Behind the northward retreat of a warm front, a cluster of showers moved along and just ahead of a cold front from Virginia into northwest North Carolina during the evening hours. 25) and sporadic power outages and downed trees to the northern Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain during the late evening hours.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS RAH wrote it up.
Behind the northward retreat of a warm front, a cluster of showers moved along and just ahead of a cold front from Virginia into northwest North Carolina during the evening hours. These showers deepened and led to growing clusters of storms, along with one sustained supercell that brought a swath of large hail (0.75 to 1.25) and sporadic power outages and downed trees to the northern Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain during the late evening hours.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 29, 6:21 PM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 721 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Although the Marginal (level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the most likely window for the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont between 8 PM and 11 PM. * Updated the aviation discussion to reflect the latest thoughts on the convective evolution tonight and timing for the 00z Thurs TAFs. && .KEY MESSAGES... As of 335 PM Wednesday... 1) Although the Marginal(level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont, mainly between 8 PM and 11 PM. 2) Next widespread chance for precipitation comes Friday night through Saturday night. 3) Temperatures will be near normal for the end of the work week drop below normal for Saturday and Sunday, then rise above normal for Tuesday and Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... As of 335 PM Wednesday.. KEY MESSAGE 1... Although the Marginal(level 1 of 5) risk remains throughout cntl NC, the relative greatest threat will exist over the Piedmont, mainly between 8 PM and 11 PM. Widespread (low) overcast, and also subsidence in the wake of a convectively-amplified trough and MCVs across the Southeast since last night, have kept cntl NC stable and dry today. However, the poleward retreat of a warm front, which extended at 19Z from a lee low near HKY esewd across the Sandhills and srn Coastal Plain, will yield lifting and scattering of the low clouds and related ssw to nne diurnal destabilization across cntl NC through 22-23Z. Despite what may be a relative minimum in larger-scale forcing for ascent over cntl NC between now and 06Z, between the aforementioned convectively-amplified trough (and 70 meter 500 mb height falls observed at GSO at 12Z) and a perturbation that will shear quickly ewd from CO this afternoon to the srn Middle Atlantic early Thu, glancing influence from a couple of other shortwave perturbations pivoting across the Great Lakes may prove sufficient to support the development of showers/storms just upstream of cntl NC this afternoon-evening. Specifically, scattered cells may develop along a surface trough in the immediate lee of the Appalachians, one anchored by the aforementioned lee low near KHKY, and also possibly over the Blue Ridge in the next few hours - all of which should then move generally ewd with wly mean winds of 35-40 kts, and should some indeed develop, across cntl NC between 22Z and 03-04Z. VWP data and forecast hodographs depict veering in the lowest 2-3 kilometers beneath much stronger wly flow (50-90 kts) through the mid and upr- levels. Those (supercell) shear profiles will conditionally support splitting cells capable of producing hail and locally damaging wind gusts. Low-level shear will also be adequately strong to support isolated tornado potential, with strengthening of that shear with at least some nocturnal, low-level flow acceleration centered around 00Z. That isolated tornado potential would be highest for right- moving cells whose motions would be favorably aligned along the retreating surface warm front across the Piedmont, where both shear and low LCLs would also be relatively maximized. KEY MESSAGE 2... Next widespread chance for precipitation comes Friday night through Saturday night. Tonight's cold front will drop south along the Gulf Coast, become nearly stationary along the coast through Friday, then have a coastal low develop along the Atlantic coastline. While the forecast has trended drier for Friday evening, rain should begin to move into the region from south to north Friday night into Saturday, with the greatest chances of rain occurring Saturday morning. Rain chances will then decrease, coming to an end by midnight. While this is still three to four days away, the current forecast calls for anywhere between a quarter inch of rain in the Triad to an inch of rain in the southeast across Sampson county. Warmer temperatures between 500 and 700 mb should limit any instability and have removed any mention of thunder from the forecast. KEY MESSAGE 3... Temperatures will be near normal for the end of the work week, drop below normal for Saturday and Sunday, then rise above normal for Tuesday and Wednesday. While tonight's front will bring drier air into the region, the temperature of the new air mass will not be much different, and highs on Thursday and Friday should be in the low to mid 70s. As the coastal low develops, winds will take on a northerly component, resulting in a chilly day on Saturday - locations near the VA/NC border will struggle to reach 60 degrees, with low 60s elsewhere. With clearing skies on Sunday as the low departs, temperatures will climb slightly, but still remain mostly in the 60s. Monday will be a transitional day with temperatures near normal, then southerly flow will help raise highs into the 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Saturday night should be the coldest night, with temperatures ranging from the upper 30s to the mid 40s - too warm for concern about frost potential. