North Carolina, 2026

Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026 · NWS RNK · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

An approaching cold front, supported by an upper-level shortwave trough, triggered widely scattered thunderstorms. Decreasing cloud cover during late afternoon allowed instability to increase, with CAPE values in Blacksburg, VA reaching as high as 3,000 J/Kg per the 30/00z upper air sounding.

Where it happened

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  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.

An approaching cold front, supported by an upper-level shortwave trough, triggered widely scattered thunderstorms. Decreasing cloud cover during late afternoon allowed instability to increase, with CAPE values in Blacksburg, VA reaching as high as 3,000 J/Kg per the 30/00z upper air sounding. Lapse rates were observed near 7 C/km, while 0-1km shear was observed at around 40 knots. Storms developed along the Blue Ridge and pushed east into the Piedmont, increasing in intensity across the southern Piedmont. Storms then congealed into a broken line that tracked southeast. Although no hail was reported, there were several reports of trees blown down by thunderstorm winds.

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 144 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:11 UTC.

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Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Watauga

When
April 29, 6:13 AM EST
Where
Watauga County, 1.79 mi SSE of Reese
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.306, -81.808

Hail of three quarter inch in diameter was reported near Reese, NC.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When
April 29, 8:21 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 2.88 mi WSW of Reidsville Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.321, -79.681

Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree along Lawndale Drive near Reidsville, NC.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When
April 29, 8:30 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 0.45 mi NW of Thompsonville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.285, -79.605

Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Mizpah Church Road and N.C. Highway 87.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1322578, 1322580, 1322583.