Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 235, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Sep 21, 2026, 1:52 AM EDT for Braxton County, Gilmer County, Ritchie 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
- Sep 21, 2026, 1:52 AM EDT (05:52 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 21, 2026, 4:32 AM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Braxton County, WV, Gilmer County, WV, Ritchie County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:54 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 00:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 177 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
- 1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 561 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -25 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 75 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.3
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 Sep 20, 6:39 PM EDT, 7 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Unsettled through much of the work week, with continued potential for flooding and isolated strong to severe thunderstorms.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 20, 6:39 PM EDT, 7 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
639 PM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Flood Watch has been issued for tonight through Monday morning, when
additional heavy rain is expected to move through the area.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Unsettled through much of the work week, with continued
potential for flooding and isolated strong to severe
thunderstorms.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to
move through the area today through Monday night, with most
robust activity occurring in concert with a couple of
shortwaves.
Activity will be isolated to scattered this afternoon, then the next
round of more widespread activity arrives this evening. A Flood
Watch has been issued for southeast Ohio and much of West Virginia,
where heavy downpours could rapidly produce a couple inches of rain
overnight and Monday morning. Locations that already received heavy
rain earlier today will be at greatest risk for flash flooding
overnight. Additional rain on Monday could necessitate an
extension to the Flood Watch. A few strong to severe storms
could also be capable of producing locally strong wind gusts.
From Tuesday through Thursday, the pattern remains unsettled with
additional chances for flooding as an upper trough spirals across
the Middle Ohio Valley towards the east coast. Drier conditions
return late week into the weekend as the system pushes off the
Atlantic Coast.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Conditions this evening will generally be VFR, although a few
showers and thunderstorms could briefly cause restrictions.
Showers and thunderstorms may become more numerous later
tonight, but confidence on the location is low. In addition, fog
or low stratus could form at locations where there are enough
breaks in the clouds.
Expect a rising cumulus deck on Monday with more showers and
thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High this evening, then low late tonight
and Monday morning. Medium Monday afternoon.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing, location, and intensity of
showers and thunderstorms could vary. Fog/low stratus may or
may not form overnight.
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 H H M L L L L
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M L L L
EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H M L M M M M L
PKB CONSISTENCY M M M L L L L L L L L L
CKB CONSISTENCY H M M M M L L L L L L L
AFTER 00Z TUESDAY...
IFR conditions possible in showers and storms each day through
mid week.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through Monday morning for WVZ006>011-013>020-
026>032-039-040-517>526.
OH...Flood Watch through Monday morning for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...None.
VA...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...RPYIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Sep 21, 12:42 AM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1242 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
WVZ008-009-016-017-210515-
Jackson WV-Roane WV-Wirt WV-Wood WV-
1242 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WIRT...NORTHWESTERN ROANE...
NORTHERN JACKSON AND SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTIES THROUGH 115 AM EDT...
At 1242 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Lubeck to near Sandyville to near Ripley.
Movement was east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Parkersburg, Ripley, Elizabeth, Sandyville, Mineralwells, Lubeck,
Washington, Reedy, Cherry, Peewee, Walker, Palestine, Lucille, Evans,
Freeport, Greencastle, Morristown, Davisville, Rockport, and Leroy.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 138 and 145, and
between mile markers 151 and 176.
Route 50 in West Virginia near mile marker 8, and between mile
markers 10 and 19.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3930 8137 3901 8128 3884 8150 3880 8185
3882 8186 3894 8169 3922 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 0442Z 262DEG 29KT 3916 8163 3895 8162 3886 8175
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JPLocal storm report, Sep 21, 1:17 AM EDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
117 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 PM Flash Flood 3 SW Athens 39.29N 82.13W
09/20/2026 Athens OH 911 Call Center
Vehicle stuck in flooded roadway US RTE 50 /
UNITED LN.
&&
JZLocal storm report, Sep 21, 1:20 AM EDT, 32 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
120 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 PM Flash Flood 7 WNW Mcarthur 39.27N 82.61W
09/20/2026 Vinton OH 911 Call Center
High water on US HIGHWAY 50 AND GOOSECREEK
RD. 2 cars tuck in roadway.
