Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 154, NWS Charleston, WV

August 16, 2026Barbour County, Randolph County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 16, 2026, 8:08 AM EDT for Barbour County, Randolph County, West Virginia. It was in force for 4 hr. 3 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, 8:08 AM EDT (12:08 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2026, 11:53 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Barbour County, WV, Randolph County, WV

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 166 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:10 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 16, 9:34 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Nne Belington, WVSwift moving high water surrounding residences and covering Mud Gut Rd in the 200 block in Belington.
Aug 16, 9:45 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD7 Se Montrose, WVClifton-Nail Run Road flooded in several locations.
Aug 16, 9:45 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD7 Se Montrose, WVClifton Run Rd is covered with high water in several spots.

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 86 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 12:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 150 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-08-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 51 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-08-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
51 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-19 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
636 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
31 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

107 
WGUS51 KRLX 161208
FFWRLX
WVC001-083-161615-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0154.260816T1208Z-260816T1615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Barbour County in northeastern West Virginia...
  Northeastern Randolph County in northeastern West Virginia...

* Until 1215 PM EDT.

* At 808 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 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...
  Belington, Montrose, Kerens and Nestorville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3920 7992 3917 7983 3913 7984 3909 7978
      3906 7977 3904 7978 3904 7979 3897 7951
      3893 7956 3904 8004

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JP
1 follow-up statement
364 
WGUS71 KRLX 161553
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1153 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

WVC001-083-161603-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0154.000000T0000Z-260816T1615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Barbour WV-Randolph WV-
1153 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BARBOUR AND NORTHEASTERN
RANDOLPH COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD WARNING...

&&

LAT...LON 3920 7992 3917 7983 3913 7984 3909 7978
      3906 7977 3904 7978 3904 7979 3897 7951
      3893 7956 3904 8004

$$

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, 5:28 AM EDT, 2 hours 40 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, 5:28 AM EDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
528 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation Forecast Discussion updated at 09Z.

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 /09Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...

VIS/CIG IFR and MVFR restrictions can be seen this morning in
thunderstorms. Rounds of rainfall can be expected the rest of
today with intermittent restrictions in the heavier downpours.
VCTS is expected for the afternoon hours, but confidence is low
in the exact timing and placement of today's storms. Dense fog
and low stratus will be possible overnight into Monday morning,
especially in areas that saw heavy rainfall during the day.

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

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and location of thunderstorms and
associated impacts 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       08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19
EDT 1HRLY       04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
CRW CONSISTENCY  M    M    L    M    L    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  L    L    L    L    L    L    M    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  L    M    L    L    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    L    H    H    M    H    H    M    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    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, 6:39 AM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
639 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0620 AM     Flash Flood      2 SSE Crooksville       39.74N 82.08W
08/16/2026                   Morgan             OH   Law Enforcement

            SR 669 closed due to flooding.

&&

RPY
Local storm report, Aug 16, 6:40 AM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
640 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0633 AM     Flash Flood      2 E Salem               39.29N 80.52W
08/16/2026                   Harrison           WV   911 Call Center

            Raccoon Run Road flooded.

&&

RPY
Local storm report, Aug 16, 6:53 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
653 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0651 AM     Flash Flood      1 E Pratt               38.21N 81.37W
08/16/2026                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            High water at Hughes Creek Road at East
            Dupont Avenue.

&&

RPY
Local storm report, Aug 16, 6:55 AM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
655 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0650 AM     Flash Flood      Smithers                38.18N 81.31W
08/16/2026                   Fayette            WV   911 Call Center

            High Water on Cannelton Hollow Road and
            Bridge St.

&&

RPY
Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:55 AM EDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
755 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0744 AM     Flash Flood      Handley                 38.19N 81.36W
08/16/2026                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            High water reported in the 26900 block of
            Second Ave.

&&

JP
Local storm report, Aug 16, 8:01 AM EDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
801 AM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0757 AM     Flash Flood      2 SW West Milford       39.19N 80.43W
08/16/2026                   Harrison           WV   911 Call Center

            Standing water around 1 ft deep covering
            both lanes in the 7600 block of Good Hope
            Pike.

&&

JP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 4:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge, Pleasants, Tyler87 min
Aug 16, 4:17 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler3 hr
Aug 16, 4:31 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Taylor, Upshur7 hr
Aug 16, 6:16 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMason44 min
Aug 16, 6:29 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh7 hr
Aug 16, 6:33 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Tyler60 hr
Aug 16, 6:50 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler6 hr
Aug 16, 7:38 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXFayette, Raleigh6 hr
Aug 16, 8:15 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMason18 hr
Aug 16, 8:59 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Raleigh3 hr
Aug 16, 9:41 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXUpshur23 hr
Aug 16, 11:08 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Taylor, Upshur9 hr
Aug 16, 11:53 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph8 hr
Aug 16, 12:28 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh12 hr
Aug 16, 12:54 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningRLXHarrison10 hr
Aug 16, 1:14 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXFayette, Raleigh11 hr
Aug 16, 1:16 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh10 hr
Aug 16, 1:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson, Mason, Wirt, Wood43 min
Aug 16, 1:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Jackson, Mason, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and 1 more46 min
Aug 16, 2:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRoane34 min
Aug 16, 2:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Jackson, Lewis and 3 more42 min
Aug 16, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam29 min
Aug 16, 2:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis and 4 more63 min
Aug 16, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam26 min
Aug 16, 3:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXCabell33 min
Aug 16, 3:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge, Tyler43 min
Aug 16, 3:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam38 min
Aug 16, 3:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXClay, Jackson, Kanawha, Putnam, Roane44 min
Aug 16, 3:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more54 min
Aug 16, 3:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane3 hr
Aug 16, 3:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXClay29 min
Aug 16, 3:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTyler23 min
Aug 16, 4:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTyler45 min
Aug 16, 4:05 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane6 hr
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXKanawha, Putnam6 hr
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXClay, Nicholas, Webster32 min
Aug 16, 4:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha45 min
Aug 16, 4:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRandolph28 min
Aug 16, 4:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTaylor25 min
Aug 16, 4:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie36 min
Aug 16, 4:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXHarrison, Taylor30 min
Aug 16, 4:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTucker13 min
Aug 16, 4:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXFayette, Nicholas25 min
Aug 16, 4:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXClay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas6 hr
Aug 16, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXClay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas46 min
Aug 16, 5:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBarbour, Taylor27 min
Aug 16, 5:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha36 min
Aug 16, 5:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam37 min
Aug 16, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha28 min
Aug 16, 6:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWayne24 min
Aug 16, 6:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMason25 min
Aug 16, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Wayne50 min
Aug 16, 6:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLincoln, Wayne49 min
Aug 16, 6:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam37 min
Aug 16, 7:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWayne3 hr
Aug 16, 7:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson, Mason, Wood42 min
Aug 16, 7:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRLXWayne33 min
Aug 16, 7:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha28 min
Aug 16, 7:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane48 min
Aug 16, 7:35 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCabell, Mason, Putnam3 hr
Aug 16, 7:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLincoln, Wayne24 min
Aug 16, 7:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXWayne34 min
Aug 16, 7:46 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Taylor6 hr
Aug 16, 7:55 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler28 hr
Aug 16, 7:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone, Clay33 min

Nearby

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