Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 199, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 6, 2026, 3:54 PM EDT for Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia. It was in force for 36 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 6, 2026, 3:54 PM EDT (19:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 36 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Kanawha County, WV, Putnam County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 12 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:55 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 212 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
- 534 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -45 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 818 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 10 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 49 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 77 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
What 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 Jul 6, 2:03 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- KEY MESSAGE 1... Mainly diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms are ongoing across the region this afternoon. A surface trough located across southeast Ohio is providing a localized area of enhanced surface convergence, which is focusing the highest coverage of convective activity just west of the forecast area at this hour. This activity will continue to drift east through the late afternoon and early evening hours. The column remains moist with PWATs in the 1.7 to 1.9 inch range with forcast MLCAPE values in the 1000-2000J/kg range. Deep layer shear remains weak, generally around 15-20KTs, which will foster a mix of weak multicellular and pulse storm modes. The primary hazard with these storms will be wet downbursts. While severe criteria gusts of 58 mph are not widely expected, steep low-level lapse rates and Downdraft CAPE values of 500 to 600 J/kg will be sufficient to produce localized wind gusts in the 40 to 45 mph range. With full foliage currently on trees across Appalachia, gusts of this magnitude are often sufficient to cause localized tree damage and subsequent power outages. In addition to the wind threat, the moist column and slow storm motions will yield highly efficient rainfall rates. Rainfall intensities exceeding 2 inches per hour may lead to localized flash flooding, particularly if training echoes develop or if heavy rain falls over the steep terrain and narrow hollows across the region. Convection is expected to wane by 01Z to 02Z with the loss of daytime heating. Overnight, areas that receive rainfall and subsequently clear out will be primed for the development of dense valley fog due to strong radiational cooling and cold air drainage into the river valleys. KEY MESSAGE 2... Transient upper level ridging will briefly build across the region Tuesday and Wednesday. This will result in a decrease in the overall diurnal convective coverage, with Wednesday featuring the lowest precipitation chances of the work week. Valley fog will remain a diurnal threat each night during the early morning hours, particularly in the deep, sheltered river valleys. KEY MESSAGE 3... The transient ridging will break down by Thursday as upper level troughing reestablishes itself over the Ohio Valley. A more defined surface front will push southeast toward the Middle Ohio Valley late in the week and into the weekend. While there remains some disagreement among numerical guidance regarding the precise timing and amplitude of these synoptic features, confidence is increasing in a general uptick in precipitation probabilities Thursday and especially Friday. A surge of higher precipitable water air will accompany this system, elevating the potential for highly efficient rainfall-producing storms. As the frontal boundary gradually sags south through the weekend, an increase in deep-layer shear associated with the stronger flow aloft may introduce a better potential for organized convection, though the exact mesoscale details remain murky at this lead time.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 2:03 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 203 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Overall forecast thinking remains largely similar. Decent convective coverage today, decreasing into Wednesday, then increases again late in the week. Updated 18Z Aviation Discussion. && .KEY MESSAGES... KEY MESSAGE 1... Mainly diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms are ongoing across the region this afternoon. A surface trough located across southeast Ohio is providing a localized area of enhanced surface convergence, which is focusing the highest coverage of convective activity just west of the forecast area at this hour. This activity will continue to drift east through the late afternoon and early evening hours. The column remains moist with PWATs in the 1.7 to 1.9 inch range with forcast MLCAPE values in the 1000-2000J/kg range. Deep layer shear remains weak, generally around 15-20KTs, which will foster a mix of weak multicellular and pulse storm modes. The primary hazard with these storms will be wet downbursts. While severe criteria gusts of 58 mph are not widely expected, steep low-level lapse rates and Downdraft CAPE values of 500 to 600 J/kg will be sufficient to produce localized wind gusts in the 40 to 45 mph range. With full foliage currently on trees across Appalachia, gusts of this magnitude are often sufficient to cause localized tree damage and subsequent power outages. In addition to the wind threat, the moist column and slow storm motions will yield highly efficient rainfall rates. Rainfall intensities exceeding 2 inches per hour may lead to localized flash flooding, particularly if training echoes develop or if heavy rain falls over the steep terrain and narrow hollows across the region. Convection is expected to wane by 01Z to 02Z with the loss of daytime heating. Overnight, areas that receive rainfall and subsequently clear out will be primed for the development of dense valley fog due to strong radiational cooling and cold air drainage into the river valleys. KEY MESSAGE 2... Transient upper level ridging will briefly build across the region Tuesday and Wednesday. This will result in a decrease in the overall diurnal convective coverage, with Wednesday featuring the lowest precipitation chances of the work week. Valley fog will remain a diurnal threat each night during the early morning hours, particularly in the deep, sheltered river valleys. KEY MESSAGE 3... The transient ridging will break down by Thursday as upper level troughing reestablishes itself over the Ohio Valley. A more defined surface front will push southeast toward the Middle Ohio Valley late in the week and into the weekend. While there remains some disagreement among numerical guidance regarding the precise timing and amplitude of these synoptic features, confidence is increasing in a general uptick in precipitation probabilities Thursday and especially Friday. A surge of higher precipitable water air will accompany this system, elevating the potential for highly efficient rainfall-producing storms. As the frontal boundary gradually sags south through the weekend, an increase in deep-layer shear associated with the stronger flow aloft may introduce a better potential for organized convection, though the exact mesoscale details remain murky at this lead time. