Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 2026, 2:49 PM EDT for 4 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 26 min. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 27, 2026, 2:49 PM EDT (18:49 UTC)
- Expired
- May 27, 2026, 3:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 26 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Boone County, WV, Kanawha County, WV, Lincoln County, WV, Putnam County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:51 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 3:04 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nnw Danville, WV | Tree down on Middle Horse Creek Rd in Julian. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 27, 3:04 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nnw Danville, WV | Tree down on Middle Horse Creek Rd in Julian. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 27, 3:12 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 7 Sw Marmet, WV | Tree down in the 4300 block of Ashford-Nellis Rd near Ashford, WV. Time estimated via radar. |
| May 27, 3:12 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 7 Sw Marmet, WV | Tree down in the 4300 block of Ashford-Nellis Rd near Ashford, WV. Time estimated via radar. |
| May 27, 3:12 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 7 Sw Marmet, WV | Trees and lines down along Ashford-Nellis Rd at Casey Fork. Tree is blocking the roadway. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 27, 3:12 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 7 Sw Marmet, WV | Trees and lines down along Ashford-Nellis Rd at Casey Fork. Tree is blocking the roadway. Time estimated from radar. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 3 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 15 minutes after it went out.
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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 214 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
- 543 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 611 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 81 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.7
The text
As transmitted.
716 WUUS51 KRLX 271849 SVRRLX WVC005-039-043-079-271915- /O.NEW.KRLX.SV.W.0101.260527T1849Z-260527T1915Z/ BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service Charleston WV 249 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 The National Weather Service in Charleston West Virginia has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... West central Kanawha County in central West Virginia... Southwestern Putnam County in western West Virginia... Northeastern Lincoln County in central West Virginia... Northwestern Boone County in central West Virginia... * Until 315 PM EDT. * At 249 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Alum Creek, or 9 miles east of Hamlin, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Charleston, Jefferson, South Charleston, Dunbar, Alum Creek, Spurlockville, Tornado, Julian, Sweetland, Sod, Woodville, Ashford, Griffithsville, Alkol, Yawkey, and Racine. This includes the following highways... Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 52 and 56. Route 119 between mile markers 57 and 78. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3813 8203 3831 8206 3839 8168 3814 8163 TIME...MOT...LOC 1849Z 262DEG 27KT 3823 8194 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$ 5
1 follow-up statement
234
WWUS51 KRLX 271905
SVSRLX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
305 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
WVC079-271915-
/O.CAN.KRLX.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-260527T1915Z/
Putnam WV-
305 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
central and western West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3829 8196 3833 8191 3834 8191 3839 8168
3814 8163 3813 8193
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 262DEG 27KT 3825 8179
$$
WVC005-039-043-271915-
/O.CON.KRLX.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-260527T1915Z/
Kanawha WV-Lincoln WV-Boone WV-
305 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT
FOR WEST CENTRAL KANAWHA...NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN AND NORTHWESTERN
BOONE COUNTIES...
At 305 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Alum Creek, or
10 miles southwest of Charleston, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Charleston, Jefferson, South Charleston, Dunbar, Tornado, Alum Creek,
Julian, Sod, Woodville, Ashford, Alkol, and Racine.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3829 8196 3833 8191 3834 8191 3839 8168
3814 8163 3813 8193
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 262DEG 27KT 3825 8179
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
5What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 27, 1:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1.) Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts being the primary hazard, with wet soils tree damage may occur well below 58 mph. 2.) Flash flood risk continues through tonight, particularly across northern West Virginia where training storms already produced a swath of heavy rain this morning. 3.) Dense fog and/or very low stratus will likely develop late tonight into Thursday morning. 4.) Dry and seasonable conditions return Thursday and will largely persist through the upcoming weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 27, 1:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
146 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Severe thunderstorm watch issued through 9 PM, primarily for
locally damaging wind gusts. Potential locally significant
flood impacts in areas that already received very heavy rain
today.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and
evening with damaging wind gusts being the primary hazard, with
wet soils tree damage may occur well below 58 mph.
