Alert archive / West Virginia / Areal Flood Warnings in 2026
Areal Flood Warning 21, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this areal flood warning at May 25, 2026, 1:08 AM EDT for 5 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 25, 2026, 1:08 AM EDT (05:08 UTC)
- Expired
- May 25, 2026, 5:26 AM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Braxton County, WV, Doddridge County, WV, Gilmer County, WV, Harrison County, WV, Lewis County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:11 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 162 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 112 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 688 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 89 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 200 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.2
The text
As transmitted.
681
WGUS41 KRLX 250508
FLWRLX
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
108 AM EDT Mon May 25 2026
WVC007-017-021-033-041-251030-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FA.W.0021.260525T0508Z-260525T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Braxton WV-Doddridge WV-Gilmer WV-Harrison WV-Lewis WV-
108 AM EDT Mon May 25 2026
...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM EDT THIS MORNING...
...REPLACES FLASH FLOOD WARNING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...Northeastern Braxton County in north central West
Virginia...
Northeastern Gilmer County in north central West Virginia...
Southeastern Doddridge County in northern West Virginia...
Southwestern Harrison County in northern West Virginia...
Lewis County in northern West Virginia...
* WHEN...Until 630 AM EDT.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying
and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 105 AM EDT, emergency management reported that prior heavy
rain in the warned area has resulted in continued flooding of
several roads across the area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain
have fallen.
- Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the
warned area.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Weston, Stonewall Jackson, Jackson Mill, Jane Lew, Camden, Alum
Bridge, Sand Run, Linn, Baldwin and Troy.
- This includes the following highways...
Interstate 79 between mile markers 83 and 105. Route 33 near mile
marker 1.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3909 8073 3909 8070 3911 8068 3917 8058
3908 8032 3886 8059 3888 8059 3890 8061
3889 8064 3903 8083
$$
041 follow-up statement
516
WGUS81 KRLX 250926
FLSRLX
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
526 AM EDT Mon May 25 2026
WVC007-017-021-033-041-250936-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FA.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260525T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Braxton WV-Doddridge WV-Gilmer WV-Harrison WV-Lewis WV-
526 AM EDT Mon May 25 2026
...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...
The Flood Warning is cancelled for portions of central and northern
West Virginia, including the following counties, in central West
Virginia, Braxton and Gilmer. In northern West Virginia, Doddridge,
Harrison and Lewis.
Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3909 8073 3909 8070 3911 8068 3917 8058
3908 8032 3886 8059 3888 8059 3890 8061
3889 8064 3903 8083
$$
04What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this areal flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this areal flood warning went out at May 24, 7:27 PM EDT, 5 hours 41 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) A waffling front in / near the area and mid-level waves will keep clouds, showers, and the chance for mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms, around through the balance of the Memorial Day weekend, as well as the first half of the upcoming work week. Rainfall could be locally heavy at times leading to flooding concerns, especially in areas that have recently received heavy rainfall. A Flood Watch for Flash Flooding has been issued for all but far northeast portions of the area through tonight to handle the current series of mid- level waves incoming.
- 2) The chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms shifts southward Thursday through Friday, only to then possibly return northward again next weekend.
- 3) Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the Memorial Day weekend and most of the upcoming short work week, before returning to near or slightly below normal on Friday into next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 7:27 PM EDT, 5 hours 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
727 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
With low Flash Flood Guidance west and heating east, issued a
Flood Watch for Flash Flooding for all but far northeast
portions of the area through tonight.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) A waffling front in / near the area and mid-level waves
will keep clouds, showers, and the chance for mainly afternoon
and evening thunderstorms, around through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend, as well as the first half of the
upcoming work week. Rainfall could be locally heavy at times
leading to flooding concerns, especially in areas that have
recently received heavy rainfall. A Flood Watch for Flash
Flooding has been issued for all but far northeast portions of
the area through tonight to handle the current series of mid-
level waves incoming.
- 2) The chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening
thunderstorms shifts southward Thursday through Friday, only
to then possibly return northward again next weekend.
- 3) Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend and most of the upcoming short work week,
before returning to near or slightly below normal on Friday
into next weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Mid-level flat waves cross the area through tonight, ahead of a
mid/upper-level short wave trough axis, which crosses first
thing Monday morning. A weak surface boundary oozes into the
area from the west, sort of occluding a warm front over the
area, both boundaries oriented roughly north-south.
As for parameters integrated vertically through the column,
saturation through the column and limited daytime heating per
widespread cloud cover yield PW values in excess of 1.7 inches
and modest CAPE maximizing at around 500 to perhaps 1000 J/kg.
0-6/0-8 km bulk shear values range in the modest 30-40 kt range
with low level shear 20-30 kts can support stronger storms and,
at the very least, updrafts strong enough to leverage the high
moisture content into heavy downpours.
Rainfall has so far today been more closely tied to the mid-level
flat waves, but modest heating may also focus convective
initiation along the boundaries this afternoon and evening. The
Storm Prediction Center has the County Warning area in a general
thunderstorm outlook for today and tonight, while the Weather
Prediction Center has expanded their existing Slight Risk for
Excessive Rainfall over the middle Ohio Valley eastward into the
mountains, based on breaks in the cloud cover that have allowed
more heating there.
All in all, saturated ground and air, somewhat slow storm
motion, more than scattered precipitation coverage, and
increasing HREF/REFS probabilities of 3-hour Flash Flood
Guidance exceedance will contribute to the Flash Flood threat.
Flash Flood Guidance is lowest in the middle Ohio Valley,
particularly along and just west of the Ohio River, where 1 and
even 3 hour values are under an inch.
