Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 334, NWS Charleston, WV

August 16, 2026Wayne County, West Virginia; Lawrence County, Kentucky

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 2026, 7:41 PM EDT for Wayne County, West Virginia; Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was in force for 34 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
Aug 16, 2026, 7:41 PM EDT (23:41 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2026, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Lawrence County, KY, Wayne County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:41 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 16, 1:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 181 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-08-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2282 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-08-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 119 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
2282 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-28 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
634 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
119 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
5.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Aug 16, 7:32 PM EDT, 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Flash flooding and severe weather are expected today with a lingering, persistent active weather pattern. Repeated rounds of heavy rainfall from training showers and thunderstorms could rapidly lead to flash flooding, especially areas that are already saturated and inundated.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 7:32 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
732 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended until 10pm.
Areas to the west may be cleared/cancelled as convection exits
toward the east as the storms move out of those areas.

00Z Aviation Forecast Discussion update.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended further south as
ongoing severe weather persists. The watch still goes until 8pm
however may have to be extended in time soon. The northern tier
of the watch has been cancelled as the severe threat has
diminished.

136 PM Update...
Severe thunderstorm watch issued for all of our SE Ohio
counties and a bulk of our West Virginia counties until 8 PM
tonight. ~18z aviation discussion update.

1204 PM Update...
Updates on flash flooding and severe potential for today and
tonight.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Flash flooding and severe weather are expected today with a
lingering, persistent active weather pattern. Repeated rounds of
heavy rainfall from training showers and thunderstorms could
rapidly lead to flash flooding, especially areas that are
already saturated and inundated.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
136 PM Update...

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect in til 8 PM tonight.
This is for all of our southeastern Ohio and a majority of our
West Virginia counties, basically the I-64 corridor and north.
Lincoln, Boone, and Raleigh are also included. Seeing generous
convection forming across our western forecast area with
downburst wind gusts reaching the 40-50 mph range as reported by
a few ASOS sites. Expecting these storms to hold together and
even strengthen as they traverse the area ESEward.

The best wind dynamics will be situated across SE'rn Ohio and
northern West Virginia (especially the US-50 corridor) where
better wind shear (20-40 knots) is present. Rapid clearing is
occurring over the central lowlands and coalfields which will
build better instability through the afternoon. This will be
another area to watch later this afternoon and evening.

1204 PM Update...
Flash flooding concerns continue through tonight. Additional
rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move across the area
this afternoon and evening leading to additional or worsening
flooding. ~12z HRRR shows the next round forming to our west in
Ohio and subsequently moving west to east across our area later
this afternoon and evening. The ~12z NAM is concerning as it
shows the next round forming over Ohio and then tracking across
our area between 1 PM and 3 PM, offering only a small break
between our most recent deluge. It then shows another hefty
round later this evening through tonight.

Some of these storms could be on the strong to severe side
containing damaging wind gusts and of course heavy downpours. CAPE
is expected to be between 2,500 and 3,500 J/kg if timely clearing
occurs this afternoon. This is more than sufficient to spawn
widespread showers and thunderstorms, with scattered strong to
severe storms being a possibility.

There is the chance for a tornado or two to occur with any more
organized, clear-air storms. The main driver for this threat would
be if an additional surface low forms along the stationary front
currently bisecting the area. This would cause a backing in the wind
field increasing wind shear from 20-30 knots to at least 40-60
knots. Otherwise, damaging downburst winds and the heavy rainfall
will be the main concerns.

Current guidance suggests that at least another 1-2 inches of
rainfall will fall across the area through tonight. Locally higher
amounts between 3-5 inches could be possible somewhere in Ohio or
central/northern WV if the NAM solution is right. A flood watch goes
until 8 AM Monday to cover the likely additional flash flooding
later this afternoon through tonight. A rare moderate risk
(level 3/4) for excessive rainfall spans the bulk of WV with the
rest of the area in a slight risk (level 2/4).

Showers and thunderstorms are expected again for Monday, but the
severe threat and primary heavy rain threat shifts south of our
area as a cold front crosses. A marginal risk (level 1/4) for
excessive rainfall is still in place across our area for Monday
with a marginal risk (level 1/5) for severe weather covers our
VA and far southern WV counties.

A bit of a reprieve is expected behind this front for Tuesday
and Wednesday until another front crosses Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Occasional MVFR and VIS restrictions under heavy convection
across the area currently. This will persist into tonight.
Expect fog to develop even with a little wind due to saturated
soils and partly clearing out of CIGs. Expect low stratus at
sites as well into the mid to late morning. Any fog or stratus
will lift at 13/14Z then low MVFR CIGs will persist into the
afternoon.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Low.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and location of showers and
thunderstorms will 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.

