Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 62, NWS Charleston, WV

July 12, 2026Boyd County, Lawrence County, Kentucky; 4 counties in West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 12, 2026, 12:53 PM EDT for Boyd County, Lawrence County, Kentucky; 4 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 reports 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
Jul 12, 2026, 12:53 PM EDT (16:53 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Boyd County, KY, Lawrence County, KY, Cabell County, WV, Lincoln County, WV, Putnam County, WV, Wayne County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:56 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
Jul 12, 12:55 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD8 Wnw Wayne, WVHigh water on US-52 at the intersection with Centerville-Pritchard Rd.
Jul 12, 12:58 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD3 Wsw Beech Fork State, WVHigh water in the 5500 block of Route-152 near Camp Road.

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 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 2 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, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 168 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 2026-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 283 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 11 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
283 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
596 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-5 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

482 
WGUS51 KRLX 121653
FFWRLX
KYC019-127-WVC011-043-079-099-122000-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0062.260712T1653Z-260712T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1253 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Boyd County in northeastern Kentucky...
  North Central Lawrence County in northeastern Kentucky...
  Southern Cabell County in central West Virginia...
  Northwestern Lincoln County in central West Virginia...
  Southwestern Putnam County in western West Virginia...
  Northern Wayne County in western West Virginia...

* Until 400 PM EDT.

* At 1253 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 3 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...
  Huntington, Wayne, Hamlin, Beech Fork State Park, Cannonsburg,
  Barboursville, Kenova, Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Centerville, Burnaugh,
  Durbin, Princess, South Point, Burlington, West Hamlin, Lavalette,
  Lockwood, Salt Rock and Branchland.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 11.
Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 182 and 191.

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 3843 8276 3841 8258 3841 8257 3840 8255
      3841 8252 3839 8235 3837 8210 3837 8205
      3830 8201 3816 8206 3822 8269 3825 8279

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

01
1 follow-up statement
391 
WGUS71 KRLX 121955
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
355 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

KYC019-127-WVC011-043-079-099-122005-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0062.000000T0000Z-260712T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Boyd KY-Lawrence KY-Cabell WV-Lincoln WV-Putnam WV-Wayne WV-
355 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
BOYD, NORTH CENTRAL LAWRENCE, SOUTHERN CABELL, NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN,
SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM AND NORTHERN 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 1100 PM EDT Sunday for portions
of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and West
Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3843 8276 3841 8258 3841 8257 3840 8255
      3841 8252 3839 8235 3837 8210 3837 8205
      3830 8201 3816 8206 3822 8269 3825 8279

$$

11

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 12, 6:02 AM EDT, 6 hours 51 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, 6 hours 51 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...20

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 12, 12:22 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1222 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

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

1221 PM     Flash Flood      6 N Summersville        38.37N 80.83W
07/12/2026                   Nicholas           WV   911 Call Center

            Nicholas County 911 reported high water on
            US-19 just past the Muddlety exit.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 8:15 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMcDowell107 min
Jul 12, 10:41 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXClay, Nicholas5 hr
Jul 12, 2:27 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam3 hr
Jul 12, 3:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLogan4 hr
Jul 12, 4:02 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Logan3 hr
Jul 12, 4:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGilmer3 hr
Jul 12, 5:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGilmer2 hr
Jul 12, 5:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Logan, Wyoming2 hr
Jul 12, 6:03 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Ritchie3 hr
Jul 12, 6:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMingo99 min
Jul 12, 6:53 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Ritchie, Wood2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Flash Flood Warnings in Kentucky, 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.