Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 28, 2026Alamance County, Orange County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Jul 28, 2026, 7:01 PM EDT for Alamance County, Orange County, North Carolina. It was in force for 44 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
Jul 28, 2026, 7:01 PM EDT (23:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Alamance County, NC, Orange County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:00 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 28, 1:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr
Jul 28, 6:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 64 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 321 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 56 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
321 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-111 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1087 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
70 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

132 
WFUS52 KRAH 282301
TORRAH
NCC001-135-282345-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0005.260728T2301Z-260728T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
701 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Alamance County in central North Carolina...
  Southern Orange County in central North Carolina...

* Until 745 PM EDT.

* At 701 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Burlington, moving southeast at 30 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...
  Burlington, Graham, and Mebane around 705 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Efland, Alamance, Sutphin, Haw River, and Cane Creek Reservoir.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 163 and 164.
 Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 140 and 162, and between Mile
Markers 259 and 270.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3599 7899 3594 7900 3586 7911 3588 7925
      3586 7925 3585 7924 3584 7924 3584 7936
      3607 7953 3620 7930
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 314DEG 26KT 3613 7945 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

LH
2 follow-up statements
736 
WWUS52 KRAH 282327
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
727 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCC001-135-282345-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260728T2345Z/
Alamance NC-Orange NC-
727 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALAMANCE AND SOUTHWESTERN ORANGE COUNTIES...

At 727 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Graham, moving southeast at 20 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...
  Mebane around 730 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Cane
Creek Reservoir, Saxapahaw, and Swepsonville.

This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 150 and 155.
 
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.

&&

LAT...LON 3605 7944 3609 7927 3599 7907 3589 7931
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 307DEG 17KT 3606 7935 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

LH
140 
WWUS52 KRAH 282339
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
739 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCC001-135-282348-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260728T2345Z/
Alamance NC-Orange NC-
739 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALAMANCE AND SOUTHWESTERN
ORANGE COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM EDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Raleigh.

&&

LAT...LON 3605 7944 3609 7927 3599 7907 3589 7931
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 314DEG 26KT 3601 7929 

$$

LH

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jul 28, 3:26 PM EDT, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • As of 325 PM Tuesday... 1) There remains a (conditional) Slight risk, Level 2 of 5, for severe thunderstorms throughout cntl NC through this evening, though the greatest threat/highest confidence area will be over the Piedmont at least for the next several hours. 2) Dry through Saturday, then unsettled into next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 3:26 PM EDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
326 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...

* The relatively highest severe weather threat, at least through
  early this evening, has shifted to the wrn Piedmont, where Severe
  Thunderstorm Watch #526 is in effect through 8 PM EDT.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
As of 325 PM Tuesday...

1) There remains a (conditional) Slight risk, Level 2 of 5, for
severe thunderstorms throughout cntl NC through this evening, though
the greatest threat/highest confidence area will be over the
Piedmont at least for the next several hours.

2) Dry through Saturday, then unsettled into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
As of 325 PM Tuesday...

KEY MESSAGE 1... There remains a (conditional) Slight risk, Level 2
of 5, for severe thunderstorms throughout cntl NC through this
evening, though the greatest threat/highest confidence area will be
over the Piedmont at least for the next several hours.

The models indicate a closed mid/upr-level low will develop across
the lwr Great Lakes and nrn Middle Atlantic through early Wed,
within a shortwave trough now progressing across that region per
GOES-E water vapor satellite data. In cyclonic, nwly flow through
the associated trough base, at least a couple of lower amplitude
perturbations, one of which may be convectively-amplified within the
band of frontal convection now over the lwr OH Valley, are forecast
to dig across and offshore the Middle Atlantic. An unseasonably
strong belt of wnwly/nwly 700-500 mb winds of up to 30-40 kts are
forecast and already observed in VWP data over the srn Middle
Atlantic. Meanwhile, 850 mb-centered moisture transport now directed
into the cntl Appalachians will develop ewd and across the srn
Middle Atlantic through this evening.

At the surface and in the low-levels, an MLCAPE minimum over cntl NC
and Southside VA per SPC mesoanalysis data has resulted from
mid/high-level debris cloudiness and remnant stratiform rain and
related limited diurnal destabilization, and also from the presence
of somewhat shallower low-level moisture east of the Appalachians,
indicated by 12Z-observed mean mixing ratios around 13.5 g/kg at
RNK/GSO versus 16-17 g/kg upstream at BNA/ILN. The swrn periphery of
lingering stability and inhibition over cntl NC has been marked by
an outflow and differential heating boundary draped at 19Z from near
TNB to VUJ. This boundary may retreat slightly newd and into the nw
NC Piedmont this afternoon, while a synoptic cold front across WV/KY
will continue to progress swd/sewd across the srn Middle Atlantic
and srn Appalachians.

