Alert archive / Kentucky / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 79, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2026, 6:24 PM EDT for Greenup County, Kentucky. 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 18, 2026, 6:24 PM EDT (22:24 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 18, 2026, 8:25 PM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Greenup County, KY
The radar
The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:25 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, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 108 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
- 911 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -30 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 624 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 12 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 21 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 4 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
217
WGUS51 KRLX 182224
FFWRLX
KYC089-190130-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0079.260718T2224Z-260719T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
624 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
North Central Greenup County in northeastern Kentucky...
* Until 930 PM EDT.
* At 624 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 up to 0.5 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...
South Shore and South Portsmouth.
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 3869 8288 3869 8303 3870 8304 3872 8303
3873 8303 3873 8297 3874 8294 3875 8293
3876 8289 3874 8287 3872 8287 3871 8288
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
011 follow-up statement
127
WGUS71 KRLX 190025
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
825 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
KYC089-190035-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260719T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Greenup KY-
825 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTH CENTRAL GREENUP
COUNTY...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3869 8288 3869 8303 3870 8304 3872 8303
3873 8303 3873 8297 3874 8294 3875 8293
3876 8289 3874 8287 3872 8287 3871 8288
$$
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 18, 1:37 PM EDT, 4 hours 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Rain and thunderstorms are expected during the day, and as a front crosses tonight into Sunday. Strong to severe storms could produce damaging wind gusts today. Heavy rain could also prompt localized flash flooding. 2) Impacts from wildfire smoke decrease today. 3) Next chance of heavy rain and strong storms arrives Tuesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 1:37 PM EDT, 4 hours 47 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
137 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Active today with strong storms and heavy downpours ahead of a
front. Briefly drier behind the front then another system
brings potential for heavy rain and strong storms Tuesday into
Tuesday night.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Rain and thunderstorms are expected during the day, and as a
front crosses tonight into Sunday. Strong to severe storms could
produce damaging wind gusts today. Heavy rain could also prompt
localized flash flooding.
2) Impacts from wildfire smoke decrease today.
3) Next chance of heavy rain and strong storms arrives Tuesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A low traverses southern Ontario and Quebec today and then continues
onward to the Maritime Provinces and Gulf of St. Lawrence on Sunday.
A cold front trailing this system will descend into the Middle Ohio
Valley tonight and then sink south towards the Virginia/North
Carolina border Sunday and Sunday night.
The presence of a warm, moist, and unstable environment ahead of the
front, combined with a passing shortwave, should facilitate
development of showers and thunderstorms across the area today.
Precipitable water values in excess of an inch and a half
should support heavy downpours which could prompt localized
flooding in poor drainage areas or locations impacted by
multiple storms. Scattered strong to severe storms could also be
capable of producing damaging wind gusts this afternoon and
evening.
A brief lull in activity may occur after sundown, then another round
of activity is expected to accompany the front across the area
overnight. Precipitation coverage tapers off from north to south as
the front recedes south on Sunday.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Canadian wildfires will have less of an impact on the area as
smoke is swept northward today. That being said, an air quality
alert remains in effect for portions of northwest and north-
central West Virginia where some impacts could linger through
tonight.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
Drier for much of the area on Monday, then another low swings across
southern Ontario while an upper trough digs down into the eastern US.
This system is projected to bring the next chance of strong storms
and heavy rain to the area Tuesday and Tuesday night. SPC has
already highlighted a 15 percent risk of severe weather on
Tuesday while WPC has placed much of the area within a slight
risk of excessive rainfall.
Surface high pressure builds as the trough shifts east, allowing
quieter weather to take hold later in the week. This dry spell may
be rather short-lived as the first in a series of disturbances
is expected to approach the area this weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
A mix of MVFR to VFR ceilings will persist across the area while
showers and thunderstorms prompt sub-VFR visibilities at times
today. Conditions are expected to further deteriorate as a
front moves through overnight, bringing more rain and storms.
Fog may also develop behind the front early Sunday morning.
Conditions should then slowly improve to VFR during the day
Sunday.
