Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 255, NWS Charleston, WV

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

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Sep 23, 2026, 4:41 PM EDT for Lincoln County, Mingo County, Wayne 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 23, 2026, 4:41 PM EDT (20:41 UTC)
Expired: Sep 23, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Lincoln County, WV, Mingo County, WV, Wayne County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:40 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

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 214 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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.

515 
WGUS51 KRLX 232041
FFWRLX
WVC043-059-099-232345-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0255.260923T2041Z-260923T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
441 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern Lincoln County in central West Virginia...
  Northwestern Mingo County in southern West Virginia...
  Southeastern Wayne County in western West Virginia...

* Until 745 PM EDT.

* At 441 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...
  Kermit, Breeden, and Wilsondale.

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 3789 8243 3797 8232 3802 8226 3800 8219
      3798 8217 3798 8219 3796 8220 3795 8218
      3795 8219 3794 8218 3782 8229 3779 8234
      3780 8238 3782 8239 3781 8240 3783 8240
      3785 8242 3786 8242 3787 8241

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

SINCAVAGE

2 follow-up statements

776 
WGUS71 KRLX 232226
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
626 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

WVC043-059-099-232345-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0255.000000T0000Z-260923T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln WV-Mingo WV-Wayne WV-
626 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LINCOLN, NORTHWESTERN MINGO AND SOUTHEASTERN
WAYNE COUNTIES...

At 626 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 3 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...
  Kermit, Breeden, and Wilsondale.

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 3789 8243 3797 8232 3802 8226 3800 8219
      3798 8217 3798 8219 3796 8220 3795 8218
      3795 8219 3794 8218 3782 8229 3779 8234
      3780 8238 3782 8239 3781 8240 3783 8240
      3785 8242 3786 8242 3787 8241

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

SINCAVAGE

788 
WGUS71 KRLX 232339 RRA
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
739 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

WVC043-059-099-232349-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0255.000000T0000Z-260923T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln WV-Mingo WV-Wayne WV-
739 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN LINCOLN, NORTHWESTERN MINGO AND SOUTHEASTERN WAYNE
COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. 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 3789 8243 3797 8232 3802 8226 3800 8219
      3798 8217 3798 8219 3796 8220 3795 8218
      3795 8219 3794 8218 3782 8229 3779 8234
      3780 8238 3782 8239 3781 8240 3783 8240
      3785 8242 3786 8242 3787 8241

$$

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, 2:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 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, 2 hours 6 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...05

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 23, 2:38 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 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, 1 hour 48 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, 1 hour 41 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.

&&

GW

Local storm report, Sep 23, 3:25 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
325 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

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

0317 PM     Flash Flood      4 WNW Danville          38.10N 81.90W
09/23/2026                   Boone              WV   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Water rescue in progress along Dog Hollow
            Road.

&&

GW

Local storm report, Sep 23, 3:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
334 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

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

0305 PM     Flash Flood      Morrisvale              38.13N 81.91W
09/23/2026                   Boone              WV   911 Call Center

            Several reports of flooding in the
            Morrisvale area. Time is estimated.

&&

GW

Local storm report, Sep 23, 4:07 PM EDT, 34 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
407 PM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

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

0329 PM     Flash Flood      7 SSW Cedar Creek State 38.80N 80.93W
09/23/2026                   Gilmer             WV   911 Call Center

            Briery Lick Road impassable due to high
            water.

&&

GW

The 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, 3:09 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, 4:44 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, 2026 Every 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.