Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 93, NWS Charleston, WV

July 21, 2026Boyd County, Greenup County, Kentucky; Lawrence County, Ohio; Cabell County, Lincoln County, Wayne County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 21, 2026, 6:39 PM EDT for Boyd County, Greenup County, Kentucky; Lawrence County, Ohio; Cabell County, Lincoln County, Wayne County, West Virginia. It was in force for 3 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, 6:39 PM EDT (22:39 UTC)
Expired: Jul 21, 2026, 9:45 PM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Boyd County, KY, Greenup County, KY, Lawrence County, OH, Cabell County, WV, Lincoln County, WV, Wayne County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:41 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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 156 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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

727 
WGUS51 KRLX 212239
FFWRLX
KYC019-089-OHC087-WVC011-043-099-220145-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0093.260721T2239Z-260722T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
639 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Boyd County in northeastern Kentucky...
  Southeastern Greenup County in northeastern Kentucky...
  South Central Lawrence County in southeastern Ohio...
  Southern Cabell County in central West Virginia...
  Northwestern Lincoln County in central West Virginia...
  Northern Wayne County in western West Virginia...

* Until 945 PM EDT.

* At 639 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 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...
  Huntington, Ashland, Ironton, Coal Grove, Chesapeake, Proctorville,
  Beech Fork State Park, Cannonsburg, Barboursville, Kenova,
  Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Flatwoods, South Point, Russell, and
  Westwood.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 20.
Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 187 and 191.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of streets
around Huntington. The highest threat areas for flooding are the
railroad viaducts at 1st, 8th, 10th, 16th and 20th streets. In
addition, the railroad viaduct at 14th street west may flood.
Flooding may also be occurring along 5th avenue between 24th and 25th
streets.

Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3841 8279 3841 8280 3852 8271 3846 8244
      3839 8211 3825 8223 3837 8267

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

30

1 follow-up statement

656 
WGUS71 KRLX 220136
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
936 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

KYC019-089-OHC087-WVC011-043-099-220146-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0093.000000T0000Z-260722T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Lawrence OH-Cabell WV-Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-
936 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 945 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHERN BOYD, SOUTHEASTERN GREENUP, SOUTH CENTRAL LAWRENCE, SOUTHERN
CABELL, NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND NORTHERN WAYNE COUNTIES...

Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for portions of
northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and West
Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3841 8279 3841 8280 3852 8271 3846 8244
      3839 8211 3825 8223 3837 8267

$$

30

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 21, 1:36 PM EDT, 5 hours 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1) Severe storms expected this afternoon and early evening.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 1:36 PM EDT, 5 hours 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
136 PM 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 /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...

Scattered showers and storms through at least 06Z when a
decrease in intensity and coverage should be noted. Storms will
be capable of brief IFR/LIFR or worse conditions, and strong
damaging wind gusts and perhaps a tornado and large hail.

After 06Z, expect widespread IFR/LIFR fog and/or stratus, with a
gradual improvement to VFR with light surface winds expected
after 13Z to 15Z.

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. Fog and/or
stratus late tonight and Wednesday morning may be worse than
currently 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       18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05
EDT 1HRLY       14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01
CRW CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    M    L    H    H    M    M    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    M    M    M    M    M    M    L    L
BKW CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    M    M    H    M    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H

AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY...
IFR 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...SL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 5:53 PM EDT, 46 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
553 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0523 PM     Flash Flood      Mcconnelsville          39.65N 81.85W
07/21/2026                   Morgan             OH   911 Call Center

            Terrace Drive reported flooded.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:00 PM EDT, 39 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
600 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0549 PM     Flash Flood      3 N Stockport           39.59N 81.79W
07/21/2026                   Morgan             OH   911 Call Center

            State Route 376 flooded on both lanes near
            intersection with South Taylor Hollow Road.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:04 PM EDT, 35 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
604 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0552 PM     Flash Flood      2 SSE Pennsboro         39.26N 80.96W
07/21/2026                   Ritchie            WV   911 Call Center

            Pullman Drive reported flooded.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:06 PM EDT, 33 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
606 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0558 PM     Flash Flood      1 SSE Harrisville       39.20N 81.05W
07/21/2026                   Ritchie            WV   911 Call Center

            A portion of South Spring Street reported
            flooded.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:17 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
617 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0609 PM     Flash Flood      3 SSW Flemington        39.22N 80.15W
07/21/2026                   Barbour            WV   911 Call Center

            Portion of Bear Mountain Road reported
            flooded.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:25 PM EDT, 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
625 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0624 PM     Rain             Lost Creek              39.16N 80.35W
07/21/2026  M2.50 Inch       Harrison           WV   Broadcast Media

            Reported to have accumulated in 45 minutes.

&&

Webb

The 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	Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence	22 hr
Jul 21, 1:37 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Greenup	38 min
Jul 21, 4:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boyd, Carter, Greenup	54 min
Jul 21, 4:56 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Greenup	37 min
Jul 21, 5:12 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Greenup	3 hr
Jul 21, 5:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boyd, Carter, Greenup	49 min
Jul 21, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boyd	36 min
Jul 21, 6:22 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Boyd	23 min
Jul 21, 6:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Carter, Lawrence	42 min
Jul 21, 6:48 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Lawrence	27 min
Jul 21, 7:11 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Lawrence	18 min
Jul 21, 7:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Lawrence	47 min
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, 12:32 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Athens	4 hr
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, 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, 4:37 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	RLX	Washington	27 min
Jul 21, 4:50 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Washington	3 hr
Jul 21, 7:56 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RLX	Morgan, Perry, Washington	9 hr
Jul 21, 4:20 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RLX	Barbour, Upshur	40 min
Jul 21, 1:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Calhoun, Doddridge, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood	38 min
Jul 21, 1:30 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie	30 min
Jul 21, 1:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Gilmer, Lewis	36 min
Jul 21, 2:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Lewis, Upshur	60 min
Jul 21, 2:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam	31 min
Jul 21, 2:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Randolph, Upshur	50 min
Jul 21, 3:27 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning Emergency	RLX	Lewis, Randolph, Upshur	11 hr
Jul 21, 3:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Pocahontas, Randolph	47 min
Jul 21, 4:17 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Tyler	17 min
Jul 21, 4:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	RLX	Doddridge, Harrison, Tyler	48 min
Jul 21, 4:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	RLX	Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler	52 min
Jul 21, 5:08 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Barbour, Harrison, Taylor	37 min
Jul 21, 5:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	RLX	Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Upshur	56 min
Jul 21, 5:35 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Barbour, Taylor	25 min
Jul 21, 5:38 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie and 3 more	7 hr
Jul 21, 5:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	RLX	Barbour, Randolph, Taylor	31 min
Jul 21, 5:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie	34 min
Jul 21, 6:08 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Barbour, Randolph	67 min
Jul 21, 6:15 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie	7 hr
Jul 21, 6:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more	55 min
Jul 21, 6:43 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Barbour, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur	7 hr
Jul 21, 6:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Cabell, Lincoln, Putnam, Wayne	47 min
Jul 21, 6:57 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	RLX	Lewis, Upshur	6 hr
Jul 21, 6:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln	48 min
Jul 21, 7:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more	66 min
Jul 21, 7:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam	23 min
Jul 21, 7:47 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln	31 min
Jul 21, 7:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne	35 min

Nearby

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