Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 99, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 28, 2026, 7:49 AM EDT for 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 28, 2026, 7:49 AM EDT (11:49 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 28, 2026, 10:45 AM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Lawrence County, OH, Cabell County, WV, Lincoln County, WV, Wayne County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:50 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 00:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 165 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
- 1538 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 895 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 17 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 107 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 143 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.2
The text
As transmitted.
975
WGUS51 KRLX 281149
FFWRLX
OHC087-WVC011-043-099-281445-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0099.260728T1149Z-260728T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
749 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Lawrence County in southeastern Ohio...
Cabell County in central West Virginia...
Northwestern Lincoln County in central West Virginia...
Northeastern Wayne County in western West Virginia...
* Until 1045 AM EDT.
* At 749 AM 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 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...
Huntington, Hamlin, Chesapeake, Proctorville, Beech Fork State
Park, Lake Vesuvius, Barboursville, Ceredo, Ona, Burlington, Aid,
West Hamlin, Athalia, Pea Ridge, Lavalette, Scottown, Salt Rock and
Branchland.
This includes Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 4
and 24.
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 3840 8254 3845 8256 3860 8269 3865 8264
3863 8259 3855 8230 3852 8226 3848 8223
3840 8215 3830 8208 3821 8215 3820 8228
3826 8242 3836 8252
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
302 follow-up statements
870
WGUS71 KRLX 281332
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
932 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
OHC087-WVC011-043-099-281445-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0099.000000T0000Z-260728T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lawrence OH-Cabell WV-Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-
932 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM EDT THIS
MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE, CABELL, NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND
NORTHEASTERN WAYNE COUNTIES...
At 932 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated between 1.5 and 2 inches of
rain have fallen from thunderstorms earlier this morning. Flash
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Huntington, Hamlin, Chesapeake, Proctorville, Beech Fork State
Park, Lake Vesuvius, Barboursville, Ceredo, Ona, Burlington, Aid,
West Hamlin, Athalia, Pea Ridge, Lavalette, Scottown, Salt Rock and
Branchland.
This includes Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 4
and 24.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3840 8254 3845 8256 3860 8269 3865 8264
3863 8259 3855 8230 3852 8226 3848 8223
3840 8215 3830 8208 3821 8215 3820 8228
3826 8242 3836 8252
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
30437
WGUS71 KRLX 281437
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1037 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
OHC087-WVC011-043-099-281447-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0099.000000T0000Z-260728T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lawrence OH-Cabell WV-Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-
1037 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1045 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE, CABELL, NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND NORTHEASTERN
WAYNE COUNTIES...
Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to
heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3840 8254 3845 8256 3860 8269 3865 8264
3863 8259 3855 8230 3852 8226 3848 8223
3840 8215 3830 8208 3821 8215 3820 8228
3826 8242 3836 8252
$$
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 28, 6:00 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Two rounds of showers/thunderstorms today with severe thunderstorms and flash flooding possible. The first round affects the entire area this morning, then round two focused south of the Ohio River this afternoon/evening. 2) After a relatively quiet stretch of weather mid to late week, more unsettled weather arrives for the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 6:00 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 600 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Two rounds of showers/thunderstorms today with severe thunderstorms and flash flooding possible. The first round affects the entire area this morning, then round two focused south of the Ohio River this afternoon/evening. 