CORRECTION (September 21, 2026, ~3:00 PM PDT): An earlier version of this post described this storm’s hail as destructive. A parser misread the NWS text “Up to .75 inch” as 75 inches. The National Weather Service actually reported 60-mph wind gusts and hail up to three-quarters of an inch — a garden-variety severe thunderstorm that would normally not have been posted here. The post is corrected and kept on its original URL so anyone who saw the earlier version can find the correction.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning is active for Forsyth, NC and surrounding areas right now, issued by NWS Raleigh NC. 60-mph wind gusts and hail up to three-quarters of an inch — a garden-variety severe thunderstorm. The National Weather Service did not designate this storm destructive.
This is a live snapshot as of 2:27 PM PT on September 21, 2026. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.
Forsyth, NC — Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Issuing office: NWS Raleigh NC. Issued: 2026-09-21T17:10:00-04:00. Expires: 2026-09-21T18:00:00-04:00 (about 6:00PM EDT).
Hazard detail (NWS verbatim):
At 508 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Winston-Salem,
moving southeast at 30 mph.HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include…
Winston-Salem, High Point, Kernersville, McLeansville, Summerfield,
Stokesdale, Walkertown, Jamestown, and Lake Jeanette Marina.This includes the following highways…
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 195 and 222.
Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 98 and 103.
Interstate 74 between Mile Markers 56 and 71.
Expected impacts: creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, underpasses, and other poor-drainage, low-lying areas are at risk, per the NWS alert.
Guilford, NC — Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Issuing office: NWS Raleigh NC. Issued: 2026-09-21T17:10:00-04:00. Expires: 2026-09-21T18:00:00-04:00 (about 6:00PM EDT).
Hazard detail (NWS verbatim):
At 508 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Winston-Salem,
moving southeast at 30 mph.HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include…
Winston-Salem, High Point, Kernersville, McLeansville, Summerfield,
Stokesdale, Walkertown, Jamestown, and Lake Jeanette Marina.This includes the following highways…
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 195 and 222.
Interstate 73 between Mile Markers 98 and 103.
Interstate 74 between Mile Markers 56 and 71.
Expected impacts: creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, underpasses, and other poor-drainage, low-lying areas are at risk, per the NWS alert.
What the NWS is telling residents
Straight line winds can blow down trees, power lines, and damage
mobile homes and other buildings. Seek shelter in a sturdy structure
until the storm has passed. Stay away from windows as flying debris
generated by damaging winds can be deadly.Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading
killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to
be struck by lightning.
Stay safe tonight
Move indoors away from windows before the storm arrives — hail this size breaks glass and injures people caught outside. Park vehicles under cover if you can do so safely before the storm hits; do not drive into the storm.
After it passes: inspect your roof, siding, and windows from the ground first, photograph visible damage before any repairs, and call a local restoration contractor and roofer — hail damage opens roofs to water, and water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day.
What this means for restoration teams
A warning like this is a demand signal. For local restoration contractors, the play is the same one that has worked through every season: stage equipment now, pre-position drying assets, and keep an on-call rotation through the morning. The first calls land within hours of the water receding — and they keep coming for days as homeowners discover damage that wasn’t visible in the dark.
The damage categories track the hazard: interior water intrusion and saturated drywall and insulation where water gets in, mold risk inside 24–48 hours once materials stay wet, sewage backup in low-lying areas where drainage is overwhelmed, and roof, siding, and window damage wherever wind or hail hits the building envelope.
Field discipline matters as much as speed: photo-document before mitigation starts, moisture-map every affected room, capture the address, the water source, and the affected areas on the first call, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work begins. The contractor who documents first argues last with the adjuster.
Watch the full warned area — not just your home zip. Water moves across the landscape, and crews that cover the whole warning footprint catch the work before it goes to whoever answered the phone first.
FEMA & federal assistance
FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find a recovery center at fema.gov/drc. Basic eligibility generally includes citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it is safe to do so.
Looking ahead
When this warning expires, the danger is not automatically over: additional rounds can follow, and creeks and rivers often crest later than the heaviest rain. Watch the next NWS update for your county, and treat any water in or around structures as an active damage clock.
Demand-window note for contractors: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage — tonight’s warning is tomorrow’s job list.
Sources & how to verify
- NWS alert source (api.weather.gov)
- weather.gov — enter your county or ZIP for your local office’s current warnings
To verify for your own location: go to weather.gov and enter your county or ZIP code, or check your local NWS office page for the latest warnings.
This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.
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