Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 252, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Sep 23, 2026, 2:33 PM EDT for Lincoln County, Wayne County, West Virginia. It was in force for 4 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
- Sep 23, 2026, 2:33 PM EDT (18:33 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 23, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Lincoln County, WV, Wayne County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 46 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 4:35 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Nnw Hamlin, WV | Road washed out from flood waters. |
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 122 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 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 190 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 469 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 52 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 82 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
766
WGUS51 KRLX 231833
FFWRLX
WVC043-099-232130-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0252.260923T1833Z-260923T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
233 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Lincoln County in central West Virginia...
East Central Wayne County in western West Virginia...
* Until 530 PM EDT.
* At 233 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 3 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...
Hamlin, Kiahsville, West Hamlin, Branchland and Myra.
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 3823 8226 3824 8226 3825 8226 3825 8225
3826 8225 3829 8221 3833 8218 3834 8217
3834 8216 3827 8205 3801 8228 3805 8237
3812 8233 3821 8230 3823 8228
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
142 follow-up statements
633
WGUS51 KRLX 232028
FFWRLX
WVC043-099-232230-
/O.EXT.KRLX.FF.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260923T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
428 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Lincoln County in central West Virginia...
East Central Wayne County in western West Virginia...
* Until 630 PM EDT.
* At 428 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 3.5 inches of
rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Hamlin, Kiahsville, West Hamlin, Branchland, and Myra.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3823 8226 3824 8226 3825 8226 3825 8225
3826 8225 3829 8221 3833 8218 3834 8217
3834 8216 3827 8205 3801 8228 3805 8237
3812 8233 3821 8230 3823 8228
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
SINCAVAGE916
WGUS71 KRLX 232222
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
622 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
WVC043-099-232232-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260923T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-
622 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 630 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND EAST CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended, although a light, steady rain will continue
for a few more hours. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for portions of
northeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3823 8226 3824 8226 3825 8226 3825 8225
3826 8225 3829 8221 3833 8218 3834 8217
3834 8216 3827 8205 3801 8228 3805 8237
3812 8233 3821 8230 3823 8228
$$
SINCAVAGEWhat 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 23, 5:31 AM EDT, 9 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1.) Localized flash flooding threat from slow-moving showers and thunderstorms continues through this evening, primarily across the southern coalfields. 2.) Transition to dry, seasonable autumn weather Thursday through the weekend as cooler air advects from eastern Canada, bringing daytime highs in the 70s and crisp nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 23, 5:31 AM EDT, 9 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
531 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Updated 12Z aviation discussion. Model output continues to vary
substantially regarding placement of convective precipitation
through the day today into this evening, but the general theme
of the heaviest rainfall remaining south and west of out
forecast area continues.
As of 306 AM Wednesday...
Trimmed and realigned the Flash Flood Watch to match where
slow-moving rain aligns with suppressed flash flood guidance for
through this evening.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) Localized flash flooding threat from slow-moving showers
and thunderstorms continues through this evening, primarily
across the southern coalfields.
2.) Transition to dry, seasonable autumn weather Thursday
through the weekend as cooler air advects from eastern Canada,
bringing daytime highs in the 70s and crisp nighttime lows in
the 40s and 50s.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A weak upper-level cold-core low will drift slowly southward
across the Ohio Valley today into the Tennessee Valley tonight.
Strongest synoptic forcing for ascent remains focused generally
south and west of the forecast area. Precipitable water values
across the region fall in the 1.3 to 1.5 inch range, with warm
cloud depths only around 5000 ft and equilibrium levels around
25 to 30kft with long skinny elevated CAPE profiles. This
general mix of positive/negative factors for efficient rainfall
production should help to limit convective rates to around half
to perhaps one inch per hour rates in the strongest updrafts.
However, steering flow remains exceptionally weak, yielding very
slow cell motions around 5 to 10 mph. Convection that does
develop will be capable of persisting over localized areas for
several hours, potentially overcoming suppressed 3-hour flash
flood guidance from antecedent rainfall. The Flash Flash Flood
Watch has been trimmed and realigned to focus on areas across
the southern coalfield where several hours of moderate to heavy
rainfall could coincide with sensitive soils. While 3-hour
flash flood guidance portions of southeast Ohio is even more
suppressed, marginally over 1 inch, overall confidence in
convective coverage remains too low to warrant an expansion into
that area at this time.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
As the upper low weakens and opens into a wave while moving
eastward on Thursday, lingering shower coverage over the
mountains will gradually diminish from north to south. Surface
high pressure building over Quebec and a deepening coastal low
off the Atlantic coast will continue a persistent northeasterly
flow across the region. This flow regime will continue to advect
a much drier continental airmass from eastern Canada into the
area Thursday through the weekend.
