Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 163, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 16, 2026, 7:35 PM EDT for Cabell County, Mason County, Putnam 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 counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 16, 2026, 7:35 PM EDT (23:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 2026, 10:24 PM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Cabell County, WV, Mason County, WV, Putnam County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:34 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
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 178 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
- 2282 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -28 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 634 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 119 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 116 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 5.2
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, 7:32 PM EDT, 3 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, 7:32 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
732 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended until 10pm.
Areas to the west may be cleared/cancelled as convection exits
toward the east as the storms move out of those areas.
00Z Aviation Forecast Discussion update.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended further south as
ongoing severe weather persists. The watch still goes until 8pm
however may have to be extended in time soon. The northern tier
of the watch has been cancelled as the severe threat has
diminished.
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 /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Occasional MVFR and VIS restrictions under heavy convection
across the area currently. This will persist into tonight.
Expect fog to develop even with a little wind due to saturated
soils and partly clearing out of CIGs. Expect low stratus at
sites as well into the mid to late morning. Any fog or stratus
will lift at 13/14Z then low MVFR CIGs will persist into the
afternoon.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Low.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and location of showers and
thunderstorms 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 MON
UTC 1HRLY 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
EDT 1HRLY 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H M L L M M L 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 M M H M
EKN CONSISTENCY H H M H M H M L M M M M
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H M H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H M H L M M L L
AFTER 00Z TUESDAY...
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...JZ/LTC
AVIATION...JZIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:17 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
717 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026
WVZ015-016-027-162345-
Clay WV-Roane WV-Kanawha WV-
717 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN KANAWHA...
SOUTHWESTERN ROANE AND WEST CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM
EDT...
At 717 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elkview, or 12 miles northeast of Charleston, moving east at 40 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...
Sissonville, Clendenin, Amma, Elkview, Procious, and Left Hand.
This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 8 and 29.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central and north central West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3863 8122 3841 8118 3845 8162 3856 8161
3857 8159
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 279DEG 35KT 3850 8149
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
04Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:19 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
719 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0648 PM Flash Flood 2 NE Coal Fork 38.33N 81.49W
08/16/2026 Kanawha WV 911 Call Center
Water over Campbells Creek Road at Big
Bottom Hollow Road in Tad.
&&Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:21 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
721 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0650 PM Flash Flood 1 SW Elkview 38.43N 81.49W
08/16/2026 Kanawha WV 911 Call Center
High water in progress reported in 100 block
of North Pinch Road near Teresas Cafe.
&&Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:25 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
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</html>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, 4:17 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler | 3 hr |
| 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, 7:36 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 |
| Aug 16, 12:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Perry | 7 hr |
| Aug 16, 1:24 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry | 4 hr |
| Aug 16, 1:49 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry | 4 hr |
| Aug 16, 2:56 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Washington | 4 hr |
| Aug 16, 5:45 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 5:50 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry, Washington | 31 hr |
| Aug 16, 8:13 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry | 6 hr |
| Aug 16, 12:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Gallia | 38 min |
| Aug 16, 1:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Perry | 39 min |
| Aug 16, 1:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry | 47 min |
| Aug 16, 1:44 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Perry | 2 hr |
| Aug 16, 1:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Perry | 38 min |
| Aug 16, 2:05 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Morgan | 40 min |
| Aug 16, 2:17 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Lawrence | 28 min |
| Aug 16, 2:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry, Washington | 40 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.