Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 157, NWS Charleston, WV

August 16, 20264 counties in West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 16, 2026, 3:37 PM EDT for 4 counties in 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 counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 16, 2026, 3:37 PM EDT (19:37 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Braxton County, WV, Calhoun County, WV, Gilmer County, WV, Roane County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:35 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 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 196 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

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, 1:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Flash flooding and severe weather are expected today with a lingering, persistent active weather pattern. Repeated rounds of heavy rainfall from training showers and thunderstorms could rapidly lead to flash flooding, especially areas that are already saturated and inundated.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 1:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
138 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
136 PM Update...
Severe thunderstorm watch issued for all of our SE Ohio
counties and a bulk of our West Virginia counties until 8 PM
tonight. ~18z aviation discussion update.

1204 PM Update...
Updates on flash flooding and severe potential for today and
tonight.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Flash flooding and severe weather are expected today with a
lingering, persistent active weather pattern. Repeated rounds of
heavy rainfall from training showers and thunderstorms could
rapidly lead to flash flooding, especially areas that are
already saturated and inundated.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
136 PM Update...

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect in til 8 PM tonight.
This is for all of our southeastern Ohio and a majority of our
West Virginia counties, basically the I-64 corridor and north.
Lincoln, Boone, and Raleigh are also included. Seeing generous
convection forming across our western forecast area with
downburst wind gusts reaching the 40-50 mph range as reported by
a few ASOS sites. Expecting these storms to hold together and
even strengthen as they traverse the area ESEward.

The best wind dynamics will be situated across SE'rn Ohio and
northern West Virginia (especially the US-50 corridor) where
better wind shear (20-40 knots) is present. Rapid clearing is
occurring over the central lowlands and coalfields which will
build better instability through the afternoon. This will be
another area to watch later this afternoon and evening.

1204 PM Update...
Flash flooding concerns continue through tonight. Additional
rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move across the area
this afternoon and evening leading to additional or worsening
flooding. ~12z HRRR shows the next round forming to our west in
Ohio and subsequently moving west to east across our area later
this afternoon and evening. The ~12z NAM is concerning as it
shows the next round forming over Ohio and then tracking across
our area between 1 PM and 3 PM, offering only a small break
between our most recent deluge. It then shows another hefty
round later this evening through tonight.

Some of these storms could be on the strong to severe side
containing damaging wind gusts and of course heavy downpours. CAPE
is expected to be between 2,500 and 3,500 J/kg if timely clearing
occurs this afternoon. This is more than sufficient to spawn
widespread showers and thunderstorms, with scattered strong to
severe storms being a possibility.

There is the chance for a tornado or two to occur with any more
organized, clear-air storms. The main driver for this threat would
be if an additional surface low forms along the stationary front
currently bisecting the area. This would cause a backing in the wind
field increasing wind shear from 20-30 knots to at least 40-60
knots. Otherwise, damaging downburst winds and the heavy rainfall
will be the main concerns.

Current guidance suggests that at least another 1-2 inches of
rainfall will fall across the area through tonight. Locally higher
amounts between 3-5 inches could be possible somewhere in Ohio or
central/northern WV if the NAM solution is right. A flood watch goes
until 8 AM Monday to cover the likely additional flash flooding
later this afternoon through tonight. A rare moderate risk
(level 3/4) for excessive rainfall spans the bulk of WV with the
rest of the area in a slight risk (level 2/4).

Showers and thunderstorms are expected again for Monday, but the
severe threat and primary heavy rain threat shifts south of our
area as a cold front crosses. A marginal risk (level 1/4) for
excessive rainfall is still in place across our area for Monday
with a marginal risk (level 1/5) for severe weather covers our
VA and far southern WV counties.

A bit of a reprieve is expected behind this front for Tuesday
and Wednesday until another front crosses Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...

VFR and MVFR conditions are being reported across the area with
SCT to BKN CIGs between 1,000 and 9,000 feet AGL. Scattered to
numerous SH and TS expected this afternoon and tonight
containing damaging winds, heavy downpours, and a tornado or
two being possible.

Showers and storms continue tonight with widespread MVFR, IFR,
LIFR conditions expected with and after the activity moves out.
Instances of low stratus and river fog are likely behind these
showers and thunderstorms.

Winds will be mostly SW'rly and breezy this afternoon gusting
between 15 and 20 knots. Winds will be erratic and gusty in and
near any thunderstorms with damaging gusts possible with any
severe storms. Light and SW'rly winds expected tonight.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and location of showers and
thunderstorms will vary this afternoon and evening.

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.

UTC 1HRLY       16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03
EDT 1HRLY       12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    L    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z MONDAY...
Chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms on Monday
leading to possible IFR CIGs/VIS. IFR or lower possible in
valley fog and low stratus Monday night and Tuesday 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...LTC
AVIATION...LTC

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 16, 2:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
217 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

OHZ086-087-WVZ006-007-161845-
Gallia OH-Lawrence OH-Mason WV-Cabell WV-
217 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN GALLIA...
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE...SOUTHWESTERN MASON AND NORTHEASTERN CABELL
COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...

At 217 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Lake Vesuvius, moving southeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Aid, Crown City, Athalia, Green Bottom, Scottown, and Ashton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
southeastern Ohio...and central and western West Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3851 8254 3867 8252 3872 8209 3845 8208
TIME...MOT...LOC 1817Z 298DEG 30KT 3858 8245

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

04
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 2:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 16, 2:40 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 2:46 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 3:04 PM EDT, 33 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 3:12 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
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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, 8:08 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph4 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, 3:46 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
Aug 16, 12:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPerry7 hr
Aug 16, 1:24 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Perry4 hr
Aug 16, 1:49 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatRLXMorgan, Perry4 hr
Aug 16, 2:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Washington4 hr
Aug 16, 5:45 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGallia, Jackson, Lawrence3 hr
Aug 16, 5:50 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Perry, Washington31 hr
Aug 16, 8:13 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Perry6 hr
Aug 16, 12:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXGallia38 min
Aug 16, 1:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPerry39 min
Aug 16, 1:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMorgan, Perry47 min
Aug 16, 1:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPerry2 hr
Aug 16, 1:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPerry38 min
Aug 16, 2:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMorgan40 min
Aug 16, 2:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLawrence28 min
Aug 16, 2:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMorgan, Perry, Washington40 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.