Dewpoints will crash into the 40s by Friday afternoon, with
relative humidity values dropping noticeably. High temperatures
Friday through Monday will range comfortably in the lower to mid
70s across the lowlands and 60s in the Northeast Mountains. With
clear skies and light winds under high pressure, optimal
radiational cooling and cold air drainage will occur Friday
night and Saturday night. Overnight lows will drop into the
upper 30s to lower 40s in sheltered mountain valleys, and the
mid 40s to lower 50s across the lowlands. Could even see some
patchy frost in the mountain valleys Friday morning. This will
also likely yield valley fog each night.
Temperatures will begin a warming trend into the middle of next
week as southerly flow returns ahead of low pressure organizing
in the lee of the Rockies by Monday night.
&&
.AVIATION /09Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Will continue to see erosion from east to west of remaining any
remaining low IFR this morning. Expect renewed development of
stratocumulus by late morning, generally based 015-020. With an
inversion between 020-030 expect clouds bases to struggle to mix
above that layer through this afternoon.
Scattered to numerous showers are expected through this evening
with isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. Any convection will
be fairly slow moving and if it gets over a terminal may linger
for 30 to 45 minutes. Best chances at HTS this afternoon.
Winds generally northeasterly 5-10KTs, except southeasterly
downslope at EKN/BKW.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Coverage of showers and thunderstorms may
vary through this evening.
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 09/23/26
UTC 1HRLY 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
EDT 1HRLY 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
CRW CONSISTENCY L L M L M M H H H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY L L L M L L H H H H H H
BKW CONSISTENCY M H H M M H H H H H H H
EKN CONSISTENCY M M M H H H H H H H M H
PKB CONSISTENCY H H M H H H H H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M M M H H H H L H H H H
AFTER 12Z THURSDAY...
IFR in morning valley fog each morning starting Friday.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through this evening for WVZ005-013-024>026-033-
034-515-516.
OH...None.
KY...Flood Watch through this evening for KYZ105.
VA...Flood Watch through this evening for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...JP
AVIATION...JPIn the hours before
Local storm report, Sep 23, 12:15 PM EDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1215 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1210 PM Flash Flood 10 W Buffalo 38.62N 82.17W
09/23/2026 Mason WV 911 Call Center
Water over Huntington Road.
&&Local storm report, Sep 23, 1:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
131 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM Flash Flood 4 NNE East Lynn Lake 38.21N 82.36W
09/23/2026 Wayne WV 911 Call Center
Water rescue reported along Little Lynn
Creek Road.
&&Local storm report, Sep 23, 1:42 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
142 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM Flash Flood 2 W Chesapeake 38.42N 82.49W
09/23/2026 Lawrence OH Public
Henry Road in Chesapeake is flooded.
&&Local storm report, Sep 23, 2:03 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
203 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM Flash Flood 6 NW Danville 38.13N 81.92W
09/23/2026 Boone WV Public
Creek has overflowed and is flooding yards.
&&Local storm report, Sep 23, 2:06 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
206 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM Flash Flood 5 NW Danville 38.14N 81.90W
09/23/2026 Boone WV Fire Dept/Rescue
High water across road. Time is estimated.
&&
GWLocal storm report, Sep 23, 2:24 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
224 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM Flash Flood Morrisvale 38.14N 81.90W
09/23/2026 Boone WV Public
Picture received of high water around a home
near Morrisvale. Time is estimated.
&&
GWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 8:02 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Braxton, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur | 3 hr |
| Sep 22, 8:45 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Fayette, Raleigh | 3 hr |
| Sep 22, 11:26 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Fayette, Raleigh | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 10:03 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lincoln, Putnam | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 11:05 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Wayne | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 11:15 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Mason | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 11:37 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Lincoln | 9 hr |
| Sep 23, 11:48 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 1:10 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gilmer | 4 hr |
| Sep 23, 2:06 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Mason | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 2:35 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 3:09 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane | 5 hr |
| Sep 23, 3:34 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lincoln | 5 hr |
| Sep 23, 4:41 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lincoln, Mingo, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 4:44 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Lincoln, Logan | 4 hr |
| Sep 23, 4:51 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Wayne | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 5:23 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lincoln, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Sep 23, 7:12 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Logan | 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.