Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 2, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Mar 16, 2026, 10:36 AM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 24 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 16, 2026, 10:36 AM EDT (14:36 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 16, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT
- In force
- 24 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Montgomery County, NC, Moore County, NC, Randolph County, NC, Stanly County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 8:54 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 63 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
- 603 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 641 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 300 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 319 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.1
- Supercell composite
- 6.3
The text
As transmitted.
800
WFUS52 KRAH 161436
TORRAH
NCC123-125-151-167-161500-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0002.260316T1436Z-260316T1500Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1036 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026
The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Moore County in central North Carolina...
Northern Montgomery County in central North Carolina...
Southern Randolph County in central North Carolina...
East central Stanly County in central North Carolina...
* Until 1100 AM EDT.
* At 1036 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
tornado was located over Badin Lake, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Badin Lake around 1040 AM EDT.
Seagrove around 1050 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Steeds, Eldorado, Star, Ulah, and Morrow Mountain State Park.
This includes Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 50 and 71.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Motorists should not take shelter under highway overpasses. If you
cannot safely drive away from the tornado, as a last resort, either
park your vehicle and stay put, or abandon your vehicle and lie down
in a low lying area and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3551 8010 3551 8007 3559 8006 3575 7956
3552 7956 3551 7955 3540 7954 3531 8011
TIME...MOT...LOC 1436Z 243DEG 44KT 3543 8008
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
GIH2 follow-up statements
496
WWUS52 KRAH 161452
SVSRAH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1052 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026
NCC167-161502-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260316T1500Z/
Stanly NC-
1052 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL STANLY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3550 7994 3555 7995 3563 7993 3575 7956
3552 7956 3551 7955 3540 7954 3533 8003
TIME...MOT...LOC 1452Z 243DEG 44KT 3552 7986
$$
NCC123-125-151-161500-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260316T1500Z/
Moore NC-Montgomery NC-Randolph NC-
1052 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN MOORE...NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND SOUTHEASTERN
RANDOLPH COUNTIES...
At 1052 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Seagrove, or 9 miles southwest of North Carolina
Zoo, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
North Carolina Zoo and Seagrove around 1055 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Coleridge, Steeds, Star, Robbins, and Ulah.
This includes Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 50 and 70.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Motorists should not take shelter under highway overpasses. If you
cannot safely drive away from the tornado, as a last resort, either
park your vehicle and stay put, or abandon your vehicle and lie down
in a low lying area and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3550 7994 3555 7995 3563 7993 3575 7956
3552 7956 3551 7955 3540 7954 3533 8003
TIME...MOT...LOC 1452Z 243DEG 44KT 3552 7986
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
GIH182
WWUS52 KRAH 161457
SVSRAH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1057 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026
NCC123-125-151-161507-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260316T1500Z/
Moore NC-Montgomery NC-Randolph NC-
1057 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN MOORE...NORTHEASTERN
MONTGOMERY AND SOUTHEASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1100 AM
EDT...
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe
Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3550 7994 3555 7995 3563 7993 3575 7956
3552 7956 3551 7955 3540 7954 3533 8003
TIME...MOT...LOC 1457Z 243DEG 44KT 3554 7981
$$
GIHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 3:21 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Franklin, Nash, Warren | 54 min |
| Mar 16, 4:27 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Orange, Wake | 63 min |
| Mar 16, 8:06 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford | 54 min |
| Mar 16, 8:43 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Moore | 47 min |
| Mar 16, 8:47 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Cumberland, Johnston | 43 min |
| Mar 16, 9:13 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Halifax, Nash | 62 min |
| Mar 16, 9:18 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Sampson | 42 min |
| Mar 16, 9:31 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Sampson | 44 min |
| Mar 16, 9:45 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Cumberland, Johnston | 45 min |
| Mar 16, 9:49 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Stanly | 41 min |
| Mar 16, 10:01 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford | 44 min |
| Mar 16, 10:13 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford | 32 min |
| Mar 16, 10:19 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Davidson, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly | 41 min |
| Mar 16, 10:28 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson | 62 min |
| Mar 16, 10:55 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, Lee, Montgomery, Moore and 2 more | 35 min |
| Mar 16, 10:56 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Johnston | 34 min |
| Mar 16, 11:29 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Lee, Orange and 1 more | 61 min |
| Mar 16, 12:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Lee, Wake | 66 min |
| Mar 16, 1:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren | 65 min |
| Mar 16, 2:31 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Sampson | 29 min |
| Mar 16, 2:36 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Wilson | 54 min |
| Mar 16, 2:38 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Wayne | 37 min |
| Mar 16, 3:05 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Sampson | 55 min |
| Mar 16, 4:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Anson, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph and 2 more | 54 min |
| Mar 16, 4:51 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Davidson, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond and 1 more | 39 min |
| Mar 16, 5:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph | 51 min |
| Mar 16, 5:23 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery and 4 more | 52 min |
| Mar 16, 6:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Granville, Harnett and 8 more | 40 min |
| Mar 16, 6:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett and 10 more | 66 min |
| Mar 16, 7:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Sampson and 5 more | 74 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.