Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 243, NWS Charleston, WV

September 22, 2026Randolph County, Webster County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Sep 22, 2026, 4:11 PM EDT for Randolph County, Webster 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 22, 2026, 4:11 PM EDT (20:11 UTC)
Expired
Sep 22, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Randolph County, WV, Webster County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:12 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 161 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2026-09-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 37 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2026-09-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
37 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-160 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1093 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

108 
WGUS51 KRLX 222011
FFWRLX
WVC083-101-222300-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0243.260922T2011Z-260922T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
411 PM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  West Central Randolph County in northeastern West Virginia...
  Northern Webster County in northeastern West Virginia...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 411 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain
  have fallen. 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...
  Webster Springs, Addison (Webster Springs), Waneta, Bergoo, Pickens
  and Monterville.

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 3846 8021 3843 8025 3837 8034 3843 8058
      3856 8043 3878 8005 3865 7997

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

01
1 follow-up statement
476 
WGUS71 KRLX 222250
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
650 PM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

WVC083-101-222300-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0243.000000T0000Z-260922T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Randolph WV-Webster WV-
650 PM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR WEST
CENTRAL RANDOLPH AND NORTHERN WEBSTER COUNTIES...

Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT Wednesday for
portions of southeast Ohio and West Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3846 8021 3843 8025 3837 8034 3843 8058
      3856 8043 3878 8005 3865 7997

$$

01

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 22, 2:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1.) Continuation of heavy rain from slow moving showers and thunderstorms will maintain the risk of localized flash flooding through at least Wednesday evening. 2.) Gradually turning drier on Thursday into the first weekend of Autumn, with temperatures cooling off into the lower to mid 70s during the day and overnight lows in the upper 40s to mid 50s.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 22, 2:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
244 PM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
18Z Aviation Forecast update. Elected to extend the Flood Watch
through Wednesday evening to capture additional rainfall
expected tonight into tomorrow.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) Continuation of heavy rain from slow moving showers and
thunderstorms will maintain the risk of localized flash
flooding through at least Wednesday evening.

2.) Gradually turning drier on Thursday into the first weekend
of Autumn, with temperatures cooling off into the lower to mid
70s during the day and overnight lows in the upper 40s to mid
50s.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Surface level pressure analysis this afternoon shows an
anticipated inverted trough firmly over the eastern forecast
area. Radar trends at the time of writing painted a line of slow
moving showers forming over the Charleston metro and climbing up
the I-79 corridor. These low topped showers appear to be
following light southwesterly flow per forecast soundings, with
the slow nature prompting close monitoring for potential flash
flooding. This is especially true for the northern half of the
forecast area, where 1hr-FFG remains below an inch. While
rainfall rates seem to be manageable thus far this afternoon,
will have to keep in mind the highly sensitive soils throughout
the course of the evening and overnight.

Model guidance suggests a slightly northwestern push of
precipitation late tonight into Wednesday morning as surface low
pressure begins to churn offshore. Mid to upper level troughing
closes off into low pressure, which will continue to provide
nutritional moisture for additional showers and thunderstorms
heading into Wednesday. With concern of more rain and already
compromised soils, opted to extend the Flood Watch in time
through Wednesday evening to encompass this longer period of
rainfall and flash flooding monitoring. May also need to
consider an expansion in counties if confidence grows for rain
to park over the Ohio River Valley.

The center of the upper low dismantles back into an open wave
Thursday morning, with shower coverage slowly diminishing from
north to south.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

Lingering showers over the mountains come to an end on Thursday
in response to building high pressure at the surface and ridging
aloft. These two features will work in tandem to advertise a
stretch of dry weather for the end of the work week into the
weekend. Cooler air filtering in from the northwest will yield
temperatures that will resemble Autumn, and a welcome reprieve
from the stretch of heat noted over the past few weeks. Daytime
highs will struggle to topple over the 70 degree mark from
Thursday onward, while overnight lows range in the 40s to 50s
each night through the weekend.

A classic overrunning profile observed on forecast soundings
for today and Wednesday will keep the area entrenched beneath
overcast skies for the next few days. As the advancing ridge and
surface high build into the area, we should see clearing skies
branch out as early as Thursday evening.

Next weather maker on the horizon does not look to approach the
area until sometime around the middle of next week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Widespread stratus remains entrenched over the forecast area
today amid nearby low pressure. As a result, a variety of sub-
VFR conditions prevails at our TAF sites this afternoon, with
not much room for improvement expected. Showers and potential
thunderstorms will sprout through the course of the afternoon
and evening, which could impose brief visibility restrictions
and an uptick in winds.

Ceiling and visibility restrictions caused by fog and low
stratus stretches into the overnight hours through Wednesday.
Another day of blanketed stratus triumphs through the end of the
valid TAF period.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Ceilings and visibilities obstructed by a
combination of fog, stratus, and thunderstorms may vary from
forecast through the period.

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       18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05
EDT 1HRLY       14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01
CRW CONSISTENCY  L    L    L    L    L    L    L    L    L    L    L    L
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    M
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    M    H    M    H    M    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    L
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY...
IFR conditions possible in showers and storms through
Wednesday night. IFR stratus/fog possible Wednesday night into
Thursday morning.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for WVZ005>011-013>020-
     024>034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for OHZ076.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...05
AVIATION...05

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 22, 10:36 AM EDT, 5 hours 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1036 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

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

0626 PM     Hail             3 NW Beech Fork State P 38.33N 82.44W
09/21/2026  E1.50 Inch       Wayne              WV   Public

&&
Local storm report, Sep 22, 10:37 AM EDT, 5 hours 34 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1037 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

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

1230 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 S Sissonville         38.46N 81.66W
09/21/2026  M60 MPH          Kanawha            WV   Public

&&
Local storm report, Sep 22, 11:19 AM EDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1119 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

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

0640 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 ENE Beech Fork State  38.32N 82.35W
09/21/2026                   Cabell             WV   Public

            Tree down on Bowen Creek Road.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 21, 8:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Clay, Nicholas, Webster35 min
Sep 21, 9:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWyoming34 min
Sep 21, 9:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton33 min
Sep 21, 9:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWyoming32 min
Sep 21, 9:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLewis, Upshur30 min
Sep 21, 10:24 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMcDowell, Wyoming4 hr
Sep 21, 10:28 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur2 hr
Sep 22, 12:56 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Upshur3 hr
Sep 22, 2:18 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMcDowell, Mingo, Wyoming117 min
Sep 22, 5:30 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur, Webster3 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.