Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 177, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 17, 2026, 5:08 PM EDT for 6 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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 17, 2026, 5:08 PM EDT (21:08 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 17, 2026, 8:15 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, Lewis County, WV, Upshur County, WV, Webster County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:11 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 17, 5:20 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 7 Se Burnsville, WV | High Water on Jacks Lane. |
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 one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 12 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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 182 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
- 735 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 513 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 17 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -10 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 34 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
610
WGUS51 KRLX 172108
FFWRLX
WVC007-013-021-041-097-101-180015-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0177.260817T2108Z-260818T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
508 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Braxton County in north central West Virginia...
East Central Calhoun County in north central West Virginia...
Southern Gilmer County in north central West Virginia...
Southwestern Upshur County in northeastern West Virginia...
North Central Webster County in northeastern West Virginia...
Southeastern Lewis County in northern West Virginia...
* Until 815 PM EDT.
* At 508 PM 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 up to 1 inch 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...
Rock Cave, Burnsville, Flatwoods, Heaters, Falls Mills, Exchange,
Ireland, Cedarville, Walkersville, Cleveland, Kanawha Head,
Normantown, Eden, Stumptown and Mount Zion.
This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 69 and 80.
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 3880 8104 3882 8112 3886 8114 3892 8113
3890 8104 3890 8103 3888 8091 3887 8048
3893 8049 3892 8047 3892 8041 3887 8026
3882 8024 3869 8033 3868 8038 3873 8071
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
041 follow-up statement
075
WGUS71 KRLX 180012
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
812 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
WVC007-013-021-041-097-101-180022-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0177.000000T0000Z-260818T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Braxton WV-Calhoun WV-Gilmer WV-Lewis WV-Upshur WV-Webster WV-
812 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN BRAXTON, EAST CENTRAL CALHOUN, SOUTHERN GILMER,
SOUTHWESTERN UPSHUR, NORTH CENTRAL WEBSTER AND SOUTHEASTERN LEWIS
COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for portions of
northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and West
Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3880 8104 3882 8112 3886 8114 3892 8113
3890 8104 3890 8103 3888 8091 3887 8048
3893 8049 3892 8047 3892 8041 3887 8026
3882 8024 3869 8033 3868 8038 3873 8071
$$
04What 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 17, 1:53 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1.) Heavy rainfall may lead to additional flash flooding and tree damage across the region, especially the southern coalfields and southwest Virginia, through 2 AM Tuesday. 2.) Widespread low stratus and dense valley fog will build overnight tonight into Tuesday morning across much of the region, creating low visibility for the morning commute Tuesday. 3.) A temporary dry break is expected Tuesday through early Wednesday before another cold front brings renewed shower and thunderstorm chances with flash flood potential Wednesday night through Thursday.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 1:53 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
153 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation discussion updated at 0930Z
In coordination with the Jackson KY forecast office, the Flash
Flood Watch has been expanded to cover our remaining counties
in southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia. Convective-
allowing models show the potential for up to 2 inches of
new rainfall today in these areas, which may exceed flash flood
guidance.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) Heavy rainfall may lead to additional flash flooding and
tree damage across the region, especially the southern
coalfields and southwest Virginia, through 2 AM Tuesday.
2.) Widespread low stratus and dense valley fog will build
overnight tonight into Tuesday morning across much of the
region, creating low visibility for the morning commute Tuesday.
3.) A temporary dry break is expected Tuesday through early
Wednesday before another cold front brings renewed shower and
thunderstorm chances with flash flood potential Wednesday night
through Thursday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Destabilization is under way across the region in the wake of a
decaying morning convective complex, with the most robust
clearing located across southern areas. The strongest
convective cores will graze portions of southwest Virginia and
the southern coalfields where SPC has added a slight risk of
severe storms. Additional scattered to numerous showers and
thunderstorms are already developing along a slow-moving
surface cold front pressing southeastward across the Middle Ohio
Valley.
