Alert archive / West Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 20, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this tornado warning at Jul 21, 2026, 5:35 PM EDT for Barbour County, Taylor County, West Virginia. It was in force for 25 min. 8 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
- Jul 21, 2026, 5:35 PM EDT (21:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 21, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Barbour County, WV, Taylor County, WV
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 5:38 PM EDT | TORNADO | 3 N Philippi, WV | An EF-0 tornado occurred near Taylors Drain Road with maximum estimated winds of up to 85 mph. Numerous hardwood trees were either uprooted or snapped along the track of the tornado. Some of the hardwood trees that were uprooted were in excess of 18 inches in |
| Jul 21, 5:38 PM EDT | TORNADO | 3 N Philippi, WV | EF0 tornado tracked 0.3 miles along railroad tracks south of Taylors Drain Rd. |
| Jul 21, 5:45 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nne Flemington, WV | Power lines down near Long Run Road. Time estimated by radar. |
| Jul 21, 5:45 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nne Flemington, WV | Power lines down near Long Run Road. Time estimated by radar. |
| Jul 21, 5:47 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Philippi, WV | Several trees down in and around the Philippi area including one fallen onto an unoccupied vehicle in the 2000 block of Arden Rd. |
| Jul 21, 5:47 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Philippi, WV | Several trees down in and around the Philippi area including one fallen onto an unoccupied vehicle in the 2000 block of Arden Rd. |
| Jul 21, 5:58 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 8 Nnw Montrose, WV | Tree down blocking all lanes along Nestor Rd. |
| Jul 21, 5:58 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 8 Nnw Montrose, WV | Tree down blocking all lanes along Nestor Rd. |
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 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 1:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 10 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 131 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
- 538 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -52 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 856 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 146 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 131 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.6
The text
As transmitted.
767
WFUS51 KRLX 212135
TORRLX
WVC001-091-212200-
/O.NEW.KRLX.TO.W.0020.260721T2135Z-260721T2200Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
535 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston West Virginia has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Taylor County in northern West Virginia...
Barbour County in northeastern West Virginia...
* Until 600 PM EDT.
* At 535 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Grafton, moving southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Grafton and Philippi around 540 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Moatsville, Tygart Lake State Park, Flemington, Galloway, Rosemont,
and Nestorville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3914 7983 3903 7992 3920 8020 3924 8016
3926 8018 3937 8010 3931 7990 3930 7990
3929 7986 3927 7985 3925 7985 3924 7981
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 297DEG 26KT 3926 8007
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
SINCAVAGE2 follow-up statements
083
WWUS51 KRLX 212144
SVSRLX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
544 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
WVC001-091-212200-
/O.CON.KRLX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260721T2200Z/
Taylor WV-Barbour WV-
544 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN TAYLOR AND NORTHEASTERN BARBOUR COUNTIES...
At 544 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Philippi, moving southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Philippi around 550 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Moatsville and Nestorville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3914 7983 3903 7992 3917 8009 3922 8012
3926 8008 3932 7999 3931 7990 3930 7990
3929 7986 3927 7985 3925 7985 3924 7981
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 297DEG 26KT 3923 7999
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
SINCAVAGE314
WWUS51 KRLX 212157 RRA
SVSRLX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
557 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
WVC001-091-212205-
/O.EXP.KRLX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260721T2200Z/
Taylor WV-Barbour WV-
557 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN TAYLOR AND NORTHEASTERN
BARBOUR COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM EDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the tornado warning will be allowed to expire.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
northern and northeastern West Virginia.
Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
southeastern Taylor and eastern Barbour Counties until 615 PM EDT.
&&
LAT...LON 3914 7983 3903 7992 3917 8009 3922 8012
3926 8008 3932 7999 3931 7990 3930 7990
3929 7986 3927 7985 3925 7985 3924 7981
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 297DEG 26KT 3920 7990
$$
SINCAVAGEWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jul 21, 1:36 PM EDT, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Severe storms expected this afternoon and early evening.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 1:36 PM EDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
136 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes were necessary at this time.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Severe storms expected this afternoon and early evening.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Mid level shortwave energy will dive south into the area into the
afternoon hours, followed by a cold front late this evening into the
overnight. As a cluster of elevated convection associated with this
shortwave approaches our area, it will encounter a very moist and
unstable environment, with convection becoming more surface based as
it enters our CWA. CAPE values progged to approach 2000 to 4000
J/kg, and increasing shear values of 40 to 60 kts in the 0-6km
layer, will result in potential for storms to become organized.
Damaging winds are the primary hazard, with convection potentially
organizing into lines/bowing segments, but with that being said,
there is a tornado threat as well, with low LCL heights less than
1500m and 0-3km SRH greater than 250.
Timing of the severe activity is difficult to pinpoint, but appears
most should occur in the afternoon to early/mid evening hours, with
an additional round of convection expected with the front later
tonight. It's possible some of this convection associated with the
front could be low end severe, but with loss of heating, and any
effects earlier convection has on the overall environment,
confidence isn't high.
