Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Charleston, WV

May 27, 2026Harrison County, Taylor County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at May 27, 2026, 5:56 AM EDT for Harrison County, Taylor 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
May 27, 2026, 5:56 AM EDT (09:56 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Unknown

Counties Harrison County, WV, Taylor County, WV

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:00 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
May 27, 7:38 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Se Shinnston, WVRoad is completely covered with water. There are also a couple mud/land slides.
May 27, 7:38 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Se Shinnston, WVRoad is completely covered with water. There are also a couple mud/land slides.

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 102 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 00:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 114 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 41 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 16 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
41 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1306 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

398 
WGUS51 KRLX 270956
FFWRLX
WVC033-091-271300-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0019.260527T0956Z-260527T1300Z/
/00000.U.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
556 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Harrison County in northern West Virginia...
  Northwestern Taylor County in northern West Virginia...

* Until 900 AM EDT.

* At 556 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.75 and 1.25 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...
  Shinnston and Enterprise.

This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 127 and 129.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Beards Run, Plummer Run, Thomas Fork, Smith Run, West Fork River,
  Mudlick Run and Tenmile Creek.

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 3936 8020 3934 8027 3939 8035 3943 8028
      3942 8025 3939 8020 3940 8012 3941 8011
      3939 8009

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

04
2 follow-up statements
510 
WGUS71 KRLX 271130
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
730 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

WVC033-091-271300-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260527T1300Z/
/00000.U.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Harrison WV-Taylor WV-
730 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING
FOR NORTHEASTERN HARRISON AND NORTHWESTERN TAYLOR COUNTIES...

At 730 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 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...
  Shinnston and Enterprise.

This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 127 and 128.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Tenmile Creek, West Fork River, Beards Run, Thomas Fork, Smith Run,
  Plummer Run and Mudlick Run.

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 3936 8020 3934 8027 3939 8035 3943 8028
      3942 8025 3939 8020 3940 8012 3941 8011
      3939 8009

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

5
197 
WGUS71 KRLX 271251
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
851 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

WVC033-091-271301-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260527T1300Z/
/00000.U.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Harrison WV-Taylor WV-
851 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR
NORTHEASTERN HARRISON AND NORTHWESTERN TAYLOR COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT Thursday for
portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and West Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3934 8027 3939 8035 3943 8028 3942 8025
      3939 8020 3940 8012 3941 8011 3939 8009

$$

5

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 May 27, 5:03 AM EDT, 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1.) A Flash Flood Watch through 2 AM Thursday morning. 2.) Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening. Tree damage is likely even in sub-severe winds given saturated soils. 3.) A cold front will sweep through Wednesday night, bringing a return to mainly dry weather and near normal temperatures for Thursday into next week.
Area forecast discussion, May 27, 5:03 AM EDT, 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
503 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) A Flash Flood Watch through 2 AM Thursday morning.

2.) Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening.
Tree damage is likely even in sub-severe winds given saturated
soils.

3.) A cold front will sweep through Wednesday night, bringing a
return to mainly dry weather and near normal temperatures for
Thursday into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

A cold front was located just north of our region this morning.
A disturbance moving across the region was providing some
showers and thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms remain
possible this morning, becoming more likely this afternoon and
evening. The cold front will then push southward late today and
tonight.

Meso models showing plenty of 2 to 3 inch rainfall bullseyes,
with a couple over 4 inches. Models showing effective layer
CAPE values of 1000 to 1500 developing over central West
Virginia and extreme southern Ohio. With the ground being saturated
at many locations, the flash flood threat remains high. Will
continue the Flood Watch for flash flooding through tonight over
northern and central portions of the region.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

Models showing effective layer CAPE values of 1000 to 1500
developing over central West Virginia and extreme southern Ohio
southward this afternoon. In addition, models also show some mid
level dry air. Therefore damaging wind gusts, and possibly large
hail, are possible will stronger thunderstorms this afternoon
and evening. Even outside of severe thunderstorms, the wet
ground could allow sub-severe winds to uproot trees.

