Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 253, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Sep 23, 2026, 3:09 PM EDT for Calhoun County, Gilmer County, Roane County, West Virginia. It was in force for 5 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, 3:09 PM EDT (19:09 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 23, 2026, 8:02 PM EDT
- In force
- 5 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Calhoun County, WV, Gilmer County, WV, Roane County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:13 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, 5:00 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Chloe, WV | A couple of reports of high water in the southern portion of Calhoun County in the Chloe area. Time is estimated by radar. |
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 111 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 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 208 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
- 587 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 11 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 81 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 119 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
404
WGUS51 KRLX 231909
FFWRLX
WVC013-021-087-232215-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0253.260923T1909Z-260923T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
309 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Roane County in central West Virginia...
Southeastern Calhoun County in north central West Virginia...
Southwestern Gilmer County in north central West Virginia...
* Until 615 PM EDT.
* At 309 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 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...
Chloe, Orma, Nicut, and Tariff.
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 3870 8117 3877 8108 3881 8101 3875 8094
3872 8097 3872 8099 3868 8102 3858 8112
3861 8120 3867 8121 3869 8119
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
SINCAVAGE3 follow-up statements
374
WGUS71 KRLX 232035
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
435 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
WVC013-021-087-232215-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0253.000000T0000Z-260923T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Calhoun WV-Gilmer WV-Roane WV-
435 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ROANE, SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN AND SOUTHWESTERN
GILMER COUNTIES...
At 435 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Chloe, Orma, Nicut, and Tariff.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3870 8117 3877 8108 3881 8101 3875 8094
3872 8097 3872 8099 3868 8102 3858 8112
3861 8120 3867 8121 3869 8119
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
SINCAVAGE916
WGUS51 KRLX 232154
FFWRLX
WVC013-021-087-240015-
/O.EXT.KRLX.FF.W.0253.000000T0000Z-260924T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
554 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Roane County in central West Virginia...
Southeastern Calhoun County in north central West Virginia...
Southwestern Gilmer County in north central West Virginia...
* Until 815 PM EDT.
* At 554 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of
rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch 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...
Chloe, Orma, Nicut, and Tariff.
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 3870 8117 3877 8108 3881 8101 3875 8094
3872 8097 3872 8099 3868 8102 3858 8112
3861 8120 3867 8121 3869 8119
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
SINCAVAGE876
WGUS71 KRLX 240002
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
802 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
WVC013-021-087-240012-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0253.000000T0000Z-260924T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Calhoun WV-Gilmer WV-Roane WV-
802 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ROANE, SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN
AND SOUTHWESTERN GILMER COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD
WARNING...
Heavy rainfall has ended, and the flash flooding threat has
transitioned into a flood threat. Please continue to heed remaining
road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3870 8117 3877 8108 3881 8101 3875 8094
3872 8097 3872 8099 3868 8102 3858 8112
3861 8120 3867 8121 3869 8119
$$
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, 2:35 PM EDT, 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1.) Continuing to monitor slow-moving showers and thunderstorms churning over the area through this evening for localized flash flooding issues. 2.) Extended stretch of dry weather prevails through next week under the guise of high pressure. Cooler air ushering into the area will yield daytime highs in the 70s and crisp nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 23, 2:35 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
235 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
18Z aviation forecast discussion update. Afternoon forecast
package issued with little to no changes from previous cycles.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) Continuing to monitor slow-moving showers and thunderstorms
churning over the area through this evening for localized flash
flooding issues.
2.) Extended stretch of dry weather prevails through next week under
the guise of high pressure. Cooler air ushering into the area
will yield daytime highs in the 70s and crisp nighttime lows in
the 40s and 50s.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
The forecast area remains masked beneath slow moving showers and
embedded thunderstorms this afternoon. These showers, with
cloud tops plateauing around 15-20kft AGL, have little steering
flow aloft to help speed things along and has resulted in very
localized flash flooding thus far today. Rain has fallen over
the same locations for several hours now, primarily across
southwestern and north-central West Virginia, with only meager
observations capturing these higher rainfall accumulations. Some
road closures have been reported throughout the day, and the
risk for flash flooding extends into this evening. Therefore,
will maintain the ongoing Flood Watch through its forecast
expiration of 10 PM tonight.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Heading into Thursday, precipitation coverage gradually
diminishes from north to south amid building high pressure from
the north and west. Simultaneously, upper level troughing will
shift eastward and a strong coastal low will slither up the
eastern seaboard, which will keep the focus of showers and
storms to the east of the Central Appalachians.
Establishing high pressure and upper level ridging will then set
the stage for an extended period of dry weather from Friday
through at least Monday. Next chance for rain still looks to be
around the middle of next week.
Cooler air advecting into the region beginning Thursday night
could promote patchy frost over the higher ridges of Randolph
and Pocahontas Counties. This was included in this afternoon's
forecast package as a result. Otherwise, expecting Chamber of
Commerce weather through this upcoming weekend into the start of
next week, with daytime highs reaching the 60s/70s, and
overnight low will feel crisp around the 40s/50s.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Slow moving showers and thunderstorms, scattered in nature,
continue to flourish over our airspace this afternoon. Periodic
MVFR ceilings have been observed at our TAF sites thus far
today, and will remain the trend heading into the evening while
precipitation continues overhead.
Ceilings topple down into IFR late tonight for centralized
terminals of HTS, CRW, and BKW, along with EKN. As high pressure
begins to build in from the north, flight conditions will
gradually improve throughout the day Thursday from north to
south.
Winds will remain out of an east-southeasterly direction
overnight between 5-10 knots into Thursday. Some LLWS was
included at EKN overnight for winds of around 35 knots within
the flight column.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z 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.
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 H H H H H H H H H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H M M L H H H H H H
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H M M M M H H H
EKN CONSISTENCY M M H H H M M H H L H L
PKB CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H M H
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H
AFTER 18Z THURSDAY...
IFR in morning valley fog each morning starting Friday.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for WVZ005-013-
024>026-033-034-515-516.
OH...None.
KY...Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for KYZ105.
VA...Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...05
AVIATION...05In the hours before
Local storm report, Sep 23, 2:03 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 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, 1 hour 3 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, 45 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.
&&
GWLocal storm report, Sep 23, 2:38 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
238 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0228 PM Flash Flood 5 NW Danville 38.14N 81.89W
09/23/2026 Boone WV 911 Call Center
Water is in a house and still rising inside
the home.
&&Local storm report, Sep 23, 2:53 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
253 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0245 PM Flash Flood 5 NW Danville 38.13N 81.89W
09/23/2026 Boone WV 911 Call Center
Horse Creek Road is flooded.
&&Local storm report, Sep 23, 3:00 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
300 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM Rain 9 E Arnoldsburg 38.78N 80.96W
09/23/2026 M1.67 Inch Gilmer WV CO-OP Observer
Fell in approximately 75 minutes from 1-2:15
PM.
&&
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, 2:33 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lincoln, Wayne | 4 hr |
| Sep 23, 2:35 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne | 3 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.