Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 104, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 2, 2026, 9:38 PM EDT for Buchanan County, Virginia; McDowell County, Mingo County, Wyoming County, West Virginia. It was in force for 3 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
- Aug 2, 2026, 9:38 PM EDT (01:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 3, 2026, 12:45 AM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Buchanan County, VA, McDowell County, WV, Mingo County, WV, Wyoming County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:39 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 218 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
- 661 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 726 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 75 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 103 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 4.9
The text
As transmitted.
129
WGUS51 KRLX 030138
FFWRLX
VAC027-WVC047-059-109-030445-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0104.260803T0138Z-260803T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
938 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Buchanan County in southwestern Virginia...
Northwestern McDowell County in southern West Virginia...
Southeastern Mingo County in southern West Virginia...
West Central Wyoming County in southern West Virginia...
* Until 1245 AM EDT.
* At 938 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Gilbert Creek, Hanover, Iaeger, Panther and Avondale.
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 3754 8199 3757 8197 3760 8186 3758 8177
3741 8177 3730 8189 3729 8191 3744 8194
3745 8197 3742 8207 3751 8201 3754 8197
3755 8197 3755 8198 3754 8198
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
JP1 follow-up statement
796
WGUS71 KRLX 030437
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1237 AM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAC027-WVC047-059-109-030447-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0104.000000T0000Z-260803T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Buchanan VA-McDowell WV-Mingo WV-Wyoming WV-
1237 AM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1245 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING
FOR NORTHEASTERN BUCHANAN, NORTHWESTERN MCDOWELL, SOUTHEASTERN MINGO
AND WEST CENTRAL WYOMING COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended and flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3754 8199 3757 8197 3760 8186 3758 8177
3741 8177 3730 8189 3729 8191 3744 8194
3745 8197 3742 8207 3751 8201 3754 8197
3755 8197 3755 8198 3754 8198
$$
20What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash 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 flash flood warning went out at Aug 2, 7:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Localized flash flooding and isolated strong to severe storms will be possible today. Then, expect daily chances of showers and storms throughout the new work week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 7:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
726 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Latest thoughts on today's strong thunderstorm and flooding
threats. Updated 18Z aviation discussion.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Localized flash flooding and isolated strong to severe
storms will be possible today. Then, expect daily chances of
showers and storms throughout the new work week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A postively-tilted trough will track across the middle Ohio
Valley and Appalachians today, bringing scattered showers and
thunderstorms along with it. GOES satellite imagery shows clouds
breaking for brief pockets of sunshine across the middle Ohio
Valley, and this daytime heating may provide fuel for isolated
stronger thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. However, the
thick cloud cover has likely limited the overall severe
thunderstorm threat today. If a few storms are able to mature,
deep-layer shear will be just enough (30-40 kts) to support
organized convection. SPC mesoanalysis also shows around 100
m2/s2 of 0-1 km storm relative helicity across central and
eastern portions of West Virginia today, which could provide
support for a brief spin-up tornado. However, the main threat of
any storms that mature today would be localized damaging wind
gusts and cloud-to-ground lightning.
In addition to a marginal severe weather threat, there is also a
threat of flash flooding due to a very saturated airmass.
Precipitable water values are highest today across central,
northern, and eastern West Virginia at 2.00 to 2.25 inches. These
are the locations where flooding will be a concern today, and a
Flood Watch remains in effect for these areas until late tonight.
Any place that sees training showers and thunderstorms today will be
at risk of flash flooding.
The aforementioned trough will escape to the northeast Monday
and Tuesday, but a cutoff upper-level low will develop over the
Southeast on Tuesday and hang around through much of the
workweek. The upper-level low and lingering vorticity aloft will
support the development of showers and thunderstorms each day
this week, with the highest chances occurring in the afternoon
and evening hours during peak heating.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Showers and storms are slowly decreasing in coverage/moving
largely east of the area. Expecting most of the activity to
either dissipate or exit the area by or shortly after 04Z.
Otherwise, after 06Z, expecting widespread IFR/LIFR or worse low
stratus and/or fog to develop overnight, and linger through at
least 14Z, and longer in the mountains.
Additional/isolated showers and storms can be expected on
Monday, particularly after 18Z. Most of this activity will be
confined east/south of the Ohio River, with confidence in
coverage and timing too low to include in the TAF this far out.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z
TUESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Restrictions tonight and early Monday
morning in fog and low ceilings 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 08/03/26
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 M H L L L M M M
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M M M M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H M L H M L M M M M M
EKN CONSISTENCY H M H M H H M M M M M M
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H M M M H H M
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M H M M H
AFTER 00Z TUESDAY...
IFR restrictions are possible with showers and thunderstorms
throughout the week.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for WVZ008>011-013>020-
025>034-039-040-515>526.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...26
AVIATION...SLIn the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 2, 8:39 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
839 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0828 PM Flash Flood 1 NNE Daniels 37.74N 81.12W
08/02/2026 Raleigh WV 911 Call Center
About a foot of water in the roadway along
Ritter Dr at Knolls Dr.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Aug 2, 8:40 PM EDT, 58 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
840 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0826 PM Flash Flood 1 NNE Daniels 37.74N 81.11W
08/02/2026 Raleigh WV 911 Call Center
Water across the roadway in the 1600 block
of Ritter Dr.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Aug 2, 9:00 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
900 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0859 PM Rain 5 SE Babcock State Park 37.94N 80.90W
08/02/2026 M4.11 Inch Fayette WV Public
Social Media video shows heavy runoff on
property and a saturated ground.
&&Special weather statement, Aug 2, 9:08 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
908 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
VAZ004-WVZ024-033-034-030200-
Buchanan VA-Wyoming WV-McDowell WV-Mingo WV-
908 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL BUCHANAN...
NORTHWESTERN MCDOWELL...SOUTHEASTERN MINGO AND WEST CENTRAL WYOMING
COUNTIES THROUGH 1000 PM EDT...
At 908 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Argo, or 10 miles northeast of Grundy, moving north at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Hinch, Gilbert Creek, Iaeger, Stacy, Panther, Hurley, and Roseann.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3736 8214 3743 8212 3754 8197 3755 8197
3753 8201 3755 8204 3753 8205 3754 8205
3754 8206 3756 8208 3764 8205 3754 8173
3729 8193
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 200DEG 12KT 3741 8201
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JPLocal storm report, Aug 2, 9:16 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
916 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0855 PM Flash Flood 7 WNW Meadow Bridge 37.90N 80.97W
08/02/2026 Fayette WV Dept of Highways
High water on WV-41.
&&Local storm report, Aug 2, 9:24 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
924 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 11 NNE Clay 38.61N 80.98W
08/02/2026 Clay WV Dept of Highways
Tree in the roadway in the 4000 block of O
Brion Creek Rd. Time estimated from radar.
&&
JPThe office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 8:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Buchanan | 43 min |
| Aug 2, 8:59 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Buchanan | 5 hr |
| Aug 2, 9:08 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Buchanan | 52 min |
| Aug 2, 8:02 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Fayette, McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming | 4 hr |
| Aug 2, 8:03 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Taylor | 42 min |
| Aug 2, 10:36 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | McDowell, Wyoming | 3 hr |
| Aug 2, 11:44 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Fayette, McDowell, Nicholas, Raleigh, Wyoming | 4 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2026Every flash 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.