Special Weather Statement, NWS Charleston, WV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
137 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Active today with strong storms and heavy downpours ahead of a
front. Briefly drier behind the front then another system
brings potential for heavy rain and strong storms Tuesday into
Tuesday night.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Rain and thunderstorms are expected during the day, and as a
front crosses tonight into Sunday. Strong to severe storms could
produce damaging wind gusts today. Heavy rain could also prompt
localized flash flooding.

2) Impacts from wildfire smoke decrease today.

3) Next chance of heavy rain and strong storms arrives Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

A low traverses southern Ontario and Quebec today and then continues
onward to the Maritime Provinces and Gulf of St. Lawrence on Sunday.
A cold front trailing this system will descend into the Middle Ohio
Valley tonight and then sink south towards the Virginia/North
Carolina border Sunday and Sunday night.

The presence of a warm, moist, and unstable environment ahead of the
front, combined with a passing shortwave, should facilitate
development of showers and thunderstorms across the area today.
Precipitable water values in excess of an inch and a half
should support heavy downpours which could prompt localized
flooding in poor drainage areas or locations impacted by
multiple storms. Scattered strong to severe storms could also be
capable of producing damaging wind gusts this afternoon and
evening.

A brief lull in activity may occur after sundown, then another round
of activity is expected to accompany the front across the area
overnight. Precipitation coverage tapers off from north to south as
the front recedes south on Sunday.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

Canadian wildfires will have less of an impact on the area as
smoke is swept northward today. That being said, an air quality
alert remains in effect for portions of northwest and north-
central West Virginia where some impacts could linger through
tonight.

KEY MESSAGE 3...

Drier for much of the area on Monday, then another low swings across
southern Ontario while an upper trough digs down into the eastern US.
This system is projected to bring the next chance of strong storms
and heavy rain to the area Tuesday and Tuesday night. SPC has
already highlighted a 15 percent risk of severe weather on
Tuesday while WPC has placed much of the area within a slight
risk of excessive rainfall.

Surface high pressure builds as the trough shifts east, allowing
quieter weather to take hold later in the week. This dry spell may
be rather short-lived as the first in a series of disturbances
is expected to approach the area this weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...

A mix of MVFR to VFR ceilings will persist across the area while
showers and thunderstorms prompt sub-VFR visibilities at times
today. Conditions are expected to further deteriorate as a
front moves through overnight, bringing more rain and storms.
Fog may also develop behind the front early Sunday morning.
Conditions should then slowly improve to VFR during the day
Sunday.

Winds will generally be southwesterly today, then pivot to the
north behind the front overnight. In addition to sporadic gusts
into the teens to low 20s, stronger gusts will be possible
within storms.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Expect flight conditions to fluctuate in
RA/TS. Timing of improvements on Sunday may vary from the
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       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  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    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    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z SUNDAY...
IFR valley fog possible Sunday/Monday mornings.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Air Quality Alert until midnight EDT tonight for WVZ007>011-
     016>020-029>032-039-040.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...20

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
600 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

WVZ016-018-027>030-039-521-182230-
Calhoun WV-Clay WV-Roane WV-Northwest Webster WV-Upshur WV-Lewis WV-
Gilmer WV-Braxton WV-
600 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN CALHOUN...SOUTHERN
GILMER...SOUTHEASTERN LEWIS...BRAXTON...SOUTHWESTERN UPSHUR...
SOUTHERN ROANE AND NORTHERN CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM EDT...

At 600 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles east of Glenville to near Arnoldsburg
to near Kenna. Movement was southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Glenville, Sutton, Gassaway, Arnoldsburg, Big Otter, Wallback, Cedar
Creek State Park, Amma, Harrison, Burnsville, Flatwoods, Sand Fork,
Nebo, Shock, Millstone, Rosedale, Mount Zion, Cleveland, Left Hand,
and Kanawha Head.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 79 between mile markers 24 and 81.
 Route 19 between mile markers 66 and 68.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3878 8027 3855 8078 3856 8079 3845 8099
      3852 8120 3853 8120 3853 8123 3862 8153
      3867 8155 3898 8093
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 316DEG 18KT 3890 8067 3875 8119 3864 8159

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

04

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
606 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

0520 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 WNW Jackson Mill      39.12N 80.58W
07/18/2026                   Lewis              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree in roadway at Right Freemans Creek Rd
            and Bear Fork. Time estimated from radar.

&&

JP

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
611 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

0530 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 N Sand Fork           39.02N 80.74W
07/18/2026                   Gilmer             WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking the road at the
            intersection of WV-47 and Fink Creek Road
            outside of Linn. Time estimated by radar.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
613 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

KYZ101-103-OHZ087-WVZ005>007-014-015-182245-
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Lawrence OH-Mason WV-Kanawha WV-Wayne WV-
Cabell WV-Putnam WV-
613 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN BOYD...EAST CENTRAL
GREENUP...SOUTHERN LAWRENCE...SOUTHERN MASON...CABELL...WEST CENTRAL
KANAWHA...SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM AND NORTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH
645 PM EDT...

At 613 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles north of Milton to near Naples.
Movement was southeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Huntington, Ashland, Ironton, Nitro, Coal Grove, Chesapeake,
Proctorville, Jefferson, St. Albans, Dunbar, Hurricane,
Barboursville, Kenova, Milton, Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Ona, Culloden,
Institute, and Teays Valley.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 188 and 191.
 Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 40, and
between mile markers 48 and 51.

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.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3859 8236 3858 8229 3860 8225 3838 8171
      3835 8204 3837 8205 3838 8207 3834 8215
      3830 8255 3853 8287
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 310DEG 31KT 3854 8217 3850 8278

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

04

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
615 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

0525 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 ENE Kenna             38.70N 81.59W
07/18/2026                   Jackson            WV   Utility Company

            Over 250 customers without power due to tree
            damage.

&&

JP

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
621 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

WVZ014>016-027-182245-
Clay WV-Roane WV-Kanawha WV-Putnam WV-
621 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN KANAWHA...CENTRAL
PUTNAM...SOUTH CENTRAL ROANE AND WEST CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH
645 PM EDT...

At 621 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elkview, or 10 miles northeast of Charleston, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Charleston, Nitro, Clay, South Charleston, Dunbar, Sissonville,
Clendenin, Poca, Cross Lanes, Pinch, Glen, Coal Fork, Elkview, Teays
Valley, Bancroft, and Procious.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 79 between mile markers 1 and 23.
 Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 97 and 115.
 Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 41 and 47, and
between mile markers 56 and 57.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3849 8200 3858 8139 3847 8097 3828 8134
      3833 8159
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 288DEG 26KT 3848 8154

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

04