Alert archive / Ohio / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 82, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 21, 2026, 12:32 PM EDT for Athens County, Ohio. It was in force for 4 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 21, 2026, 12:32 PM EDT (16:32 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 21, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Athens County, OH
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 129 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:32 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, 4.5 hours before the alert went out and 150 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
- 956 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -55 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 883 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 47 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 172 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 149 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.9
- Supercell composite
- 5.9
The text
As transmitted.
513
WGUS51 KRLX 211632
FFWRLX
OHC009-212030-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0082.260721T1632Z-260721T2030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1232 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northern Athens County in southeastern Ohio...
* Until 430 PM EDT.
* At 1232 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen in less than an hour. 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...
Chauncey, Buchtel, Jacksonville and Amesville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3948 8211 3947 8205 3946 8206 3945 8189
3944 8185 3940 8185 3937 8188 3937 8196
3939 8207 3941 8215 3943 8221 3946 8220
3947 8219 3947 8217 3948 8217
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
301 follow-up statement
289
WGUS71 KRLX 212021
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
421 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
OHC009-212031-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0082.000000T0000Z-260721T2030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Athens OH-
421 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NORTHERN ATHENS COUNTY...
Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT Wednesday for
portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia,
and West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3948 8211 3947 8205 3946 8206 3945 8189
3944 8185 3940 8185 3937 8188 3937 8196
3939 8207 3941 8215 3943 8221 3946 8220
3947 8219 3947 8217 3948 8217
$$
30What 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 21, 11:37 AM EDT, 55 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Severe storms expected this afternoon and early evening.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 11:37 AM EDT, 55 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1137 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes were necessary at this time.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Severe storms expected this afternoon and early evening.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Mid level shortwave energy will dive south into the area into the
afternoon hours, followed by a cold front late this evening into the
overnight. As a cluster of elevated convection associated with this
shortwave approaches our area, it will encounter a very moist and
unstable environment, with convection becoming more surface based as
it enters our CWA. CAPE values progged to approach 2000 to 4000
J/kg, and increasing shear values of 40 to 60 kts in the 0-6km
layer, will result in potential for storms to become organized.
Damaging winds are the primary hazard, with convection potentially
organizing into lines/bowing segments, but with that being said,
there is a tornado threat as well, with low LCL heights less than
1500m and 0-3km SRH greater than 250.
Timing of the severe activity is difficult to pinpoint, but appears
most should occur in the afternoon to early/mid evening hours, with
an additional round of convection expected with the front later
tonight. It's possible some of this convection associated with the
front could be low end severe, but with loss of heating, and any
effects earlier convection has on the overall environment,
confidence isn't high.
Lastly, with any storms that occur, flash flooding is a possibility,
with the overall anomalously high PW are that continues to remain in
place. This should mainly be a threat in locations that receive
repetitive rounds of convection.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
MVFR stratocumulus will be most persistent in the mountains
this morning, but will show up in the middle Ohio Valley at
times, amid moist low level south to southwest flow..
Active weather is expected later today as a cold front, strong
for mid Summer, approaches from the northwest. Showers and
thunderstorms will develop across or arrive in the middle Ohio
later this morning, and be numerous this afternoon into tonight
as the expand into the central Appalachians.
PROB30 groups for strong, heavy thunderstorms have been
included from 19-22Z northwest (PKB) to 21-01Z southeast (BKW)
as the storms organize into a line or line segments. The area is
in an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms, which would
mainly be for damaging wind gusts this afternoon and evening,
particularly with any organized severe thunderstorms or lines of
thunderstorms. However, large hail and even a tornado are also
possible, particularly with more discrete cells including
supercells.
The cold front will cross overnight tonight into Wednesday
morning, with areas of MVFR stratocumulus and mist, along with
showers and thunderstorms lingering in the mountains.
Light south to southwest flow early this morning will increase
from the southwest by mid morning, with gusts into the 20 to 25
kt range through this afternoon and into this evening outside
thunderstorms, before becoming light southwest tonight. Erratic
gusts, mainly from the southwest to northwest, are likely with
thunderstorms, and have been coded up in the aforementioned
PROB30 groups this afternoon into this evening. A wind shift to
light west to northwest should ensue at most if not all sites by
12Z Wednesday. Generally light to moderate southwest flow aloft
will shift to light to moderate northwest behind the cold front
aloft overnight tonight.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Impacts due to thunderstorms could vary,
including timing and worse impacts than 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 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
EDT 1HRLY 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
CRW CONSISTENCY M M M L L L M M M M L L
HTS CONSISTENCY M M M M H H H M M M M M
BKW CONSISTENCY M M M M M M M M M M M M
EKN CONSISTENCY H M M M L L M M M H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY M H H M L L L L H M M H
CKB CONSISTENCY H H M L L L L L H H H H
AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY...
IFR or lower is forecast Wednesday morning due to fog and low
stratus, then trending more toward valley fog each morning
through Friday.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>034-039-040-515>523-525-526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ067-075-076-083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...SL
AVIATION...TRMIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 21, 11:29 AM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1129 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
OHZ066-067-075-076-211615-
Washington OH-Athens OH-Morgan OH-Perry OH-
1129 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN PERRY...NORTHWESTERN
WASHINGTON...SOUTHERN MORGAN AND NORTHERN ATHENS COUNTIES THROUGH
1215 PM EDT...
At 1128 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Shawnee to Nelsonville to near Hocking
Hills State Park. Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Athens, Nelsonville, Glouster, Beverly, Chauncey, Corning,
Stockport, Jacksonville, Trimble, Amesville, and The Plains.
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 3959 8159 3959 8158 3958 8156 3940 8173
3934 8219 3937 8229 3947 8228 3947 8217
3954 8216 3956 8216 3956 8223 3964 8211
TIME...MOT...LOC 1528Z 281DEG 31KT 3959 8212 3948 8224 3946 8246
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
30Local storm report, Jul 21, 12:28 PM EDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1228 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1219 PM Rain 2 SE Amesville 39.38N 81.92W
07/21/2026 M0.95 Inch Athens OH Cocorahs
0.95 inches of rain in 20 minutes located
2.6 miles southeast of Amesville.
&&
HSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 3:59 AM EDT | Flood Watch | RLX | Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan and 2 more | 22 hr |
| Jul 21, 11:29 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Morgan | 46 min |
| Jul 21, 11:47 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Athens, Morgan, Washington | 28 min |
| Jul 21, 12:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Athens, Washington | 43 min |
| Jul 21, 12:48 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 4 hr |
| Jul 21, 1:18 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 1:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 38 min |
| Jul 21, 2:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 39 min |
| Jul 21, 2:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Perry | 23 min |
| Jul 21, 2:59 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Morgan | 18 min |
| Jul 21, 3:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry | 36 min |
| Jul 21, 3:29 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Washington | 31 min |
| Jul 21, 3:37 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Perry | 4 hr |
| Jul 21, 3:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry, Washington | 65 min |
| Jul 21, 3:53 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Washington | 37 min |
| Jul 21, 3:59 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry, Washington | 4 hr |
| Jul 21, 4:15 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 4 hr |
| Jul 21, 4:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton | 51 min |
| Jul 21, 4:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Washington | 46 min |
| Jul 21, 4:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 54 min |
| Jul 21, 4:37 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Washington | 27 min |
| Jul 21, 4:50 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Washington | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 5:12 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 5:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Gallia, Lawrence | 49 min |
| Jul 21, 6:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 36 min |
| Jul 21, 6:22 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 23 min |
| Jul 21, 6:39 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lawrence | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 7:56 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Morgan, Perry, Washington | 9 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Ohio, 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.