Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 149, NWS Charleston, WV

August 16, 20265 counties in West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 16, 2026, 4:17 AM EDT for 5 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 16, 2026, 4:17 AM EDT (08:17 UTC)
Expired: Aug 16, 2026, 6:50 AM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Doddridge County, WV, Harrison County, WV, Pleasants County, WV, Ritchie County, WV, Tyler County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:20 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 16, 4:24 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Salem, WV	West Main Street/Valley Street flooding.
Aug 16, 5:05 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 W Salem, WV	Culvert Washout on Long Run Road.
Aug 16, 6:00 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 Nne Pennsboro, WV	Haddox Run Road washed out.
Aug 16, 6:16 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Salem, WV	Water rescue on Gain Street.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 4 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 7 minutes after it went out.

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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 136 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.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 25 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 966 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 124 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

560 
WGUS51 KRLX 160817
FFWRLX
WVC017-033-073-085-095-161115-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0149.260816T0817Z-260816T1115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
417 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Doddridge County in northern West Virginia...
  West Central Harrison County in northern West Virginia...
  Tyler County in northern West Virginia...
  Pleasants County in northwestern West Virginia...
  Northeastern Ritchie County in northwestern West Virginia...

* Until 715 AM EDT.

* At 417 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain
  have fallen. 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...
  St. Marys, Middlebourne, Salem, Sistersville, Pennsboro, West
  Union, Matamoras, Ellenboro, Friendly, Mountain, Alma, Greenwood,
  Wick, Canton, Smithburg, Lima, Hebron, Blandville, Highland and New
  Milton.

This includes Route 50 in West Virginia between mile markers 38 and
66.

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.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3938 8124 3939 8122 3940 8121 3945 8113
      3950 8109 3957 8100 3956 8093 3942 8066
      3933 8051 3915 8066 3912 8081

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JP

1 follow-up statement

806 
WGUS71 KRLX 161050
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
650 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

WVC017-033-073-085-095-161100-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0149.000000T0000Z-260816T1115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Doddridge WV-Harrison WV-Pleasants WV-Ritchie WV-Tyler WV-
650 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR DODDRIDGE, WEST CENTRAL HARRISON, TYLER,
PLEASANTS AND NORTHEASTERN RITCHIE COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A
FLOOD WARNING...

&&

LAT...LON 3938 8124 3939 8122 3940 8121 3945 8113
      3950 8109 3957 8100 3956 8093 3942 8066
      3933 8051 3915 8066 3912 8081

$$

JP

What 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 16, 1:15 AM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1) Flash flooding will be the main concern over the next 48 hours. Training thunderstorms can quickly lead to flash flooding, especially in areas that already saw heavy rainfall over the past week.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 1:15 AM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
115 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
06Z Aviation Forecast Discussion.

Latest thoughts on the flash flooding threat for the next 48
hours.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Flash flooding will be the main concern over the next 48
hours. Training thunderstorms can quickly lead to flash
flooding, especially in areas that already saw heavy rainfall
over the past week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Training thunderstorms are currently causing flash flooding
across portions of southeast Ohio. These training thunderstorms
are being caused by mid- level vorticity flowing on the
northern periphery of a large area of high pressure, in
combination with a stationary surface boundary. The atmosphere
remains very moist, with precipitable water values ranging from
2.00 to 2.25 inches. The main concern through daybreak Monday
will be flash flooding across southeast Ohio counties.

The aforementioned stationary front will lift northeastward
into Pennsylvania after daybreak with the entire forecast area
transitioning into the warm sector. Additional rounds of
showers and thunderstorms are expected area-wide Sunday through
Sunday night as additional mid-level waves track across the
forecast area. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly where the main
focus of thunderstorm development will be during this
timeframe, as new development will be triggered by thunderstorm
outflow boundaries from previous complexes. We will be
monitoring trends closely. In addition to flooding, severe
thunderstorms will also be possible Sunday with any
thunderstorms. 1,500 J/kg of MLCAPE and 30-35 kts of 0-6km bulk
shear will allow for organized thunderstorm development that
could turn severe at times.

A cold front will finally cross the forecast area from northwest
to southeast Monday afternoon. This will bring high pressure and
the return of much-needed drier weather behind it.

Thunderstorms will return to the forecast Thursday and Friday as
a trough and another area of low pressure approach from the
west.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...

At the time of this writing, conditions remain mostly VFR.
However, lowering ceilings are expected later this morning, with
MVFR and IFR restrictions added into the 06Z TAF package.
Showers are possible early this morning across KPKB and KCKB
with MVFR visibility restrictions possible. Ceilings should
improve between 12Z and 15Z. Additional thunderstorms will
develop Sunday afternoon and evening, and downpours can bring
visibility restrictions. Confidence in exactly where these
thunderstorms will develop is low, so VCTS has been added to
most TAF sites Sunday afternoon.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Ceiling restrictions early this morning may
vary. Timing and location of thunderstorms and associated
impacts Sunday afternoon/evening will vary.

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                                        SUN 08/16/26
UTC 1HRLY       04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
EDT 1HRLY       00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    M    M    L    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    M    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    M    L    M    M    M    M    M    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    L    M    L    H    M    H    H    H    M    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H

AFTER 06Z MONDAY...
Periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms continue through
Monday. IFR or lower conditions are possible around or under
any heavier showers and storms. Valley fog and low stratus is
possible late Sunday night and Monday morning.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through Monday morning for WVZ005>011-013>020-
     024>032-034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch through Monday morning for OHZ066-067-075-076-
     083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through Monday morning for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...26
AVIATION...26

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 16, 3:02 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
302 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0301 AM     Rain             1 NW Crooksville        39.78N 82.10W
08/16/2026  M3.51 Inch       Perry              OH   Trained Spotter

            Since Midnight.

