Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 252, NWS Charleston, WV

September 23, 2026Lincoln County, Wayne County, West Virginia

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 23, 4:35 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nnw Hamlin, WVRoad 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-09-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-09-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 52 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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

$$

14
2 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

$$

SINCAVAGE
916 
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

$$

SINCAVAGE

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 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...JP

In 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.

&&

GW
Local 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.

&&

GW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 22, 8:02 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur3 hr
Sep 22, 8:45 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXFayette, Raleigh3 hr
Sep 22, 11:26 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXFayette, Raleigh3 hr
Sep 23, 10:03 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLincoln, Putnam3 hr
Sep 23, 11:05 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWayne3 hr
Sep 23, 11:15 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMason3 hr
Sep 23, 11:37 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Lincoln9 hr
Sep 23, 11:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCabell, Wayne3 hr
Sep 23, 1:10 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGilmer4 hr
Sep 23, 2:06 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXCabell, Mason3 hr
Sep 23, 2:35 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXCabell, Lincoln, Wayne3 hr
Sep 23, 3:09 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun, Gilmer, Roane5 hr
Sep 23, 3:34 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLincoln5 hr
Sep 23, 4:41 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLincoln, Mingo, Wayne3 hr
Sep 23, 4:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Lincoln, Logan4 hr
Sep 23, 4:51 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWayne3 hr
Sep 23, 5:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLincoln, Wayne3 hr
Sep 23, 7:12 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Logan3 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.