Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 182, NWS Charleston, WV

August 17, 2026Kanawha County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 17, 2026, 9:49 PM EDT for Kanawha County, West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 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 17, 2026, 9:49 PM EDT (01:49 UTC)
Expired: Aug 18, 2026, 12:45 AM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Kanawha County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:50 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, 9:55 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 Ene Charleston, WV	High Water on Greenbrier Street at Old Mill Creek Road.
Aug 17, 10:02 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Pinch, WV	Corrects previous flash flood report from Pinch. High Water on Quick Road at South Pinch Road.

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 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 6 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

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 226 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: 592 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 731 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -80 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -26 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.2
Supercell composite: -2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

690 
WGUS51 KRLX 180149
FFWRLX
WVC039-180445-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0182.260818T0149Z-260818T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
949 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Kanawha County in central West Virginia...

* Until 1245 AM EDT.

* At 949 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.7 and 1.5 inches of
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 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...
  Charleston, Sissonville, Clendenin, Elkview, Pinch and Coal Fork.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 100 and 116.
Interstate 79 between mile markers 1 and 17.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3858 8157 3861 8152 3858 8151 3855 8147
      3855 8143 3843 8127 3841 8127 3825 8136
      3837 8167 3850 8172

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

25

2 follow-up statements

197 
WGUS71 KRLX 180242
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1042 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

WVC039-180445-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0182.000000T0000Z-260818T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Kanawha WV-
1042 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM EDT TUESDAY
FOR NORTHEASTERN KANAWHA COUNTY...

At 1042 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated between 1 and 2 inches of
rain have fallen. Flooding impacts will continue, but no additional
rainfall is expected. 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...
  Charleston, Sissonville, Clendenin, Elkview, Pinch and Coal Fork.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3858 8157 3861 8152 3858 8151 3855 8147
      3855 8143 3843 8127 3841 8127 3825 8136
      3837 8167 3850 8172

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

25

038 
WGUS71 KRLX 180436
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1236 AM EDT Tue Aug 18 2026

WVC039-180446-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0182.000000T0000Z-260818T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Kanawha WV-
1236 AM EDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1245 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING
FOR NORTHEASTERN KANAWHA COUNTY...

Flood waters are receding, so the Flash Flood Warning is being
allowed to expire. However, motorists should continue to exercise
extreme caution and be prepared for water or debris remaining on
roadways. Please continue to heed 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 3858 8157 3861 8152 3858 8151 3855 8147
      3855 8143 3843 8127 3841 8127 3825 8136
      3837 8167 3850 8172

$$

25

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 17, 7:27 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 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, 7:27 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
727 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
00Z Aviation Forecast Discussion update.

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 /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As the rain showers settle down low clouds should clear out and
dense fog becomes the main theme going into the overnight
hours. Cold frontal passage takes place and should clear out
clouds enough to help with fog formation. Low stratus should
evolve along with the restrictions to VIS unless a site does not
decouple, then just low stratus will dominate. Expect LIFR or
worse conditions until 13Z then the stratus should scatter out
shortly thereafter. VFR will become dominate by then and last
through the afternoon.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: The timing and spatial extent of fog
overnight may vary depending on extent of partial clearing
behind the cold front.

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                                                            TUE 08/18/26
UTC 1HRLY       00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11
EDT 1HRLY       20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07
CRW CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    M    H    L    L    M    L    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    H    H    H    L    L    L    L    L    L
EKN CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    L    M    M    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    H    H    M    L    M    M    M    M    M
CKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    L    H    L    M    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 00Z WEDNESDAY...
IFR valley fog possible Wednesday morning.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for WVZ005>011-013>020-
     024>034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for OHZ066-067-075-076-
     083>087.
KY...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for VAZ003-004.

&&

DISCUSSION...JP
AVIATION...JZ

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 17, 7:51 PM EDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
751 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

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

0750 PM     Flash Flood      6 SSW Ravenswood        38.88N 81.79W
08/17/2026                   Jackson            WV   911 Call Center

            High water on Flatwoods road.

&&

JZ

Local storm report, Aug 17, 7:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
752 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

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

0751 PM     Flash Flood      1 SE Ripley             38.81N 81.70W
08/17/2026                   Jackson            WV   911 Call Center

            OLD STONE RIDGE RD flooded.

&&

JZ

Local storm report, Aug 17, 7:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
757 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

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

0739 PM     Flash Flood      1 SE Ripley             38.81N 81.70W
08/17/2026                   Jackson            WV   911 Call Center

            Flooding along Greenbrier Drive near Cedar
            Lakes Drive.

&&

Local storm report, Aug 17, 7:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
758 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

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

0757 PM     Flash Flood      Ripley                  38.82N 81.70W
08/17/2026                   Jackson            WV   911 Call Center

            House flooded from storm drain on 3rd Ave in
            Ripley.

&&

JZ

Local storm report, Aug 17, 8:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
800 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

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

0740 PM     Flash Flood      6 SSW Ravenswood        38.88N 81.78W
08/17/2026                   Jackson            WV   911 Call Center

            Flooding along Crooked Run Road just west of
            Latham Ridge.

&&

Local storm report, Aug 17, 9:33 PM EDT, 16 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
933 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

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

0932 PM     Flash Flood      1 ENE Amesville         39.41N 81.93W
08/17/2026                   Athens             OH   911 Call Center

            Vehicle stuck in water on ST RTE 550 / ST
            RTE 329.

&&

JZ

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 17, 8:39 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Pleasants, Tyler	3 hr
Aug 17, 8:45 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Harrison, Tyler	13 hr
Aug 17, 8:51 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler	13 hr
Aug 17, 8:56 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Harrison, Taylor	13 hr
Aug 17, 9:00 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Harrison, Taylor	13 hr
Aug 17, 10:38 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Jackson, Mason, Roane	3 hr
Aug 17, 10:48 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Logan, Wyoming	3 hr
Aug 17, 11:50 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Pleasants, Tyler	12 hr

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.