Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 80, NWS Charleston, WV

July 18, 2026Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT for Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia. It was in force for 71 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 18, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT (23:15 UTC)
Expired: Jul 18, 2026, 8:26 PM EDT
In force: 71 min
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Kanawha County, WV, Putnam County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:18 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, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 208 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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

077 
WGUS51 KRLX 182315
FFWRLX
WVC039-079-190215-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0080.260718T2315Z-260719T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
715 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Kanawha County in central West Virginia...
  Central Putnam County in western West Virginia...

* Until 1015 PM EDT.

* At 715 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 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...
  Nitro, Sissonville, Clendenin, Poca, Elkview, Pinch, Cross Lanes,
  Teays Valley and Bancroft.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 106 and 113.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 42 and 47.
Interstate 79 between mile markers 3 and 17.

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 3841 8188 3841 8196 3842 8197 3844 8188
      3851 8189 3852 8133 3840 8132

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

01

1 follow-up statement

991 
WGUS71 KRLX 190026 RRA
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
826 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

WVC039-079-190036-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0080.000000T0000Z-260719T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Kanawha WV-Putnam WV-
826 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHERN KANAWHA AND CENTRAL
PUTNAM COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3841 8188 3841 8196 3842 8197 3844 8188
      3851 8189 3852 8133 3840 8132

$$

01

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 18, 1:37 PM EDT, 5 hours 38 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, 5 hours 38 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...20

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 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.

&&

JP

Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:21 PM EDT, 54 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

04

Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:32 PM EDT, 43 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
632 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

0623 PM     Flash Flood      8 E Tygart Lake State P 39.28N 79.88W
07/18/2026                   Barbour            WV   911 Call Center

            Water over roadway in the 20000 block of
            Morgantown Pike.

&&

JP

Local storm report, Jul 18, 6:39 PM EDT, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
639 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

0535 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Jackson Mill      39.10N 80.46W
07/18/2026                   Lewis              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down in Jane Lew around the 500 block
            of Sycamore Lick Rd. Time estimated by
            radar.

&&

Special weather statement, Jul 18, 6:45 PM EDT, 30 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
645 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

WVZ006-014-015-027-028-519-182315-
Clay WV-Kanawha WV-Northwest Nicholas WV-Braxton WV-Cabell WV-
Putnam WV-
645 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL CABELL...CENTRAL
NICHOLAS...NORTHERN KANAWHA...SOUTHERN PUTNAM...SOUTH CENTRAL BRAXTON
AND CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM EDT...

At 645 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles east of Clay to near Hurricane.
Movement was east 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...
Charleston, Nitro, Summersville, Clay, Jefferson, South Charleston,
St. Albans, Dunbar, Hurricane, Sissonville, Milton, Clendenin, Poca,
Pinch, Culloden, Glen, Institute, Coal Fork, Elkview, and Cross
Lanes.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 79 between mile markers 1 and 20.
 Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 96 and 113.
 Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 27 and 57.
 Route 119 between mile markers 76 and 80.
 Route 19 between mile markers 42 and 61.

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 3851 8221 3851 8210 3848 8206 3851 8205
      3851 8153 3853 8130 3852 8127 3853 8119
      3855 8116 3859 8075 3833 8063 3827 8088
      3835 8205 3837 8205 3837 8208
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 276DEG 19KT 3848 8096 3847 8205

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

04

Local storm report, Jul 18, 7:11 PM EDT, 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
711 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

0431 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 N Gallipolis          38.88N 82.20W
07/18/2026                   Gallia             OH   Utility Company

            Tree damage resulting in 70 customers
            without power.

&&

GW

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 18, 11:21 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Nicholas	39 min
Jul 18, 11:35 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Webster	40 min
Jul 18, 12:01 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Barbour, Taylor	44 min
Jul 18, 12:35 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Cabell, Putnam	40 min
Jul 18, 12:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lincoln, Wayne	36 min
Jul 18, 12:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Fayette	23 min
Jul 18, 12:54 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Pocahontas	36 min
Jul 18, 1:01 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	44 min
Jul 18, 1:04 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Pocahontas	3 hr
Jul 18, 1:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lincoln	30 min
Jul 18, 1:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	28 min
Jul 18, 1:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Kanawha, Putnam, Roane	61 min
Jul 18, 1:48 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Cabell, Putnam	7 hr
Jul 18, 1:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lewis	38 min
Jul 18, 1:56 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Harrison	34 min
Jul 18, 2:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Clay	46 min
Jul 18, 2:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Doddridge, Ritchie	42 min
Jul 18, 2:31 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Barbour, Braxton, Lewis, Upshur	44 min
Jul 18, 2:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Harrison, Taylor	39 min
Jul 18, 2:55 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Nicholas	35 min
Jul 18, 3:08 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Taylor	5 hr
Jul 18, 3:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Pleasants, Wood	27 min
Jul 18, 3:22 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Upshur	38 min
Jul 18, 3:35 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Webster	40 min
Jul 18, 3:50 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood	40 min
Jul 18, 4:04 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Harrison, Taylor	4 hr
Jul 18, 4:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Jackson, Mason	45 min
Jul 18, 4:18 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie	4 hr
Jul 18, 4:19 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood	4 hr
Jul 18, 4:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie and 3 more	40 min
Jul 18, 4:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Wirt	30 min
Jul 18, 4:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Calhoun, Jackson, Mason, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and 1 more	49 min
Jul 18, 4:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie, Wirt	47 min
Jul 18, 5:02 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Mason	28 min
Jul 18, 5:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Jackson, Roane, Wirt	41 min
Jul 18, 5:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lewis, Upshur	38 min
Jul 18, 5:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Lewis	30 min
Jul 18, 5:54 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Putnam	36 min
Jul 18, 6:00 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane	30 min
Jul 18, 6:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Cabell	32 min
Jul 18, 6:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Clay, Kanawha	24 min
Jul 18, 6:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Clay, Kanawha, Nicholas	30 min
Jul 18, 7:19 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Kanawha, Putnam, Roane	67 min
Jul 18, 7:46 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Taylor	99 min

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.