Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 42, NWS Charleston, WV

July 4, 2026Roane County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 4, 2026, 3:47 PM EDT for Roane County, West Virginia. It was in force for 2 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
Jul 4, 2026, 3:47 PM EDT (19:47 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 2026, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Roane County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:50 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 225 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-07-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 528 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-07-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 1 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
528 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-141 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1496 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

843 
WGUS51 KRLX 041947
FFWRLX
WVC087-042245-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0042.260704T1947Z-260704T2245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
347 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southern Roane County in central West Virginia...

* Until 645 PM EDT.

* At 347 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 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...
  Looneyville, Walton, Gandeeville and Tariff.

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 3863 8152 3855 8147 3863 8117 3874 8121
      3871 8141

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

12
2 follow-up statements
631 
WGUS71 KRLX 042051
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
451 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

WVC087-042245-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260704T2245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Roane WV-
451 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHERN ROANE COUNTY...

At 451 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms having produced
heavy rain within the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. The heaviest of the rain had ended. Flash flooding had
not yet been reported, but may 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...
  Looneyville, Walton, Gandeeville and Tariff.

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 3863 8152 3855 8147 3863 8117 3874 8121
      3871 8141

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

12
384 
WGUS71 KRLX 042215
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
615 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

WVC087-042225-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260704T2245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Roane WV-
615 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHERN ROANE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has long since ended ended, and any high water should
have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. There
were no reports of flooding, but do continue to heed any road
closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3863 8152 3855 8147 3863 8117 3874 8121
      3871 8141

$$

12

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 Jul 4, 2:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1. Showers and storms, some severe, today into early next week. 2. Hot and humid conditions continue into Sunday. Sunday will not have heat headlines as some relief will start and continue into the new work week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 2:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
215 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...

Added slightly more PoPs to the forecast and thunderstorm
probability to account for ongoing convection as guidance did
not have it in the forecast package this early.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Showers and storms, some severe, today into early next week.

2. Hot and humid conditions continue into Sunday. Sunday will
not have heat headlines as some relief will start and continue
into the new work week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Today will focus on potential thunderstorm activity across the
entire area which may become strong to severe and pose a flash
flood risk. Much of the activity has developed in the eastern
half of the CWA already as indicated on radar. Severe indices
are elevated and in place to support severe thunderstorms which
is being observed at this point in time. With CAPE close to near
4500 J/kg, enough instability and the lack of CIN there will
support strong thunderstorm development into the evening. The
main threat will be damaging wind and with freezing levels
around 14K feet, hail will have a hard time reaching the ground
before melting, however small hail to borderline large hail
could be a possibility under severe storm activity, especially
within a downburst. The area is mainly under a slight risk for
severe thunderstorms issued by SPC.

Another threat will be flash flooding. PWAT values approaching
1.7 inches will provide heavy loaded soundings with enough low
to mid level moisture and DCAPE values approaching 1500 J/kg
(anomalously high) will support downbursts. With the lack of
shear and steering flow aloft, storms will likely be up and
down quickly, however the downburst potential will be able to
support flash flooding. Currently storms are moving at 10mph
north-northeast so very slowly. If storms hover over the same
area and/or backbuild and train areas will be susceptible to
flooding issues, especially low lying and flood prone areas that
are hit repeatedly. We are under a marginal risk for excessive
rainfall from WPC so this does support isolated flash flood
potential.

With convection already occurring Hi-res models suggest
activity continuing into the evening at which point will start
to diminish around 5Z. The most aggressive models are the
Hi-resW FV3 and ARW, but they do not imply that there will be a
lot to deal or worry about which is not the case currently.
Convection looks to become more scattered in nature. Thinking
with high pressure still hanging around will help with little
subsidence and small caps to keep storm in check for the most
part along the Ohio river and west of there. If convection
brings in enough cloud coverage some of that high instability
will be lost and will help limit thunderstorms or at least the
potential for severe by late afternoon across the eastern half
of the CWA.

High pressure fleets toward the south today and tonight but we
still have weak upper level riding, however with convective
activity still having the potential this afternoon and evening
we will be under a "dirty" high regime which will allow for
isolated to scattered convection areawide. By Sunday, we have a
similar setup with convective potential during the afternoon
and evening, but the severe threat will be slightly less with
just a marginal threat under most of the area, except for the
northeast mountains where a slight risk will reside where
heights lower and low pressure replaces our high pressure
system as it moves further southeast. More storm potential and
the possibility of severe thunderstorms will continue into the
new work week.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

The heat wave continues through the weekend, however headlines
will not continue as we do start to see some relief on Sunday
with temperatures decreasing a few degrees and dewpoints
declining as well as apparent temperatures. Apparent
temperatures are borderline at best where advisory criteria
getting near or just above the 100 degree mark (feel like
temperature) in isolated areas, however with convective
activity expected and the greater cloud coverage on Sunday will
deter some of that daytime heating to where there is not much
confidence in extending the headlines out further. Subsequently,
starting the new work week temperatures will continue to fall
back to seasonable around the mid to upper 80s.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR conditions will likely dominate for most today at which
point will start to change categories as fog once forms again
tonight after the clearing of cloud coverage and also the dead
flow at the surface. Any sites with antecedent rainfall from
possible afternoon/evening convection will likely go down hard
in fog and low stratus.