DATE                                                                 MON
UTC 1HRLY       23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10
EDT 1HRLY       19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    M    L    L    M    M    L    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    H    M
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    H    M    H    M    L    M    M    M    M
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    M    H    L    M    M    L    L

AFTER 00Z TUESDAY...
IFR or lower possible in valley fog and low stratus Monday
night and Tuesday morning.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through Monday morning for WVZ005>011-013>020-
     024>032-034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch through Monday morning for OHZ066-067-075-076-
     083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through Monday morning for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...JZ/LTC
AVIATION...JZ

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:19 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
719 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0648 PM     Flash Flood      2 NE Coal Fork          38.33N 81.49W
08/16/2026                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            Water over Campbells Creek Road at Big
            Bottom Hollow Road in Tad.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:21 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
721 PM EDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0650 PM     Flash Flood      1 SW Elkview            38.43N 81.49W
08/16/2026                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            High water in progress reported in 100 block
            of North Pinch Road near Teresas Cafe.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:25 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:31 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:32 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:36 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 4:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge, Pleasants, Tyler87 min
Aug 16, 4:17 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler3 hr
Aug 16, 4:31 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Taylor, Upshur7 hr
Aug 16, 6:16 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMason44 min
Aug 16, 6:29 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh7 hr
Aug 16, 6:33 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Tyler60 hr
Aug 16, 6:50 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler6 hr
Aug 16, 7:38 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXFayette, Raleigh6 hr
Aug 16, 8:08 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph4 hr
Aug 16, 8:15 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMason18 hr
Aug 16, 8:59 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Raleigh3 hr
Aug 16, 9:41 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXUpshur23 hr
Aug 16, 11:08 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Taylor, Upshur9 hr
Aug 16, 11:53 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph8 hr
Aug 16, 12:28 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh12 hr
Aug 16, 12:54 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningRLXHarrison10 hr
Aug 16, 1:14 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXFayette, Raleigh11 hr
Aug 16, 1:16 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh10 hr
Aug 16, 1:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson, Mason, Wirt, Wood43 min
Aug 16, 1:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Jackson, Mason, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and 1 more46 min
Aug 16, 2:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRoane34 min
Aug 16, 2:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Jackson, Lewis and 3 more42 min
Aug 16, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam29 min
Aug 16, 2:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis and 4 more63 min
Aug 16, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam26 min
Aug 16, 3:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXCabell33 min
Aug 16, 3:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge, Tyler43 min
Aug 16, 3:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam38 min
Aug 16, 3:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXClay, Jackson, Kanawha, Putnam, Roane44 min
Aug 16, 3:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more54 min
Aug 16, 3:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane3 hr
Aug 16, 3:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXClay29 min
Aug 16, 3:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTyler23 min
Aug 16, 4:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTyler45 min
Aug 16, 4:05 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane6 hr
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXKanawha, Putnam6 hr
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXClay, Nicholas, Webster32 min
Aug 16, 4:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha45 min
Aug 16, 4:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRandolph28 min
Aug 16, 4:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTaylor25 min
Aug 16, 4:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie36 min
Aug 16, 4:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXHarrison, Taylor30 min
Aug 16, 4:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXTucker13 min
Aug 16, 4:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXFayette, Nicholas25 min
Aug 16, 4:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXClay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas6 hr
Aug 16, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXClay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas46 min
Aug 16, 5:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBarbour, Taylor27 min
Aug 16, 5:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha36 min
Aug 16, 5:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam37 min
Aug 16, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha28 min
Aug 16, 6:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWayne24 min
Aug 16, 6:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMason25 min
Aug 16, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Wayne50 min
Aug 16, 6:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLincoln, Wayne49 min
Aug 16, 6:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam37 min
Aug 16, 7:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWayne3 hr
Aug 16, 7:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson, Mason, Wood42 min
Aug 16, 7:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRLXWayne33 min
Aug 16, 7:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha28 min
Aug 16, 7:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane48 min
Aug 16, 7:35 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCabell, Mason, Putnam3 hr
Aug 16, 7:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLincoln, Wayne24 min
Aug 16, 7:46 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Taylor6 hr
Aug 16, 7:55 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler28 hr
Aug 16, 7:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone, Clay33 min
Aug 16, 12:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPerry7 hr
Aug 16, 1:24 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Perry4 hr
Aug 16, 1:49 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatRLXMorgan, Perry4 hr
Aug 16, 2:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Washington4 hr
Aug 16, 5:45 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGallia, Jackson, Lawrence3 hr
Aug 16, 5:50 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Perry, Washington31 hr
Aug 16, 8:13 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Perry6 hr
Aug 16, 12:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXGallia38 min
Aug 16, 1:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPerry39 min
Aug 16, 1:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMorgan, Perry47 min
Aug 16, 1:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPerry2 hr
Aug 16, 1:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPerry38 min
Aug 16, 2:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMorgan40 min
Aug 16, 2:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLawrence28 min
Aug 16, 2:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMorgan, Perry, Washington40 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kentucky, 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.