The thermodynamic environment remains exceptionally moist,
characterized by precipitable water values approaching 2.0
inches, which sits well above seasonal climatology. Soundings
display long, skinny instability profiles with Mixed-Layer CAPE
reaching 800 to 1200 J/kg, up to 1500 J/kg across southern
counties. These soundings feature deep warm cloud depths
exceeding 12000 feet, supporting highly efficient warm rain
production with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Flow
at H700 around 30 to 35KTs out of the west will keep individual
convective cores moving at a modest pace. However, low-level
convergence along the cold front as it sinks slowly to the
southeast runs nearly parallel to the mid-level flow, which may
promote cell training over the same drainages.
Deep-layer bulk shear of 25 to 30KT will favor a predominantly
multicellular storm mode. Low-level hodographs show modest
curvature, yielding effective storm-relative helicity of 70 to
100 m2/s2. This shear profile could foster brief updraft
rotation in any semi-discrete cells, maintaining a low, though
non-zero, threat for a brief tornado. While the primary severe
wind potential remains concentrated along our southern border
where instability is maximized, antecedent saturated ground
conditions mean that even sub-severe wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph
can uproot exposed trees.
Given severely compromised soils from repeated heavy rainfall
over the preceding days, 3 hour flash flood guidance is
generally between 1.0 and 1.5 inches across much of the forecast
area. High precipitation rates will result in rapid runoff into
small streams. A Flash Flood Watch remains active through 2 AM
EDT Tuesday.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
In the wake of the cold frontal passage late tonight, surface
winds will diminish to 5 mph or less under weak northwesterly
flow. While we should maintain at least some mid-level cloud
cover, will likely see surface temperatures falling to
saturation by early Tuesday morning. Widespread low stratus and
fog is expected expected to form over much of the area heading
into Tuesday morning which could impact the morning commute.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
A brief period of dry weather will take hold Tuesday afternoon
through most of Wednesday as high pressure builds across the
Central Appalachians and column moisture decreases behind the
cold front. Precipitable water values drop to around 1.0 to 1.2
inches on Tuesday, allowing small streams and creeks an
opportunity to recede. However, subsurface soil moisture will
remain nearly saturated, leaving infiltration capacity severely
degraded.
Atmospheric moisture will pool northward again late Wednesday
into Wednesday night ahead of the next upper-level shortwave
trough and cold front. Precipitable water values rise back
toward 1.8 inches by Thursday morning. Upper-level dynamics will
strengthen as the right rear quadrant of an H200 jet streak
positions over the Middle Ohio Valley, providing broad synoptic
scale ascent. With modest diurnal destabilization expected
Thursday afternoon, scattered to numerous showers and
thunderstorms will redevelop along the boundary. High
instantaneous rainfall rates falling on saturated soils will
present a renewed flash flood risk, supporting the Weather
Prediction Center Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall for
Thursday.
The broad synoptic pattern through the late week and upcoming
weekend will be dominated by strong mid-level ridging over the
western United States and longwave troughing centered over the
eastern tier. This configuration will keep the Central
Appalachians in northwest flow aloft, directing periodic
shortwaves and secondary cold fronts through the region every
couple of days.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue to
develop ahead of a cold front this afternoon and early evening.
Outside of convection, prevailing ceiling heights will hover
between 2500 and 4000 feet Direct thunderstorm impacts will be
brief, producing temporary IFR visibility down to 1 to 2SM.
As the cold front moves southeast of the region after 02Z
Tuesday, surface winds will diminish to 5KTs or less from the
northwest. Saturated surface conditions and light upslope flow
will foster widespread low stratus and fog development heading
into Tuesday morning. Widespread IFR to LIFR ceilings below 500
feet AGL and visibilities of 1/4 to 1 SM are expected across
most terminals. Expect gradual improvement through 15Z
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: The timing and spatial extent of fog
overnight tonight may vary depending on extent of partial
clearing behind the cold front. Thunderstorm direct hits at
any single terminal this afternoon may produce IFR conditions.
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 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04
EDT 1HRLY 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H 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 H H H H
EKN CONSISTENCY H M H M M M M H H H H L
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H M H H H H H H M H
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H M H M H H H H H
AFTER 18Z TUESDAY...