The short wave trough exiting Monday morning shifts the offshore
turns the mid/upper-level flow to the west to southwest, but
with the confluence zone between the northern and southern
streams over northern to central portions of the forecast area.
This allows another series of flat waves coming out of a
southern stream trough to move northeastward into the
confluence zone Monday, and then turn eastward through it
Monday night. With it and and lingering surface boundaries, the
potential for showers and mainly diurnally-driven thunderstorms
continues across mainly southern and central portions of the
area. All the rainfall will continue to need monitored for
possible excessive runoff through the end of the Holiday
weekend.
For Tuesday into Wednesday, the northern stream long wave trough
over eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. lifts
out, allowing the confluence zone to shift north. This allows
the moistere-laden air mass to shift northward, and what is
left of the southern stream short wave trough to traverse the
area. This, in turn, brings th heavy rainfall threat back
northward as well.
With relatively light flow associated with the southern stream,
the severe threat is low, and the Storm Prediction Center
carries a southward-shifting general thunderstorm outlook.
The Weather Prediction Center limits the Marginal Risk for Excessive
Rainfall to far southern portions of the area on Monday, before
shifting it northward again Tuesday through Wednesday.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
A northern stream short wave trough and then a northern stream
low amplify the east-coast long-wave trough again, in tandem
with long-wave ridging building northwest of the forecast area
late Wednesday through Friday. This drives a west to east
oriented surface cold front southward into, if not through, the
area Thursday into Friday, shunting the moisture-laden air
mass, and hence the chance for mainly diurnal showers and
thunderstorms southward and, by Friday, perhaps south of the
forecast area entirely.
There is uncertainty as to whether the northern stream lifts out
or stays in place next weekend. The current forecast brings the
chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening
thunderstorms back northward into the forecast area.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend and into the upcoming short work week,
especially on lows, with highs somewhat muffled amid the active
weather pattern. Temperatures then trend at least back down to
normal at the end of the work week and into next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Showers and storms will continue to move east, gradually
decreasing in intensity after 04Z.
Expect brief MVFR and IFR restrictions in vicinity of storms,
and the possibility for strong, erratic wind gusts.
Overnight, particularly after 04-06Z, expect a gradual lowering
of ceilings and visibilities to widespread IFR and local/areas
of LIFR, with gradual improvement to widespread MVFR after 16Z
Monday, particularly across the lowlands, with some remaining
IFR continuing to be possible across the mountains including at
sites KEKN and KBKW.
Additional showers and storms are expected on Monday, however,
the bulk of the activity will be south of the Ohio River. Many
lowland locations should improve to VFR after 20Z, but, expect
at least brief MVFR conditions in showers and storms at times.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of storms, and associated
restrictions may vary from forecast. Timing of improvement from
IFR conditions Monday morning may vary from forecast.
EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
DATE MON 05/25/26
UTC 1HRLY 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
EDT 1HRLY 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H L L M M M
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H M M M M M M M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H L H H M L L L L M
EKN CONSISTENCY L H H H H M H M M M M M
PKB CONSISTENCY M H M M H H M M M H M H
CKB CONSISTENCY L H L L H H M H H H H M
AFTER 00Z TUESDAY...
IFR remains possible at times from Monday evening into at least
Wednesday, with mainly afternoon and evening showers and/or
thunderstorms, as well as overnight fog and/or low stratus.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Monday for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>031-033-034-039-515>522.
OH...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Monday for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Monday for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Monday for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...TRM
AVIATION...SLIn the hours before
Local storm report, May 24, 9:31 PM EDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
931 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0604 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Logan 37.85N 81.99W
05/24/2026 Logan WV Public
Power lines down. Verified through social
media photo.
&&Local storm report, May 24, 10:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1010 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1005 PM Flash Flood 8 NNE Sand Fork 39.02N 80.69W
05/24/2026 Lewis WV Public
Kliens Run Creek is out of its banks and is
flooding Kliens Run Road.
&&Local storm report, May 24, 10:15 PM EDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1015 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0957 PM Flood 1 WSW Clarksburg 39.27N 80.36W
05/24/2026 Harrison WV 911 Call Center
Water a foot deep in a residential basement.
&&Local storm report, May 24, 10:27 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1027 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1021 PM Flash Flood 1 NE Nutter Fort 39.27N 80.31W
05/24/2026 Harrison WV 911 Call Center
1500 block of Philippi Pike is flooded.
&&Local storm report, May 24, 10:30 PM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1030 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0502 PM Flash Flood 3 SE Crooksville 39.74N 82.04W
05/24/2026 Morgan OH Public
Flooding along SR 555. Verified through
social media photo.
&&Local storm report, May 24, 10:44 PM EDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1044 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM Rain 2 NW Lost Creek 39.18N 80.37W
05/24/2026 M1.80 Inch Harrison WV Cocorahs
Observed between 8:30pm and 10:00pm.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 8:16 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer | 4 hr |
| May 24, 8:53 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Mason | 9 hr |
| May 24, 9:14 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Raleigh | 4 hr |
| May 24, 9:18 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gilmer, Lewis | 4 hr |
| May 24, 9:25 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Harrison, Lewis | 4 hr |
| May 25, 12:05 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Harrison, Taylor | 5 hr |
| May 25, 12:09 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Roane | 4 hr |
| May 25, 12:43 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Randolph, Upshur | 4 hr |
| May 25, 1:16 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Harrison, Lewis, Upshur | 4 hr |
| May 25, 1:37 AM EDT | Flood Watch | RLX | Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Harrison and 13 more | 6 hr |
Nearby
Areal Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Every areal flood warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.