Winds will generally be southwesterly today, then pivot to the
north behind the front overnight. In addition to sporadic gusts
into the teens to low 20s, stronger gusts will be possible
within storms.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Expect flight conditions to fluctuate in
RA/TS. Timing of improvements on Sunday 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 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 M
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 valley fog possible Sunday/Monday mornings.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Air Quality Alert until midnight EDT tonight for WVZ007>011-
016>020-029>032-039-040.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...20In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:00 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
600 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
WVZ016-018-027>030-039-521-182230-
Calhoun WV-Clay WV-Roane WV-Northwest Webster WV-Upshur WV-Lewis WV-
Gilmer WV-Braxton WV-
600 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN CALHOUN...SOUTHERN
GILMER...SOUTHEASTERN LEWIS...BRAXTON...SOUTHWESTERN UPSHUR...
SOUTHERN ROANE AND NORTHERN CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM EDT...
At 600 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles east of Glenville to near Arnoldsburg
to near Kenna. Movement was southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Glenville, Sutton, Gassaway, Arnoldsburg, Big Otter, Wallback, Cedar
Creek State Park, Amma, Harrison, Burnsville, Flatwoods, Sand Fork,
Nebo, Shock, Millstone, Rosedale, Mount Zion, Cleveland, Left Hand,
and Kanawha Head.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 79 between mile markers 24 and 81.
Route 19 between mile markers 66 and 68.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3878 8027 3855 8078 3856 8079 3845 8099
3852 8120 3853 8120 3853 8123 3862 8153
3867 8155 3898 8093
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 316DEG 18KT 3890 8067 3875 8119 3864 8159
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
04Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:06 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
606 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 WNW Jackson Mill 39.12N 80.58W
07/18/2026 Lewis WV 911 Call Center
Tree in roadway at Right Freemans Creek Rd
and Bear Fork. Time estimated from radar.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Jul 18, 6:11 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
611 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 N Sand Fork 39.02N 80.74W
07/18/2026 Gilmer WV 911 Call Center
Tree down blocking the road at the
intersection of WV-47 and Fink Creek Road
outside of Linn. Time estimated by radar.
&&Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:13 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
613 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
KYZ101-103-OHZ087-WVZ005>007-014-015-182245-
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Lawrence OH-Mason WV-Kanawha WV-Wayne WV-
Cabell WV-Putnam WV-
613 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN BOYD...EAST CENTRAL
GREENUP...SOUTHERN LAWRENCE...SOUTHERN MASON...CABELL...WEST CENTRAL
KANAWHA...SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM AND NORTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH
645 PM EDT...
At 613 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles north of Milton to near Naples.
Movement was southeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Huntington, Ashland, Ironton, Nitro, Coal Grove, Chesapeake,
Proctorville, Jefferson, St. Albans, Dunbar, Hurricane,
Barboursville, Kenova, Milton, Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Ona, Culloden,
Institute, and Teays Valley.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 188 and 191.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 40, and
between mile markers 48 and 51.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3859 8236 3858 8229 3860 8225 3838 8171
3835 8204 3837 8205 3838 8207 3834 8215
3830 8255 3853 8287
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 310DEG 31KT 3854 8217 3850 8278
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
04Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:15 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
615 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0525 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 ENE Kenna 38.70N 81.59W
07/18/2026 Jackson WV Utility Company
Over 250 customers without power due to tree
damage.
&&
JPSpecial weather statement, Jul 18, 6:21 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
621 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
WVZ014>016-027-182245-
Clay WV-Roane WV-Kanawha WV-Putnam WV-
621 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN KANAWHA...CENTRAL
PUTNAM...SOUTH CENTRAL ROANE AND WEST CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH
645 PM EDT...
At 621 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elkview, or 10 miles northeast of Charleston, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Charleston, Nitro, Clay, South Charleston, Dunbar, Sissonville,
Clendenin, Poca, Cross Lanes, Pinch, Glen, Coal Fork, Elkview, Teays
Valley, Bancroft, and Procious.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 79 between mile markers 1 and 23.
Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 97 and 115.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 41 and 47, and
between mile markers 56 and 57.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3849 8200 3858 8139 3847 8097 3828 8134
3833 8159
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 288DEG 26KT 3848 8154
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
04The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 5:02 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Greenup | 28 min |
| Jul 18, 5:31 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Greenup | 44 min |
Nearby
Flash 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.