Deep convection will probably continue to develop this afternoon,
with scattered coverage between the outflow boundary and the
synoptic front and a broken line along the latter, then propagate
generally sewd and  into the NC Piedmont (particularly wrn portions)
through this evening. Shear profiles will be supportive of
supercells, particularly where coverage remains scattered and cells
discrete, versus a tendency for bowing segments within the broken
line of frontal convection. It remains unclear to what degree any
additional development may occur over the ne Piedmont and Coastal
Plain this evening, deeper in the aforementioned stability there and
where the severe threat is even more conditional and uncertain.
However, a lack of cumulus there and presence of stable/billow
clouds nearby over much of cntl and nrn VA suggest any such threat
will be delayed relative to the nearer storms approaching Watch
#526; and no local extensions to the current Watch or issuance of a
new one altogether for locations to its east are imminently
anticipated.

Key Message 2: Dry through Saturday, then unsettled into next week.

Late Week through Weekend: High pressure shifts from the Upper
Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, settling over the Mid-Atlantic by
Friday. Expect near to below-average temperatures and fair weather
through Saturday afternoon. The next round of precipitation arrives
late Saturday evening into Sunday morning as tropical moisture
interacts with a developing stationary boundary.

Into Next Week: Unsettled weather persists through at least mid-week
as the stationary boundary lingers overhead. Plentiful Gulf and
Atlantic moisture will tap into this lingering  boundary, bringing
multiple rounds of showers and isolated thunderstorms across the
region over several days.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 155 PM Tuesday...

Low VFR to MVFR visibility restrictions in a band of now mostly
stratiform rain will be possible for the next couple of hours at RWI
and Piedmont sites. Deep convection will meanwhile continue to
develop --with scattered coverage along an outflow and differential
heating boundary draped at 18Z from near TNB to EXX and in a broken
line along a synoptic cold front over the lwr OH Valley-- then
propagate generally sewd and across the NC Piedmont between 19Z-02Z
and, with lower probability of occurrence and if it holds together
amid lesser instability and debris cloudiness from the
aforementioned stratiform rain, into the RWI and FAY between 23-04Z.

In the wake of the convection, clearing aloft will result atop
residually moist low-levels and soils tonight, such that areas of
mist/fog and low stratus may develop especially at ern sites. VFR
conditions and a surface nwly wind, with gustiness into the teens
kts especially over the Piedmont, will follow for Wed.

Outlook: VFR conditions are generally expected until probably
Sunday, when lift ahead of a mid/upr-level low approaching from the
OH Valley will favor above average chances of showers/storms and
flight restrictions.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...MWS/CA
AVIATION...MWS
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 1:15 PM EDT, 5 hours 46 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
115 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCZ007-021>023-038-039-073-291715-
Person-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Davidson-Randolph-Stanly-
115 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 526 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.

 Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

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.

NCZ008>011-024>028-040>043-074>078-083>086-088-089-291715-
Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-
Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Wilson-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-
Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson-
115 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a slight (level 2 of 5) risk of severe thunderstorms
this afternoon and evening. The greatest threat will be damaging
wind gusts, though large hail and an isolated tornado will also
possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

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 28, 6:04 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
604 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

NCZ022-023-282315-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-
604 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ALAMANCE AND
NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM EDT...

At 604 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Reidsville, moving southeast at 20 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...
Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon, McLeansville, Gibsonville, Haw
River, Lake Burlington, Monticello, and Lake Cammack Park & Marina.

This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 137 and 145, between
Mile Markers 149 and 151, and Mile Marker 153 and near Mile Marker
155.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Doppler radar has indicated weak rotation with this storm. If the
storm intensifies and rotation strengthens, a warning may need to be
issued.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3625 7942 3608 7926 3607 7926 3606 7959
      3625 7977 3624 7953 3625 7953
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 314DEG 18KT 3634 7971

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

1

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 28, 11:09 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAlamance, Orange, Person66 min
Jul 28, 6:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAlamance71 min
Jul 28, 6:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Guilford71 min
Jul 28, 6:24 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAlamance, Guilford51 min
Jul 28, 7:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHChatham60 min
Jul 28, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Wake53 min
Jul 28, 7:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Durham, Granville, Orange, Person, Wake73 min
Jul 28, 7:49 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAlamance, Durham, Orange2 hr

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.