Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Henderson, Buncombe, Polk, and Rutherford Counties

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for portions of western North Carolina. The alert was issued at 7:05 AM EDT on March 16, 2026, after radar indicated severe thunderstorms moving through the area.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following regions in western North Carolina:

• Northwestern Rutherford County
• Henderson County
• Western Polk County
• Southeastern Buncombe County

Specific locations in the path of the storm include Hendersonville, Columbus, Arden, Mills River, Fletcher, Flat Rock, Etowah, Fairview in Buncombe County, Mountain Home, and Laurel Park.

What You Should Do

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

Residents are encouraged to report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-8101, or by posting details and specific locations to the NWS Facebook page or on X using the hashtag #nwsgsp.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: Gusts up to 60 mph are expected, which may cause damage to trees and power lines.
• Hail: Radar indicates the potential for hail up to 0.75 inches.
• Storm Movement: At 7:05 AM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 13 miles north of Brevard to 15 miles northwest of Pickens, moving east at 40 mph.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately and is set to expire at 8:00 AM EDT on March 16, 2026.