KEY MESSAGE 3...

A cold front will push south of the area Wednesday night. This
will bring drier air behind the front Thursday, continuing for
Friday, with a break from the precipitation.

A moisture starved reinforcing front will push through on
Saturday. Once again most of the area will remain dry, with the
dry weather continuing on Sunday and most likely into the next
work week.

With the drier air behind these fronts, nighttime temperatures
will be considerably cooler, with readings generally in the 50s,
with some cooler locations dipping into the 40s.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...

Some patchy fog will lift early this morning. Scattered showers
and thunderstorms will continue across the area, becoming more
numerous this afternoon and evening. A cold front will sink
southward across the area late today and tonight, providing more
showers and thunderstorms.

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

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of fog lifting could vary this
morning. Timing and intensity of showers and thunderstorms could
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                         WED 05/27/26
UTC 1HRLY       07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18
EDT 1HRLY       03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14
CRW CONSISTENCY  L    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    H    H    M
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    M    M
EKN CONSISTENCY  M    L    L    M    M    L    L    M    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  L    L    L    L    L    L    M    L    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  M    L    H    H    H    H    H    L    H    H    H    H

AFTER 06Z THURSDAY...
Periodic IFR restrictions are possible in any heavier
showers and thunderstorms through early Thursday morning. IFR
in fog/stratus is possible Thursday morning, and in fog
Saturday/Sunday mornings.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ006>011-014>020-
     027>032-039-040-521-522-525-526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
     083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...RPY
AVIATION...RPY

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 26, 11:58 PM EDT, 5 hours 58 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1158 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

KYZ101-102-270430-
Greenup KY-Carter KY-
1158 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN GREENUP AND CARTER
COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 AM EDT...

At 1158 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Stark, or near Olive Hill, moving northeast at 30 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...
Grayson, Olive Hill, Grayson Lake State Park, Carter Caves State
Park, Gesling, Carter, Grahn, Soldier, Globe, Hopewell, Brushart, and
Hitchins.

This includes Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 149 and
179.

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 3833 8332 3833 8327 3834 8323 3843 8323
      3847 8319 3849 8319 3854 8314 3854 8312
      3835 8278 3819 8300 3820 8301 3820 8304
      3818 8305 3823 8309 3824 8314 3827 8317
      3823 8322 3821 8322 3826 8332 3831 8334
TIME...MOT...LOC 0358Z 218DEG 27KT 3824 8313

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

04
Special weather statement, May 27, 12:29 AM EDT, 5 hours 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1229 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

KYZ101>103-270500-
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Carter KY-
1229 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL BOYD...SOUTHEASTERN
GREENUP AND SOUTHEASTERN CARTER COUNTIES THROUGH 100 AM EDT...

At 1228 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Grayson, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Grayson, Cannonsburg, Princess, Oldtown, Naples, Coalton, Denton,
Rush, Hopewell, Hitchins, and Mavity.

This includes Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 166 and
188.

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 3853 8282 3836 8261 3833 8258 3832 8260
      3822 8293 3834 8306
TIME...MOT...LOC 0428Z 240DEG 27KT 3833 8292

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

04

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 27, 7:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson, Roane3 hr
May 27, 8:41 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis and 4 more5 hr
May 27, 9:08 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge37 min
May 27, 1:38 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison and 6 more3 hr
May 27, 2:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLincoln36 min
May 27, 2:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBoone, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam26 min
May 27, 3:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton34 min
May 27, 3:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha30 min
May 27, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison32 min
May 27, 4:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Mason, Putnam28 min
May 27, 4:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie31 min
May 27, 4:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane30 min
May 27, 4:33 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison and 5 more4 hr
May 27, 4:33 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson, Mason3 hr
May 27, 4:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBarbour18 min
May 27, 4:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Webster31 min
May 27, 4:54 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Roane, Wirt3 hr
May 27, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane31 min
May 27, 5:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLewis, Randolph, Upshur32 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.