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All of central North Carolina, including the Triangle, could see severe storms later Tuesday, July 28, with possible damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail, according to the National Weather Service.
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The storms could come in two bouts: the first showers arriving in the Triangle around noon and moving through the area into the afternoon with “maybe a few rumbles of thunder in the afternoon,” said Christina Anderson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“It’s a very complicated forecast today,” she said, noting the second bout of storms could arrive around 5 or 6 p.m. after a break in the rain.
“That’s (when an) expected line of stronger severe storms may move through the area,” Anderson said. “That’s going to be with the risk of tornado and strong winds and maybe some hail.”
All of central North Carolina is under a level 2, or slight, risk for severe storms with the most likely hazard damaging wind gusts. A map released by the National Weather Service early Tuesday shows all of central North Carolina with a 30-44% probability of severe wind.
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“A tornado or two possible in all locations with a greater chance across northeastern counties,” with a NWS map showing all the Triangle under a 5-9% probability of a tornado. About half of the Triangle, split along U.S. Highway 1, have a 5-14% chance of severe hail.
Significant storms (hail over 2 inches, winds exceeding 74 miles per hour) are not currently expected, according to the early morning briefing.
The severity of the storms later today depends on how warm the day may get and if the earlier showers cool things, Anderson said. Regardless, everyone should have multiple ways to get weather alerts and a safe space to take shelter, if needed. The forecasted high for Raleigh is 91 degrees.
“Make sure you turn those alarms or notifications on your phone today,” she said. “Just in case we, the National Weather Service, puts out a thunderstorm warning or tornado warning, or even a flash flood warning. You never know if these storms can slow down and produce heavy rainfall and give us some problems with rain.”
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This story was originally published July 28, 2026 at 8:17 AM.