Lastly, with any storms that occur, flash flooding is a possibility,
with the overall anomalously high PW are that continues to remain in
place. This should mainly be a threat in locations that receive
repetitive rounds of convection.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Scattered showers and storms through at least 06Z when a
decrease in intensity and coverage should be noted. Storms will
be capable of brief IFR/LIFR or worse conditions, and strong
damaging wind gusts and perhaps a tornado and large hail.
After 06Z, expect widespread IFR/LIFR fog and/or stratus, with a
gradual improvement to VFR with light surface winds expected
after 13Z to 15Z.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Impacts due to thunderstorms could vary,
including timing and worse impacts than forecast. Fog and/or
stratus late tonight and Wednesday morning may be worse than
currently 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 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 M M M M M L H H M M H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H M M M M M M L L
BKW CONSISTENCY M M M M M M H M H H H H
EKN CONSISTENCY M M M M M H H H H H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY M M M H H H M H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M M M M H H H H H M H H
AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY...
IFR valley fog each morning through Friday.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>034-039-040-515>523-525-526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ067-075-076-083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...SL
AVIATION...SLIn the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 21, 3:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
310 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1212 PM Flash Flood 3 WSW Jacksonville 39.47N 82.13W
07/21/2026 Athens OH 911 Call Center
Approximately three feet of water and a land
slide on ST RTE 685 halfway between Buchtel
and Redtown.
&&
HSLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:32 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
332 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0253 PM Flash Flood 5 WSW Buckhannon 38.96N 80.31W
07/21/2026 Upshur WV 911 Call Center
Stonecoal Lake Road flooded and a vehicle is
stranded.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:35 PM EDT, 2 hours before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
335 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0328 PM Flash Flood 3 S Buckhannon 38.95N 80.22W
07/21/2026 Upshur WV Broadcast Media
Hickory Flat Run is out of its banks near
Walnut Drive.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
356 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0235 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ESE North Hills 39.30N 81.46W
07/21/2026 Wood WV 911 Call Center
Tree down near the church on Old Saint Marys
Pike. Time estimated from radar.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
358 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1235 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ESE North Hills 39.30N 81.46W
07/21/2026 Wood WV 911 Call Center
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3
ESE North Hills. Tree down near the church
on Old Saint Marys Pike. Time estimated from
radar.
&&
JLBLocal storm report, Jul 21, 4:43 PM EDT, 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
443 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0235 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 SSE Buckhannon 38.92N 80.21W
07/21/2026 Upshur WV 911 Call Center
Tree down on Trubie Run Road. Time estimated
from radar.
&&
JLBThe office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 3:59 AM EDT | Flood Watch | RLX | Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay and 28 more | 22 hr |
| Jul 21, 4:20 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Barbour, Upshur | 40 min |
| Jul 21, 12:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Wood | 43 min |
| Jul 21, 1:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Doddridge, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood | 38 min |
| Jul 21, 1:18 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Wood | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 1:30 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie | 30 min |
| Jul 21, 1:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Gilmer, Lewis | 36 min |
| Jul 21, 2:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Mason | 39 min |
| Jul 21, 2:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Lewis, Upshur | 60 min |
| Jul 21, 2:41 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam | 31 min |
| Jul 21, 2:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Randolph, Upshur | 50 min |
| Jul 21, 3:27 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lewis, Randolph, Upshur | 11 hr |
| Jul 21, 3:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Tyler | 65 min |
| Jul 21, 3:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pocahontas, Randolph | 47 min |
| Jul 21, 3:53 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Tyler | 37 min |
| Jul 21, 4:15 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler | 4 hr |
| Jul 21, 4:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Tyler | 17 min |
| Jul 21, 4:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Mason | 51 min |
| Jul 21, 4:27 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Harrison, Tyler | 48 min |
| Jul 21, 4:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wood | 46 min |
| Jul 21, 4:37 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler | 27 min |
| Jul 21, 4:50 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 4:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler | 52 min |
| Jul 21, 5:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Barbour, Harrison, Taylor | 37 min |
| Jul 21, 5:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Wayne | 49 min |
| Jul 21, 5:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Upshur | 56 min |
| Jul 21, 5:38 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie and 3 more | 7 hr |
| Jul 21, 5:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Barbour, Randolph, Taylor | 31 min |
| Jul 21, 5:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie | 34 min |
| Jul 21, 6:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Barbour, Randolph | 67 min |
| Jul 21, 6:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Wayne | 36 min |
| Jul 21, 6:15 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Ritchie | 7 hr |
| Jul 21, 6:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more | 55 min |
| Jul 21, 6:22 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RLX | Cabell, Wayne | 23 min |
| Jul 21, 6:39 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 6:43 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Barbour, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur | 7 hr |
| Jul 21, 6:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Lincoln, Putnam, Wayne | 47 min |
| Jul 21, 6:57 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Lewis, Upshur | 6 hr |
| Jul 21, 6:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln | 48 min |
| Jul 21, 7:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and 1 more | 66 min |
| Jul 21, 7:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Mingo, Wayne | 47 min |
| Jul 21, 7:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam | 23 min |
| Jul 21, 7:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln | 31 min |
| Jul 21, 7:51 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne | 35 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.