&&

RPY

Local storm report, Aug 16, 3:41 AM EDT, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
341 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0235 AM     Flash Flood      2 SW Perry State Forest 39.75N 82.24W
08/16/2026                   Perry              OH   Law Enforcement

            SR 13 closed due to flooding.

&&

RPY

Local storm report, Aug 16, 3:49 AM EDT, 28 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
349 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0255 AM     Flash Flood      1 S Crooksville         39.75N 82.09W
08/16/2026                   Perry              OH   Law Enforcement

            SR 93 closed due to flooding.

&&

RPY

Special weather statement, Aug 16, 4:03 AM EDT, 14 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
403 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

WVZ010-011-019-020-160930-
Doddridge-Ritchie-Pleasants-Tyler-
403 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...LOCALIZED HIGH WATER...CREEKS AND STREAMS RUNNING HIGH...

Locally heavy rain of a half inch to up to two inches has fallen
over the last two hours in some locations. Even with the heaviest of
the rain moving out of the area, localized high water is possible
over the next hour or so in the typical low-lying trouble areas,
with any high water receding thereafter. Do not drive your vehicle
into areas where water covers the roadway. The water depth may be
too great to allow your car to cross safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3958 8089 3960 8085 3947 8071 3947 8064
      3942 8054 3936 8053 3928 8060 3928 8058
      3920 8053 3914 8066 3909 8070 3910 8081
      3927 8125 3929 8126 3930 8132 3934 8137
      3939 8127 3939 8122 3961 8095
TIME...MOT...LOC 0759Z 293DEG 1KT 3942 8087

12

Local storm report, Aug 16, 4:06 AM EDT, 11 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
406 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0355 AM     Flash Flood      5 W Malta               39.66N 81.95W
08/16/2026                   Morgan             OH   Law Enforcement

            SR 37 closed due to flooding.

&&

RPY

Local storm report, Aug 16, 4:09 AM EDT, 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
409 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 AM     Flash Flood      Mcconnelsville          39.66N 81.85W
08/16/2026                   Morgan             OH   Law Enforcement

            SR 78 closed due to flooding.

&&

RPY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 16, 4:03 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Doddridge, Pleasants, Tyler	87 min
Aug 16, 4:31 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Taylor, Upshur	7 hr
Aug 16, 6:16 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Mason	44 min
Aug 16, 6:29 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh	7 hr
Aug 16, 6:33 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Pleasants, Tyler	60 hr
Aug 16, 6:50 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler	6 hr
Aug 16, 7:38 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Fayette, Raleigh	6 hr
Aug 16, 8:08 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Randolph	4 hr
Aug 16, 8:15 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Mason	18 hr
Aug 16, 8:59 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Boone, Raleigh	3 hr
Aug 16, 9:41 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Upshur	23 hr
Aug 16, 11:08 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Taylor, Upshur	9 hr
Aug 16, 11:53 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Randolph	8 hr
Aug 16, 12:28 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh	12 hr
Aug 16, 12:54 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	RLX	Harrison	10 hr
Aug 16, 1:14 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Fayette, Raleigh	11 hr
Aug 16, 1:16 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh	10 hr
Aug 16, 1:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Jackson, Mason, Wirt, Wood	43 min
Aug 16, 1:59 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Calhoun, Jackson, Mason, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and 1 more	46 min
Aug 16, 2:26 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Roane	34 min
Aug 16, 2:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Jackson, Lewis and 3 more	42 min
Aug 16, 2:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	29 min
Aug 16, 2:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis and 4 more	63 min
Aug 16, 3:04 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	26 min
Aug 16, 3:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Cabell	33 min
Aug 16, 3:17 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Tyler	43 min
Aug 16, 3:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam	38 min
Aug 16, 3:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Putnam, Roane	44 min
Aug 16, 3:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Barbour, Braxton, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more	54 min
Aug 16, 3:37 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane	3 hr
Aug 16, 3:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Clay	29 min
Aug 16, 3:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Tyler	23 min
Aug 16, 4:00 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Tyler	45 min
Aug 16, 4:05 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Braxton, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane	6 hr
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Kanawha, Putnam	6 hr
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Clay, Nicholas, Webster	32 min
Aug 16, 4:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Kanawha	45 min
Aug 16, 4:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Randolph	28 min
Aug 16, 4:20 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Taylor	25 min
Aug 16, 4:24 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie	36 min
Aug 16, 4:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Harrison, Taylor	30 min
Aug 16, 4:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Tucker	13 min
Aug 16, 4:50 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Fayette, Nicholas	25 min
Aug 16, 4:58 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas	6 hr
Aug 16, 4:59 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas	46 min
Aug 16, 5:03 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Barbour, Taylor	27 min
Aug 16, 5:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Kanawha	36 min
Aug 16, 5:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	37 min
Aug 16, 5:47 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Kanawha	28 min
Aug 16, 6:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Wayne	24 min
Aug 16, 6:35 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Mason	25 min
Aug 16, 6:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Wayne	50 min
Aug 16, 6:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Lincoln, Wayne	49 min
Aug 16, 6:53 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	37 min
Aug 16, 7:01 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Wayne	3 hr
Aug 16, 7:03 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Jackson, Mason, Wood	42 min
Aug 16, 7:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Wayne	33 min
Aug 16, 7:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Kanawha	28 min
Aug 16, 7:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane	48 min
Aug 16, 7:35 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Cabell, Mason, Putnam	3 hr
Aug 16, 7:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lincoln, Wayne	24 min
Aug 16, 7:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Wayne	34 min
Aug 16, 7:46 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Harrison, Taylor	6 hr
Aug 16, 7:55 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler	28 hr
Aug 16, 7:57 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Boone, Clay	33 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2026 Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.