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 715 PM Wednesday... MVFR cigs has cleared central NC terminals with scattered 3,500 to 5,000 ft cumulus in its wake. Convection along and immediately ahead of a cold front moving into/through southwest VA is expected to shift across central NC between 00z until approximately 05z. Scattered to locally numerous showers and mostly isolated thunderstorms may affect any central NC terminals and bring briefly heavy rain, risk for infrequent lightning, and gusty winds. Small hail can't be ruled out from the stronger convective clusters. Areas of fog and stratus may develop in the wake of that convection early tonight, especially at RWI, amid residually moist low-levels and ahead of a cold front and following drier air and light nwly flow that will move across the region overnight. Mid and high-level (VFR) ceilings and occasional light rain may lift into FAY Fri morning; prevailing flight restrictions are not expected at this time. Outlook: Rain and flight restrictions will accompany an area low pressure that is forecast to track along the coast of the Carolinas on Sat. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...MWS/TG AVIATION...AS/MWS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 408 AM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-300815- Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance- Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Wake- Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson- Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 408 AM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few isolated strong to severe storms may be possible this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
916 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
NCZ007-008-022>024-300215-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-Person NC-Granville NC-Orange NC-
916 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ALAMANCE...PERSON...
NORTHERN ORANGE...NORTHWESTERN GRANVILLE AND NORTHERN GUILFORD
COUNTIES THROUGH 1015 PM EDT...
At 915 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Elmo to near Wentworth to Pine Hall.
Movement was southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Greensboro, Burlington, Graham, Roxboro, Mebane, Elon, McLeansville,
Concord, Summerfield, and Gibsonville.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 128 and 131.
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 132 and 155, and between Mile
Markers 221 and 226.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3630 7883 3607 7926 3602 7977 3622 8004
3626 8004 3624 7915 3654 7914 3654 7859
TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 306DEG 28KT 3661 7918 3636 7973 3631 8003
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KrenSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
943 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
NCZ073-300230-
Stanly NC-
943 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN STANLY COUNTY THROUGH
1030 PM EDT...
At 942 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Midland, or 10 miles southeast of Downtown Concord, moving east at 30
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Fairview In Union County, Locust, Oakboro, and Stanfield.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3532 8041 3533 8015 3516 8021 3516 8022
3517 8024 3521 8025 3520 8028 3520 8030
3518 8031 3517 8035 3518 8037 3517 8039
3517 8042 3516 8044 3518 8051
TIME...MOT...LOC 0142Z 283DEG 24KT 3527 8052
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ASThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:45 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
One hundred power outages were reported due to trees on powerlines.
One hundred power outages from trees down on power lines.
One inch hail was observed near Locust.
Quarter-inch hail was reported in the town of Mebane.
Broadcast media report shows 1.25 to 1.5 inch hail in the town of Mebane.
Dime size hail was reported near the 3900 block along Long Meadow Drive in Mebane.
One hundred power outages from trees on powerlines.
Several hundred power outages were reported from trees down on powerlines.
One inch hail was measured near Carrboro.
One inch hail was reported near Chapel Hill.
One thousand power outages were reported from trees on powerlines.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of New Hope Church Road and Indian Creek Lane.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 2026
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: 1330680, 1330681, 1330671, 1330672, 1330673, 1330677, 1330682, 1330683, 1330678, 1330679, 1330684, 1330685.