Additionally, widely scattered thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Dangerously hot and humid conditions, and a chance of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail, will continue through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. NCZ007>011-024>028-040-041-043-051830- Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash- Edgecombe-Chatham-Wake-Wilson- 224 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. Heat Advisory. Additionally, scattered thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Dangerously and unseasonably hot and humid conditions, and a chance of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail, will continue through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. NCZ042-078-051830- Johnston-Wayne- 224 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY... 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. Heat Advisory. Additionally, scattered thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail this afternoon and evening. .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. Heat Advisory. Dangerously and unseasonably hot and humid conditions, and a chance of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail, will continue through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. NCZ073>077-083>086-088-089-051830- Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke- Cumberland-Sampson- 224 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY... 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. Heat Advisory. .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. Heat Advisory. Dangerously and unseasonably hot and humid conditions, and a chance of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail, will continue through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Sep 4, 2:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
242 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
NCZ007-008-024-025-041930-
Durham NC-Person NC-Granville NC-Orange NC-
242 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN PERSON...
NORTHEASTERN ORANGE...SOUTHWESTERN GRANVILLE AND NORTH CENTRAL DURHAM
COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT...
At 242 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Roxboro, moving east at 15 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...
Oxford, Roxboro, Creedmoor, Butner, Rougemont, Stem, Lake Michie,
Lake Butner, Moriah, and Berea.
This includes Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 188 and 202.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3633 7858 3620 7863 3609 7870 3624 7910
3642 7902
TIME...MOT...LOC 1842Z 289DEG 15KT 3631 7897
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KrenSpecial weather statement, Sep 4, 3:37 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
337 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
NCZ011-028-042030-
Edgecombe NC-Halifax NC-
337 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN EDGECOMBE AND
SOUTHEASTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT...
At 333 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles west of Scotland Neck, or 13 miles south of Halifax, 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...
Tarboro, Scotland Neck, Enfield, Princeville, Whitakers, Hobgood,
Speed and Leggett.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3606 7735 3600 7741 3599 7740 3588 7751
3606 7773 3621 7765 3622 7739 3621 7738
3619 7735 3619 7733
TIME...MOT...LOC 1933Z 299DEG 8KT 3614 7764
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
22Special weather statement, Sep 4, 4:01 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
401 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
NCZ022>024-042045-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-Orange NC-
401 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ALAMANCE...WEST CENTRAL
ORANGE AND NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM EDT...
At 401 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Monroeton to near Elon. Movement was
southeast at 5 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...
Greensboro, Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon, McLeansville,
Gibsonville, Haw River, Swepsonville, and Alamance.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 130 and 131.
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 132 and 161, and between Mile
Markers 224 and 226.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3624 7957 3624 7953 3625 7953 3625 7936
3607 7914 3596 7949 3607 7981 3625 7987
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 312DEG 6KT 3624 7974 3617 7949
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KrenLocal storm report, Sep 4, 4:08 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2:06 PM EDT | Heat Advisory | RAH | Anson, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee and 7 more | 28 hr |
| Sep 4, 2:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Granville, Person | 48 min |
| Sep 4, 3:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Durham, Granville, Orange, Person | 38 min |
| Sep 4, 3:37 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Edgecombe | 53 min |
| Sep 4, 4:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Alamance, Guilford | 44 min |
| Sep 4, 4:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Guilford | 38 min |
| Sep 4, 4:45 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Alamance | 3 hr |
| Sep 4, 4:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Edgecombe | 59 min |
| Sep 4, 4:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Alamance | 42 min |
| Sep 4, 5:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax | 40 min |
| Sep 4, 5:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Guilford | 36 min |
| Sep 4, 5:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Halifax | 63 min |
| Sep 4, 5:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Guilford | 45 min |
| Sep 4, 5:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Halifax | 38 min |
| Sep 4, 6:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Guilford, Randolph | 51 min |
| Sep 4, 6:18 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Guilford | 13 min |
| Sep 4, 6:31 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RAH | Guilford | 3 hr |
| Sep 4, 6:49 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Guilford | 56 min |
| Sep 4, 7:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax | 38 min |
| Sep 4, 7:34 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Halifax | 15 min |
| Sep 4, 7:38 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash | 67 min |
| Sep 4, 7:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Franklin, Granville, Vance, Warren | 59 min |
| Sep 4, 7:49 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax | 3 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.