Alert archive / West Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2026

Special Weather Statement, NWS Charleston, WV

August 16, 2026Pleasants County, Wood County, West Virginia; Washington County, Ohio

NWS Charleston, WV issued this special weather statement at Aug 16, 2026, 8:21 PM EDT for Pleasants County, Wood County, West Virginia; Washington County, Ohio. It was in force for 39 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 16, 2026, 8:21 PM EDT (00:21 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Hail
0.00 in
Wind
40

Counties Washington County, OH, Pleasants County, WV, Wood County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:24 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 169 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2026-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 338 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2026-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 205 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
338 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-37 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
701 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
205 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
225 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Aug 16, 7:32 PM EDT, 49 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, 49 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, 7:46 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:52 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:53 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:57 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:04 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:21 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 8:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo41 min
Aug 16, 8:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas and 1 more45 min
Aug 16, 8:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWayne3 hr
Aug 16, 8:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Clay, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster32 min
Aug 16, 8:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLogan, Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming43 min
Aug 16, 8:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur45 min
Aug 16, 8:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPutnam33 min
Aug 16, 9:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton, Clay, Fayette, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh and 2 more45 min
Aug 16, 9:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph and 2 more50 min
Aug 16, 9:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMcDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming45 min
Aug 16, 9:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph51 min
Aug 16, 9:27 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXNicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Webster3 hr
Aug 16, 9:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph46 min
Aug 16, 9:35 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Nicholas and 1 more3 hr
Aug 16, 9:45 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur6 hr
Aug 16, 9:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMcDowell20 min
Aug 16, 10:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMcDowell16 min
Aug 16, 10:24 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXCabell, Mason, Putnam3 hr
Aug 16, 10:38 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXKanawha, Putnam7 hr
Aug 16, 10:53 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXClay, Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas6 hr
Aug 17, 3:24 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur4 hr
Aug 17, 5:58 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXRandolph6 hr
Aug 17, 1:53 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Tyler7 hr
Aug 17, 2:41 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Tyler6 hr
Aug 17, 2:55 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler6 hr
Aug 17, 3:32 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Harrison, Taylor5 hr
Aug 17, 3:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWirt, Wood3 hr
Aug 17, 4:07 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Harrison, Taylor5 hr
Aug 17, 4:20 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatRLXBarbour, Harrison, Taylor3 hr
Aug 17, 4:28 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie and 1 more3 hr
Aug 17, 5:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Webster3 hr
Aug 17, 5:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWebster27 min
Aug 17, 5:34 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWood3 hr
Aug 17, 6:04 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Gilmer, Randolph, Upshur, Webster2 hr
Aug 17, 7:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson, Roane3 hr
Aug 16, 10:06 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXAthens, Meigs, Vinton3 hr
Aug 17, 1:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXMorgan3 hr
Aug 17, 1:15 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWashington3 hr
Aug 17, 5:02 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXWashington21 hr
Aug 17, 5:22 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXAthens, Morgan, Washington3 hr
Aug 17, 6:19 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningRLXMorgan, Washington3 hr
Aug 17, 6:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXAthens, Meigs, Vinton70 min
Aug 16, 9:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXCarter28 min
Aug 16, 10:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDickenson33 min
Aug 16, 11:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDickenson16 min
Aug 17, 1:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBuchanan, Dickenson48 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in West Virginia, 2026Special Weather Statements in Ohio, 2026Every special weather statement 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.