2.) Flash flood risk continues through tonight, particularly
across northern West Virginia where training storms already
produced a swath of heavy rain this morning.
3.) Dense fog and/or very low stratus will likely develop late
tonight into Thursday morning.
4.) Dry and seasonable conditions return Thursday and will
largely persist through the upcoming weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A warm front has halted its northward progression and will
transition into a slow moving cold front this afternoon. Ahead
of this boundary, breaks in the cloud cover have allowed surface
based instability to build to 1500 to 2000 J/kg, capitalizing on
a moisture rich boundary layer despite weak mid-level lapse
rates. Deep layer shear of 25 to 30KTs will support a mix of
multicell and transient supercell structures. The primary severe
hazard will be damaging wind gusts. Given antecedent heavy
rainfall, soils are at least partially compromised across the
region. Consequently, tree uprooting is likely to occur at sub
severe wind speeds as low as 40 mph, with more substantial
damage possible in any 50 to 60 mph gusts. With low LCLs in
place, a brief tornado cannot be entirely ruled out, though weak
and largely unidirectional low level wind profiles suggest this
threat is minimal outside of storm scale interaction. High wet
bulb zeros near 11kft should limit hail risk outside of the
strongest updrafts or left splits.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Regarding the flash flood threat, while individual storm motions
remain progressive at 20 to 30KTs within westerly flow,
training of convection along the slowly sagging front could
allow for significant convective dwell time over any given spot.
The most critical area for flash flooding is along a line from
Spencer to Philippi, where additional training convection this
afternoon and evening will exacerbate conditions over soils that
are already compromised from morning rainfall. Elsewhere north
of US-50, training storms may yield minor to pockets of moderate
flooding issues. Father south across the Metro Valley,
scattered to numerous storms early this afternoon near the I-64
corridor will continue to precondition soils for rapid runoff
with later activity, although the later activity should become
more progressive by the time it crosses I-64 as a mid-level
short wave approaches this evening. Existing flash flood watch
in effect through 2 AM looks to cover this threat adequately,
with northern sections likely being able to be dropped early.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
Tonight into Thursday, the aforementioned mid level wave will
sweep the front south of the area. However, the arrival of
substantially drier air will lag behind the frontal passage.
Amidst weakening surface winds and partially clearing skies from
the north, conditions will become highly favorable for the
development of dense fog and very low stratus late tonight into
Thursday morning.
KEY MESSAGE 4...
By Thursday afternoon, drier air will firmly settle across the
region, bringing a return to more seasonable temperatures and
generally quiet weather. A dry pattern is anticipated to persist
through the upcoming weekend. A weak backdoor cold front will
pass through on Saturday, serving mainly to reinforce the dry
airmass. This dry air could yield some chilly temperatures,
upper 30s to lower 40s in the mountain valleys for late May.
Looking ahead to early next week, a weak disturbance dropping
out of Canada may bring a return of light rain chances on
Monday, but the overall pattern appears largely dry.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue to
impact the terminals this afternoon and evening as a cold front
slowly sags southward. Have utilized TEMPO groups for MVFR
conditions with the most likely timing of convection, as direct
terminal impacts remain difficult to pinpoint. However,
localized IFR restrictions are possible in the heaviest
downpours. Winds will generally remain light outside of
thunderstorms, occasionally gusting from the west or northwest.
As the front pushes south of the area tonight, precipitation
will wane. However, drier air will lag behind the boundary. The
combination of wet soils, clearing skies, and light winds will
set the stage for widespread fog and low stratus development
late tonight into Thursday morning. IFR to LIFR visibilities and
ceilings are expected to develop at most terminals after 06Z,
lingering through mid morning Thursday before mixing out to VFR.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and intensity of showers and
thunderstorms could vary. Overnight fog density and coverage may
vary.
