Raleigh woke up to a full-on soaker Thursday morning, July 23, 2026, with heavy rain pounding the city and thick fog hanging low over neighborhoods. Temperatures are stuck in the mid-70s and visibility has dropped to about a mile. Repeated downpours are on tap through the day, and the area remains under a Flood Watch. Drivers should brace for slow, waterlogged roads and pockets of urban flooding. Keep phones charged and leave extra time for commutes, and skip those tempting shortcuts through low-lying underpasses. If you live near creeks or along poorly drained streets, move vehicles and valuables to higher ground where you can.
Showers And Flood Watch
According to NWS Raleigh, waves of showers and thunderstorms will keep pushing across the Triangle today, with a high near 78°F. The agency says new rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches are possible in spots, with locally higher amounts, and a Flood Watch will stay in place through Thursday evening.
Foggy Mornings, Slick Roads
Dense fog this morning is cutting visibility and turning already wet roads into a slick mess. Observations at Raleigh–Durham International showed visibility near one mile. The City of Raleigh's Flood Early Warning System uses stream gauges and monitoring cameras to track rising creeks and help guide road closures. Check those feeds and local closure maps before you head out, and do not drive through standing water, no matter how shallow it looks.
Short-Term Outlook
Showers are expected to linger into tonight with a low around 68°F and another half to three quarters of an inch of rain possible before morning. Friday stays unsettled with additional chances for thunderstorms and highs in the upper 70s. Conditions should trend drier late in the weekend, before heat builds back into the 90s early next week. Keep an eye on updated forecasts and be ready to shuffle outdoor plans if storms redevelop.
We’re Following This
This story updates our overnight coverage; see our earlier report on the slow-moving soaker for more background. We will post updates if the NWS issues any flash flood warnings or if local agencies move to close additional roads.