2) After a relatively quiet stretch of weather mid to late week, more unsettled weather arrives for the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1... Hi-Res models are supported by upstream radar imagery with the idea of a complex of showers/thunderstorms congealing to our northwest over MI and OH and riding an advancing warm front southeast into and across our CWA late tonight into Tuesday morning. The presence of the warm front and increasing southwesterly flow should continue to pull in moisture in the low levels with a source region where surface dewpoints are currently around 80. Wind shear also increases overnight. So while timing suggest convection should be predominantly elevated, we cannot rule out some isolated higher wind gusts perhaps reaching the surface. Probably a bit more concerning given recent events is the threat for locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding. PWATs are shown to rise over 2 inches up the Ohio River later this morning and HREF points to a potential for training of convection and an elevated risk of excessive rainfall in a narrow corridor dropping down over the heart of our CWA towards dawn. This looks like a localized threat and I am not confident enough on the placement of the area of heavy rain for a flood watch at this time, but will definitely continue to monitor the potential as the upstream convection takes shape through the predawn hours. After a lull in activity later in the morning, we should have several hours to destabilize in advance of the front, which will pass southeast of the Ohio River during the early afternoon. We anticipate scattered to numerous showers/thunderstorms to develop in advance of the front and slide southeast with a potential for the strongest storms to carry a risk of damaging winds and perhaps some hail, especially if the sun comes out for several hours. Showers and thunderstorms diminish quickly across our southeast counties during the evening, but we remain close enough to a low pressure system over NY and PA for a few showers or storms to fire in our northeast mountains Wednesday afternoon. KEY MESSAGE 2... High pressure builds over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys from Wednesday through Friday bringing pleasant weather. Models then show a trough aloft digging in to our west over the weekend and perhaps cutting off from the mean flow into early next week. This results in moisture advection and increasing chances for showers/storms Saturday into Sunday, and lingering showers/storms through at least Monday and probably into Tuesday. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/... A line of heavy showers and TSTMs is rolling through eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia around 13Z, and will exit out of the area by 15Z leaving some showers and MVFR cigs in its wake. However, a few heavier showers have redeveloped across south-central Ohio and are spreading southeastward, likely affecting KHTS with cig/vsby restrictions and possibly a TSTM through 15Z. A much weaker band of showers and possible TSTMs (30 percent chc) will follow the main band and will affect most of the airfields between 18Z and 22Z. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: There is a 20 to 40 percent chc that the shower activity will continue after 22Z to about 01Z. There is lower confidence after 06Z due to timing of the onset of LIFR cig/vis. Cigs could also be 200 ft higher than fcst and vis could be 1SM. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && DISCUSSION...ABE AVIATION...ASR/Cohen@LOX
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 28, 1:53 AM EDT, 5 hours 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
153 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0138 PM Tornado 7 N Grantsville 39.03N 81.07W
07/21/2026 Ritchie WV NWS Storm Survey
EF2 tornado tracked an estimated 1.8 miles
down a hillside, across Leatherbark Rd and
then up the adjacent hillside snapping
large, mature hardwood trees and causing
minor roof damage to a home.
0538 PM Tornado 3 N Philippi 39.20N 80.04W
07/21/2026 Barbour WV NWS Storm Survey
EF0 tornado tracked 0.3 miles along railroad
tracks south of Taylors Drain Rd.
0415 PM Tornado 3 NE Marietta 39.46N 81.41W
07/21/2026 Washington OH NWS Storm Survey
EF2 tornado began between Hartline Rd and
Zimmer Rd then tracked southeast 12 miles,
crossing into WV at Belmont.
0431 PM Tornado 7 SW Matamoras 39.46N 81.18W
07/21/2026 Washington OH NWS Storm Survey
EF1 tornado began in the Wayne National
Forest near Archers Fork Rd, then tracked
southeast for 24 miles, crossing the Ohio
River into WV at Raven Rock, then passing
through northern Pleasants, southern Tyler,
northern Ritchie and western Doddridge
Counties.
&&
ABESpecial weather statement, Jul 28, 4:40 AM EDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
440 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
OHZ083-084-280915-
Jackson OH-Vinton OH-
440 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN JACKSON AND NORTHWESTERN
VINTON COUNTIES THROUGH 515 AM EDT...
At 440 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles northeast of Kingston to near Waverly.
Movement was southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Jackson, Coalton, Byer, Petersburg, Allensville, and Eagle Mills.
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.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3917 8279 3917 8277 3937 8275 3936 8264
3937 8263 3937 8252 3940 8251 3939 8246
3892 8268 3901 8280
TIME...MOT...LOC 0840Z 308DEG 28KT 3953 8280 3919 8293
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
01Special weather statement, Jul 28, 5:13 AM EDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
513 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
OHZ075-083>086-280945-
Jackson OH-Athens OH-Meigs OH-Gallia OH-Vinton OH-
513 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MEIGS...NORTH
CENTRAL GALLIA...JACKSON...VINTON AND WEST CENTRAL ATHENS COUNTIES
THROUGH 545 AM EDT...
