Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Harnett, Johnston, Wake Counties NC

Source: NOAA · Central North Carolina

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NWS Raleigh has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northeastern Harnett, southeastern Wake, and northwestern Johnston counties in central North Carolina until 3:00 PM EDT.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Affected area
Central North Carolina
Issued
August 20, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Raleigh NC

Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.

Record status: publication date is recent, but current status is not stored on this page. Check the issuing agency's live warning service before acting because warnings can be updated, narrowed, or cancelled.

Alert Details

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by NWS Raleigh NC. Effective from August 20, 2026 at 2:18 PM EDT until August 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT. Severity: Severe. Urgency: Immediate. Certainty: Observed.

Affected Areas

Northeastern Harnett County, southeastern Wake County, and northwestern Johnston County in central North Carolina. Locations impacted include Smithfield, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Clayton, Angier, Coats Crossroads, and Lake Benson. Highways affected: Interstate 95 near Mile Marker 93 and Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 304 and 322.

What You Should Do

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

Expected Conditions

At 2:18 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Angier, or 14 miles northeast of Lillington, moving east at 15 mph. Hazards include 60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail (0.75 inch). Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Source: Radar indicated.

Timeline

Alert effective August 20, 2026 at 2:18 PM EDT and expires August 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Raleigh has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northeastern Harnett, southeastern Wake, and northwestern Johnston counties in central North Carolina until 3:00 PM EDT.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Central North Carolina. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.