&&
JZLocal storm report, Sep 21, 1:48 AM EDT, 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 10:45 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Mason, Wood | 6 hr |
| Sep 20, 11:22 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Mason | 5 hr |
| Sep 20, 11:33 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Wirt, Wood | 6 hr |
| Sep 21, 12:06 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Mason | 24 min |
| Sep 21, 12:13 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Wood | 4 hr |
| Sep 21, 12:20 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Jackson | 25 min |
| Sep 21, 12:28 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, Wood | 5 hr |
| Sep 21, 12:36 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Jackson, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt | 39 min |
| Sep 21, 12:42 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Jackson, Wirt, Wood | 33 min |
| Sep 21, 1:01 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt | 4 hr |
| Sep 21, 1:10 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer | 50 min |
| Sep 21, 1:22 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Gilmer | 23 min |
| Sep 21, 1:37 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Jackson, Roane | 3 hr |
| Sep 21, 2:09 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Braxton, Clay, Upshur | 36 min |
| Sep 21, 2:35 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood | 106 min |
| Sep 21, 2:38 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie | 111 min |
| Sep 21, 2:48 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Lewis, Upshur | 27 min |
| Sep 21, 4:44 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Mason, Wood | 48 hr |
| Sep 21, 5:19 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Wirt, Wood | 9 hr |
| Sep 21, 5:30 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and 1 more | 7 hr |
| Sep 21, 8:17 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt | 4 hr |
| Sep 21, 10:19 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Wood | 26 min |
| Sep 21, 10:44 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Wirt, Wood | 31 min |
| Sep 21, 12:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Fayette | 45 min |
| Sep 21, 12:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Fayette, Nicholas | 32 min |
| Sep 21, 1:02 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Ritchie, Wirt | 10 hr |
| Sep 21, 1:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Pocahontas | 30 min |
| Sep 21, 3:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | McDowell | 25 min |
| Sep 21, 3:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | McDowell, Wyoming | 33 min |
| Sep 21, 3:52 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | McDowell, Wyoming | 3 hr |
| Sep 21, 4:01 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | McDowell | 29 min |
| Sep 21, 4:04 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Wyoming | 26 min |
| Sep 21, 4:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Raleigh | 32 min |
| Sep 21, 4:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Fayette, Raleigh | 26 min |
| Sep 21, 4:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Fayette | 25 min |
| Sep 21, 5:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Raleigh | 30 min |
| Sep 21, 5:08 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Webster | 37 min |
| Sep 21, 5:39 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Pocahontas | 36 min |
| Sep 21, 5:48 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Wayne | 16 min |
| Sep 21, 5:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Wayne | 35 min |
| Sep 21, 6:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pocahontas, Randolph | 23 min |
| Sep 21, 6:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Wayne | 34 min |
| Sep 21, 6:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Pocahontas | 28 min |
| Sep 21, 6:40 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne | 13 min |
| Sep 21, 6:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne | 34 min |
| Sep 21, 7:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Randolph | 35 min |
| Sep 21, 7:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Logan | 34 min |
| Sep 21, 7:38 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas | 2 hr |
| Sep 21, 7:48 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Logan | 11 min |
| Sep 20, 9:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Vinton | 35 min |
| Sep 20, 10:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Vinton | 37 min |
| Sep 20, 10:35 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Meigs, Vinton | 6 hr |
| Sep 20, 10:38 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Athens, Meigs, Vinton | 6 hr |
| Sep 20, 10:43 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Athens, Vinton | 6 hr |
| Sep 20, 10:55 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Vinton | 19 min |
| Sep 20, 11:04 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Athens, Vinton | 10 min |
| Sep 20, 11:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton | 32 min |
| Sep 20, 11:25 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gallia, Jackson, Vinton | 4 hr |
| Sep 20, 11:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Meigs | 35 min |
| Sep 20, 11:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Meigs | 36 min |
| Sep 21, 12:06 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry | 4 hr |
| Sep 21, 3:52 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton | 6 hr |
| Sep 21, 4:42 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Meigs, Vinton | 49 hr |
| Sep 21, 4:43 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Athens, Meigs, Vinton | 49 hr |
| Sep 21, 4:46 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Athens, Morgan, Vinton, Washington | 49 hr |
| Sep 21, 4:54 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 25 hr |
| Sep 21, 5:49 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Athens | 24 hr |
| Sep 21, 8:31 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Athens, Morgan, Perry, Washington | 7 hr |
| Sep 21, 9:00 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | RLX | Athens | 20 hr |
| Sep 21, 9:37 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Athens, Meigs, Morgan, Perry | 38 min |
| Sep 21, 1:56 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 20 hr |
| Sep 21, 2:16 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 16 hr |
| Sep 21, 4:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence | 33 min |
| Sep 21, 5:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boyd, Carter, Lawrence | 35 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.