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Pop-up convection is developing across the region this afternoon. The best focus for scattered showers and thunderstorms will be along a surface trough currently moving through southeast Ohio. Highest confidence in direct terminal impacts exists at KHTS and KPKB, where TEMPO groups for thunderstorms and heavy rain have been included through the late afternoon. Elsewhere, PROB30 groups have been utilized to account for the more isolated nature of the convection. Brief periods of IFR or lower conditions are possible with any direct impacts from heavy rainfall. Convective activity is expected to largely fade between 01Z and 02Z this evening with the loss of diurnal heating. Overnight, the development of river valley fog is likely, particularly at terminals that receive rainfall this afternoon and experience early clearing. IFR to LIFR visibilities and ceilings are expected to develop in the favored valleys, persisting until mixing commences around 12-13Z Tuesday morning. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and intensity of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening could vary. Significance of fog overnight will largely depend on rainfall this afternoon and timing of clearing overnight. 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 H H H H H H H H H H H M HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M L BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H M EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M H CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H AFTER 18Z TUESDAY... IFR conditions associated with thunderstorms remains possible through the work week and into the weekend, more likely in the afternoon and evening hours. Dense fog possible each night in areas that receive rainfall the afternoon and evening before. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && DISCUSSION...JP AVIATION...JP
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 6, 2:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
228 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026
OHZ075-084-061900-
Athens OH-Vinton OH-
228 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN VINTON AND
SOUTHWESTERN ATHENS COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
At 227 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lake Hope State Park, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts 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...
Athens, Albany, Lake Hope State Park, Chauncey, Zaleski, and The
Plains.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3920 8208 3923 8246 3935 8244 3939 8232
3939 8229 3940 8227 3944 8213
TIME...MOT...LOC 1827Z 255DEG 12KT 3931 8236
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
20Special weather statement, Jul 6, 2:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
235 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026
KYZ101-103-OHZ087-061900-
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Lawrence OH-
235 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN BOYD...CENTRAL
GREENUP AND SOUTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
At 235 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Greenup, or 11 miles west of Ironton, moving east at 10 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...
Ashland, Ironton, Coal Grove, Lake Vesuvius, Catlettsburg, Greenup,
Load, Greenbo Lake, Franklin Furnace, Flatwoods, Russell, Vernon,
Raceland, Worthington, Wurtland, Bellefonte, Westwood, Hanging Rock,
Haverhill, and Warnock.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3868 8293 3869 8287 3866 8286 3860 8285
3857 8281 3860 8274 3865 8277 3868 8276
3868 8271 3872 8270 3874 8259 3844 8260
3848 8304
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 256DEG 9KT 3856 8288
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
20Special weather statement, Jul 6, 2:36 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
236 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026
OHZ066-061900-
Perry OH-
236 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN PERRY COUNTY THROUGH
300 PM EDT...
At 236 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Shawnee, moving east at 10 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...
New Lexington, Shawnee, Perry State Forest, Junction City, New
Straitsville, Corning, Hemlock, and Rendville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3955 8207 3956 8225 3956 8226 3959 8226
3960 8237 3960 8238 3961 8238 3974 8237
3981 8215
TIME...MOT...LOC 1836Z 257DEG 7KT 3965 8231
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
20Special weather statement, Jul 6, 3:20 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 2:46 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pocahontas | 3 hr |
| Jul 6, 4:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Putnam | 33 min |
| Jul 6, 4:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Cabell | 25 min |
| Jul 6, 4:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell | 26 min |
| Jul 6, 4:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Putnam | 35 min |
| Jul 6, 4:57 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Mason | 3 hr |
| Jul 6, 5:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Clay | 29 min |
| Jul 6, 5:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Putnam | 21 min |
| Jul 6, 5:28 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Putnam | 32 min |
| Jul 6, 5:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Kanawha | 31 min |
| Jul 6, 6:53 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Mingo | 37 min |
| Jul 6, 7:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Mingo | 21 min |
| Jul 6, 7:14 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | McDowell | 3 hr |
| Jul 6, 7:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Mingo | 31 min |
| Jul 6, 7:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | McDowell | 35 min |
| Jul 5, 8:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Perry | 29 min |
| Jul 6, 2:28 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Athens | 32 min |
| Jul 6, 2:36 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Perry | 24 min |
| Jul 6, 3:20 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Vinton | 25 min |
| Jul 6, 3:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Lawrence | 35 min |
| Jul 6, 2:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Greenup | 25 min |
| Jul 6, 3:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Carter | 30 min |
| Jul 6, 3:58 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Carter | 32 min |
| Jul 6, 4:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Lawrence | 30 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.