Storms today into the evening could be on the heavier side,
especially under any severe thunderstorm activity, which will bring
VIS down to MVFR or worse at times if a site is directly hit.
Potential thunderstorm activity will wane after 5Z and then mostly
just shower activity may exist thereafter for the rest of the
evening. IFR valley fog could get into sites tonight, but should
lift by 12Z although the trend has been by 1330Z at EKN
recently which is the site that has the most dense fog
expected overnight.

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

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of development of storms, and
associated flight restrictions may vary from the forecast. Fog
tonight may be denser and more widespread than currently
forecast, especially at HTS if they decouple.

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       17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04
EDT 1HRLY       13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z SUNDAY...
IFR conditions associated with thunderstorms remains possible
through the end of the weekend into early next week due to
localized reductions to CIGs/VSBYs. Areas of fog or low stratus
possible Monday morning.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for
     WVZ005>011-013>020-024>031.
     Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for WVZ032>034-039-
     040-515-517-519-521-525.
OH...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ066-
     067-075-076-083>087.
KY...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for
     KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for VAZ003-004.

&&

DISCUSSION...JZ
AVIATION...JZ

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:22 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
322 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

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

0256 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WNW Burnsville        38.88N 80.71W
07/04/2026                   Gilmer             WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down on WV HWY 5 E and Copen Rd in
            Burnsville. Time estimated by radar.

&&

JZ
Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:26 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
326 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

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

0130 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SW Bradshaw           37.33N 81.84W
07/04/2026                   McDowell           WV   Public

            Tree down across Marshall Highway in Jolo.
            Time estimated by radar.

&&

JZ
Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:29 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
329 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

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

0322 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW Lost Creek        39.14N 80.39W
07/04/2026                   Harrison           WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down across Duck Creek Rd in Lost
            Creek.

&&

JZ
Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:33 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
333 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

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

0110 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNE Madison           38.10N 81.77W
07/04/2026                   Boone              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking one lane on Daniel Boone
            PKWY in Foster. Time estimated by radar.

&&

JZ
Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:42 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
342 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

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

0342 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSW Spencer           38.77N 81.37W
07/04/2026                   Roane              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Charleston Rd in Spencer. Power
            lines down as well.

&&

JZ
Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:46 PM EDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
346 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

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

0300 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 SSE Huttonsville      38.61N 79.94W
07/04/2026                   Randolph           WV   911 Call Center

            Numerous trees down across Cheat Mountain in
            Randolph and Valley Head. Time estimated by
            radar.

&&

JZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 12:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone23 min
Jul 4, 12:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWyoming25 min
Jul 4, 12:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBoone, Kanawha, Raleigh36 min
Jul 4, 12:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLogan, McDowell, Wyoming33 min
Jul 4, 12:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMcDowell24 min
Jul 4, 1:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPocahontas29 min
Jul 4, 1:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBoone, Logan, Wyoming34 min
Jul 4, 1:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXClay28 min
Jul 4, 1:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge25 min
Jul 4, 1:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph28 min
Jul 4, 1:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie36 min
Jul 4, 1:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXClay, Fayette, Raleigh27 min
Jul 4, 2:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXHarrison, Lewis35 min
Jul 4, 2:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton, Fayette, Lewis, Nicholas, Raleigh23 min
Jul 4, 2:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Harrison, Lewis, Upshur34 min
Jul 4, 2:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Roane31 min
Jul 4, 2:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPocahontas30 min
Jul 4, 2:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Lewis25 min
Jul 4, 2:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXNicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Webster30 min
Jul 4, 2:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Harrison, Taylor36 min
Jul 4, 3:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Lewis28 min
Jul 4, 3:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Roane28 min
Jul 4, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph, Webster30 min
Jul 4, 3:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBarbour29 min
Jul 4, 3:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXNicholas, Webster21 min
Jul 4, 3:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Lewis, Upshur30 min
Jul 4, 3:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXRoane30 min
Jul 4, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph32 min
Jul 4, 3:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLewis, Randolph, Upshur, Webster30 min
Jul 4, 3:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph, Upshur37 min
Jul 4, 3:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie32 min
Jul 4, 4:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRandolph34 min
Jul 4, 4:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXRandolph, Upshur, Webster31 min
Jul 4, 4:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge, Ritchie, Tyler25 min
Jul 4, 4:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXRandolph15 min
Jul 4, 4:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph, Upshur28 min
Jul 4, 4:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler29 min
Jul 4, 5:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRitchie23 min
Jul 4, 5:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXTyler33 min
Jul 4, 5:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPleasants25 min

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.