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 M H H H H H H H H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H
BKW CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H M H H
EKN CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY H M M H H H H H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H L H
AFTER 18Z THURSDAY...
IFR possible in morning fog Saturday/Sunday mornings.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ006>011-014>020-
027>032-039-040-521-522-525-526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103.
VA...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...JP
AVIATION...JPIn the hours before
Local storm report, May 27, 11:00 AM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1100 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1034 AM Flash Flood 6 SE Auburn 39.03N 80.78W
05/27/2026 Gilmer WV Broadcast Media
High water observed along Linn Cox S Mills
in Troy.
&&Local storm report, May 27, 11:20 AM EDT, 3 hours 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1120 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 AM Flash Flood 2 NE Montrose 39.09N 79.79W
05/27/2026 Randolph WV Emergency Mngr
Parsons Road is closed in spots due to high
water issues.
&&Local storm report, May 27, 11:25 AM EDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1125 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1125 AM Flash Flood 2 S Philippi 39.12N 80.04W
05/27/2026 Barbour WV Amateur Radio
High water reported along Union Road.
&&Local storm report, May 27, 12:32 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1232 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM Flash Flood 2 NE Glenville 38.96N 80.81W
05/27/2026 Gilmer WV Broadcast Media
Stewart Creek out of its banks and flooding
portions of US Route 33.
&&
WebbSpecial weather statement, May 27, 1:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
102 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
OHZ066-067-271730-
Morgan OH-Perry OH-
102 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PERRY AND
NORTHWESTERN MORGAN COUNTIES THROUGH 130 PM EDT...
At 102 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Perry State Forest, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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...
New Lexington, Perry State Forest, Crooksville, Rendville, and
Eagleport.
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 3985 8217 3982 8217 3982 8207 3977 8208
3977 8192 3975 8187 3958 8202 3972 8225
3986 8221
TIME...MOT...LOC 1702Z 290DEG 21KT 3975 8216
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
5Special weather statement, May 27, 2:24 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
224 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
WVZ005-006-013>015-026-271900-
Boone WV-Kanawha WV-Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-Cabell WV-Putnam WV-
224 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CABELL...WEST
CENTRAL KANAWHA...SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM...LINCOLN...EAST CENTRAL WAYNE
AND NORTHWESTERN BOONE COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
At 224 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ranger, or 7 miles southwest of Hamlin, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Hamlin, St. Albans, Ranger, Alum Creek, Spurlockville, Tornado,
Julian, West Hamlin, Sweetland, Sod, Woodville, Branchland, Palermo,
Griffithsville, Alkol, Yawkey, and Myra.
This includes Route 119 between mile markers 55 and 68.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
central and western West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3810 8230 3828 8233 3839 8182 3812 8177
TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 261DEG 29KT 3821 8222
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
5The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 5:56 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Harrison, Taylor | 3 hr |
| May 27, 7:25 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Roane | 3 hr |
| May 27, 8:41 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis and 4 more | 5 hr |
| May 27, 9:08 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Doddridge | 37 min |
| May 27, 1:38 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison and 6 more | 3 hr |
| May 27, 2:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Lincoln | 36 min |
| May 27, 3:11 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Braxton | 34 min |
| May 27, 3:15 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Kanawha | 30 min |
| May 27, 3:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Harrison | 32 min |
| May 27, 4:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Jackson, Mason, Putnam | 28 min |
| May 27, 4:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie | 31 min |
| May 27, 4:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane | 30 min |
| May 27, 4:33 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison and 5 more | 4 hr |
| May 27, 4:33 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Jackson, Mason | 3 hr |
| May 27, 4:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Barbour | 18 min |
| May 27, 4:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Webster | 31 min |
| May 27, 4:54 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Roane, Wirt | 3 hr |
| May 27, 4:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane | 31 min |
| May 27, 5:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Lewis, Randolph, Upshur | 32 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.