Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Macon County, North Carolina

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Macon County in western North Carolina. This alert was issued at 5:24 AM EDT following radar indications of a severe storm moving through the region.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts Macon County. Specific locations identified in the path of the storm include:

• Franklin
• Highlands
• Nantahala Lake
• Ellijay
• Burningtown
• Kyle
• Rainbow Springs
• Otto
• Wayah Bald
• Cowee

What You Should Do

For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building immediately. Residents are advised to stay away from windows and remain indoors until the storm has passed.

Please report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-8101, or by posting on their Facebook page or X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #nwsgsp. Your report should include the specific event and the location where it occurred.

Expected Conditions

At 5:24 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Andrews, moving east at 40 mph. The primary hazard identified is wind gusts of up to 60 mph. Residents should expect damage to trees and power lines. Radar also indicates the potential for hail up to 0.75 inches in size.

Timeline

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning is effective immediately as of 5:24 AM EDT on March 16, 2026. The warning is currently scheduled to expire at 6:30 AM EDT.