Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 60, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 12, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT for Buchanan County, Virginia; McDowell County, West Virginia. It was in force for 107 min. 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 12, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT (12:15 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 12, 2026, 10:02 AM EDT
- In force
- 107 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Buchanan County, VA, McDowell County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:16 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
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 198 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
- 159 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -30 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 789 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 15 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -23 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 16 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
061
WGUS51 KRLX 121215
FFWRLX
VAC027-WVC047-121515-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0060.260712T1215Z-260712T1515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
815 AM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Central Buchanan County in southwestern Virginia...
Southern McDowell County in southern West Virginia...
* Until 1115 AM EDT.
* At 815 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 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...
Grundy, War, Big Rock, Bradshaw, Jolo, Stacy, Roseann, Hurley,
Vansant and Cucumber.
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 3724 8174 3720 8176 3717 8186 3723 8199
3731 8230 3746 8208 3737 8171 3727 8145
3725 8148 3726 8150 3723 8151 3721 8155
3720 8168 3724 8172
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
011 follow-up statement
782
WGUS71 KRLX 121402
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1002 AM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
VAC027-WVC047-121412-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0060.000000T0000Z-260712T1515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Buchanan VA-McDowell WV-
1002 AM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR CENTRAL BUCHANAN AND SOUTHERN
MCDOWELL COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT Sunday for portions
of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and West
Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3724 8174 3720 8176 3717 8186 3723 8199
3731 8230 3746 8208 3737 8171 3727 8145
3725 8148 3726 8150 3723 8151 3721 8155
3720 8168 3724 8172
$$
01What 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 12, 6:02 AM EDT, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Showers and storms continue today, along with potential for some localized flash flooding. 2) Turning dry and warmer for the middle of the week. Unsettled again late week into next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 6:02 AM EDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
602 AM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
12Z Aviation Discussion Update.
Chances of showers and thunderstorms continue today and, to a
lesser extent, on Monday. After a warm and dry midweek, the
forecast becomes uncertain late week into next weekend.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Showers and storms continue today, along with potential for
some localized flash flooding.
2) Turning dry and warmer for the middle of the week. Unsettled
again late week into next weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
An area of low pressure, currently centered over Kentucky and
Tennessee, is projected to meander deeper into the southeastern US
early this week. Moisture associated with this system, and a nearby
front, will continue to feed into the area and facilitate chances of
showers and thunderstorms this weekend.
The best potential for activity should be in the southeast half of
the forecast area today, followed by a lull overnight. Moderate to
heavy rain over already saturated soils could lead to instances of
localized flash flooding; therefore, the Flood Watch remains in
effect along and south of the I-64 corridor through this evening.
Some additional showers or storms could sprout up on Monday, but
coverage should be somewhat limited as drier air edges in behind
the receding system.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Drier and warmer weather is expected Tuesday through midweek, with
temperatures likely breaking into the low 90s in the lowlands
Wednesday afternoon. Precipitation chances may return with
disturbances late week into the weekend, though confidence in
the timing of these disturbances remains low.
&&
.AVIATION /09Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Ceilings will improve to VFR/MVFR by afternoon while occasional
IFR visibility restrictions remain possible in showers/storms
throughout the day.
For tonight, precipitation tapers off but flight conditions
deteriorate to IFR or worse as fog and low stratus develop
overnight into early Monday morning.
Light, variable winds become easterly during the day, then
remain light and easterly for the rest of the TAF period.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Low.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of CIG/VIS improvements and extent
of precipitation during the day may vary from the forecast.
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 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
EDT 1HRLY 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
CRW CONSISTENCY L M M H H H H H H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H M M M M H H H H H H H
BKW CONSISTENCY M L L M H H H H H H M H
EKN CONSISTENCY L L L L L M M M H H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY M M M L L H H H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M L L H H H H H H H H H
AFTER 12Z MONDAY...
IFR conditions remain possible in fog and/or stratus each night
and early morning, especially across valley locations.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through this evening for WVZ005-006-013>015-
024>026-033-034-515>518.
OH...Flood Watch through this evening for OHZ087.
KY...Flood Watch through this evening for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through this evening for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...20The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 10:41 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Clay, Nicholas | 5 hr |
| Jul 12, 12:53 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Lincoln, Putnam, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Jul 12, 2:27 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam | 3 hr |
| Jul 12, 3:37 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Logan | 4 hr |
| Jul 12, 4:02 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Logan | 3 hr |
| Jul 12, 4:58 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gilmer | 3 hr |
| Jul 12, 5:13 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gilmer | 2 hr |
| Jul 12, 5:39 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Logan, Wyoming | 2 hr |
| Jul 12, 6:03 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Ritchie | 3 hr |
| Jul 12, 6:08 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Mingo | 99 min |
| Jul 12, 6:53 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood | 2 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2026Flash 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.