IFR valley fog possible Wednesday morning.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...JP
AVIATION...JPIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 1:42 PM EDT, 3 hours 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
142 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
VAZ003-004-171830-
Dickenson VA-Buchanan VA-
142 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT DICKENSON AND SOUTHWESTERN
BUCHANAN COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM EDT...
At 142 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Ashcamp, or 7 miles west of John Flannagan Lake, moving east 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...
Clintwood, Grundy, Haysi, Breaks Interstate, Davenport, John
Flannagan Lake, Big Rock, Trammel, Clinchco, Stacy, Nora, Vansant,
and McClure.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3697 8237 3702 8248 3713 8255 3720 8255
3724 8245 3727 8235 3728 8234 3728 8232
3736 8222 3732 8195 3704 8206 3704 8208
3705 8210 3704 8212 3704 8217 3699 8226
3700 8227 3700 8229 3696 8235
TIME...MOT...LOC 1742Z 281DEG 29KT 3726 8247
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
14Local storm report, Aug 17, 2:46 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
246 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0245 PM Flash Flood 8 WNW Lumberport 39.41N 80.49W
08/17/2026 Harrison WV Public
Social Media photos showing Long Fork off of
Little Tenmile Creek is out of its banks.
&&Local storm report, Aug 17, 3:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
335 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0259 PM Flash Flood 2 SSE Lumberport 39.34N 80.33W
08/17/2026 Harrison WV 911 Call Center
Water rescue in 500 block of Lucas Road.
&&Local storm report, Aug 17, 3:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
338 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0304 PM Flash Flood 3 SSE Lumberport 39.33N 80.33W
08/17/2026 Harrison WV 911 Call Center
Shinnston Pike flooded near Farnum Road near
the Horizons Church.
&&Local storm report, Aug 17, 3:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
349 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0314 PM Flash Flood 9 WNW Lumberport 39.42N 80.50W
08/17/2026 Harrison WV 911 Call Center
Flooding in 8800 block of Pike in Wallace.
&&Local storm report, Aug 17, 3:54 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
354 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0325 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Bridgeport 39.30N 80.27W
08/17/2026 Harrison WV 911 Call Center
Two feet of water on Johnson Avenue at Vista
Drive, construction cones floating.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 8:04 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo | 41 min |
| Aug 16, 8:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas and 1 more | 45 min |
| Aug 16, 8:16 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Wayne | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 8:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Pleasants, Wood | 39 min |
| Aug 16, 8:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster | 32 min |
| Aug 16, 8:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Logan, Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming | 43 min |
| Aug 16, 8:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur | 45 min |
| Aug 16, 8:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Putnam | 33 min |
| Aug 16, 9:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh and 2 more | 45 min |
| Aug 16, 9:10 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph and 2 more | 50 min |
| Aug 16, 9:15 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming | 45 min |
| Aug 16, 9:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pocahontas, Randolph | 51 min |
| Aug 16, 9:27 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Webster | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 9:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pocahontas, Randolph | 46 min |
| Aug 16, 9:35 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Nicholas and 1 more | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 9:45 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur | 6 hr |
| Aug 16, 9:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | McDowell | 20 min |
| Aug 16, 10:14 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | McDowell | 16 min |
| Aug 16, 10:24 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Mason, Putnam | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 10:38 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Kanawha, Putnam | 7 hr |
| Aug 16, 10:53 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas | 6 hr |
| Aug 17, 3:24 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur | 4 hr |
| Aug 17, 5:58 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Randolph | 6 hr |
| Aug 17, 1:53 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Tyler | 7 hr |
| Aug 17, 2:41 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Harrison, Tyler | 6 hr |
| Aug 17, 2:55 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler | 6 hr |
| Aug 17, 3:32 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Harrison, Taylor | 5 hr |
| Aug 17, 3:49 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Wirt, Wood | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 4:07 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Harrison, Taylor | 5 hr |
| Aug 17, 4:20 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Harrison, Taylor | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 4:28 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie and 1 more | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 5:18 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Webster | 27 min |
| Aug 17, 5:34 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Wood | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 6:04 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Randolph, Upshur, Webster | 2 hr |
| Aug 17, 7:44 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Roane | 3 hr |
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.