At 513 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles southwest of Hide-A-Way Hills to 8
miles north of South Webster. Movement was southeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size 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...
Jackson, Wellston, Mcarthur, Oak Hill, Rio Grande, Lake Hope State
Park, Hamden, Coalton, Zaleski, Vinton, Wilkesville, Mabee, Creola,
Eagle Mills, Radcliffe, Petersburg, Allensville, Byer, and
Centerpoint.
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.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3917 8279 3917 8277 3937 8275 3936 8264
3937 8263 3937 8252 3940 8251 3939 8229
3942 8228 3941 8219 3883 8238 3891 8276
3894 8275 3895 8281
TIME...MOT...LOC 0913Z 312DEG 38KT 3958 8262 3894 8276
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
01Special weather statement, Jul 28, 6:10 AM EDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
610 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
KYZ101>103-105-WVZ005-006-281045-
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Carter KY-Lawrence KY-Wayne WV-Cabell WV-
610 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT BOYD...NORTH CENTRAL LAWRENCE...
SOUTH CENTRAL GREENUP...SOUTHEASTERN CARTER...SOUTHWESTERN CABELL AND
NORTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH 645 AM EDT...
At 610 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Rush, or near Cannonsburg, moving southeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Huntington, Ashland, Grayson, Wayne, Beech Fork State Park,
Cannonsburg, Barboursville, Kenova, Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Fort Gay,
Princess, Coalton, Denton, Burnaugh, Naples, Rush, Durbin, East Lynn
Lake, and Centerville.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 173 and 191.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 13.
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3846 8287 3843 8260 3840 8257 3840 8253
3842 8248 3840 8226 3804 8241 3827 8296
TIME...MOT...LOC 1010Z 295DEG 37KT 3834 8280
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
01Special weather statement, Jul 28, 6:41 AM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
641 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
KYZ101>103-105-OHZ075-083>087-WVZ005>008-014-016-281115-
Boyd-Lawrence-Greenup-Carter-Jackson-Lawrence-Vinton-Athens-Meigs-
Gallia-Roane-Wayne-Jackson-Mason-Cabell-Putnam-
641 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL AFFECT
BOYD...EASTERN GREENUP...EAST CENTRAL CARTER...NORTH CENTRAL
LAWRENCE...MEIGS... LAWRENCE...GALLIA...JACKSON...VINTON...NORTHERN
PUTNAM...WEST CENTRAL ROANE...CENTRAL JACKSON...NORTHWESTERN
WAYNE...MASON AND CENTRAL CABELL COUNTIES...
At 639 AM EDT, radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rainfall located along a line extending from 6 miles north of Point
Pleasant to 8 miles northeast of Lake Vesuvius. Movement was
southeast at 45 mph.
A quick 1.5 to 2 inches of rain can be expected.
.
Locations impacted include...
Huntington, Ashland, Portsmouth, Ironton, Jackson, Wellston, Point
Pleasant, Gallipolis, Ripley, Coal Grove, Pomeroy, Mcarthur, Oak
Hill, Rio Grande, Albany, Chesapeake, Racine, Proctorville, Rutland,
and Cannonsburg.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 123 and 146.
Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 179 and 191.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 25.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways. Motorists should allow for extra time for the morning
commute.
&&
LAT...LON 3876 8289 3874 8287 3862 8286 3857 8282
3860 8274 3868 8276 3868 8270 3875 8270
3875 8266 3883 8265 3885 8266 3886 8276
3894 8275 3895 8281 3937 8275 3937 8252
3939 8250 3874 8140 3819 8278 3875 8293
TIME...MOT...LOC 1039Z 328DEG 39KT 3894 8215 3871 8254
30The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 4:40 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Vinton | 35 min |
| Jul 28, 5:13 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Jackson, Vinton | 32 min |
| Jul 28, 6:41 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Vinton | 34 min |
| Jul 28, 6:59 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 6:10 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Wayne | 35 min |
| Jul 28, 7:25 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne | 50 min |
| Jul 28, 8:21 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 1:51 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Boone | 24 min |
| Jul 28, 2:18 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Raleigh | 27 min |
| Jul 28, 2:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Fayette, Raleigh | 27 min |
| Jul 28, 3:20 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Raleigh | 115 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Flash 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.