Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Charleston, WV

July 21, 2026Lawrence County, Kentucky

NWS Charleston, WV issued this tornado warning at Jul 21, 2026, 7:11 PM EDT for Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was in force for 18 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: Jul 21, 2026, 7:11 PM EDT (23:11 UTC)
Expired: Jul 21, 2026, 7:29 PM EDT
In force: 18 min
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

County Lawrence County, KY

The radar

The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:10 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 193 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 956 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -55 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 883 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 172 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 149 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.9
Supercell composite: 5.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

513 
WFUS51 KRLX 212311
TORRLX
KYC127-212345-
/O.NEW.KRLX.TO.W.0023.260721T2311Z-260721T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
711 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston West Virginia has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Lawrence County in northeastern Kentucky...

* Until 745 PM EDT.

* At 711 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Chandlerville, or near Blaine, moving southeast at
  35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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...
  Ulysses and Charley around 715 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Gallup
and Clifford.

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 3807 8278 3801 8252 3799 8249 3795 8252
      3796 8254 3795 8258 3793 8258 3792 8260
      3789 8259 3788 8261 3790 8271 3797 8283
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 292DEG 31KT 3798 8278 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

SINCAVAGE

2 follow-up statements

988 
WWUS51 KRLX 212319
SVSRLX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
719 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

KYC127-212345-
/O.CON.KRLX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260721T2345Z/
Lawrence KY-
719 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY...

At 719 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Milo, or near Inez, moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Lawrence County, including the following locations...
Gallup and Clifford.

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 3801 8252 3799 8249 3795 8252 3796 8254
      3795 8258 3793 8258 3792 8260 3792 8266
      3794 8270 3805 8268
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 287DEG 40KT 3795 8260 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

SINCAVAGE

414 
WWUS51 KRLX 212329
SVSRLX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
729 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

KYC127-212338-
/O.CAN.KRLX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260721T2345Z/
Lawrence KY-
729 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
northeastern Kentucky...and western West Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3801 8252 3799 8249 3795 8252 3796 8254
      3795 8258 3793 8258 3792 8260 3792 8266
      3794 8270 3805 8268
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 292DEG 31KT 3792 8250 

$$

SINCAVAGE

What 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, 5 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1) Severe storms expected this afternoon and early evening.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 1:36 PM EDT, 5 hours 35 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...SL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:17 PM EDT, 54 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
617 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0609 PM     Flash Flood      3 SSW Flemington        39.22N 80.15W
07/21/2026                   Barbour            WV   911 Call Center

            Portion of Bear Mountain Road reported
            flooded.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 6:25 PM EDT, 46 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
625 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0624 PM     Rain             Lost Creek              39.16N 80.35W
07/21/2026  M2.50 Inch       Harrison           WV   Broadcast Media

            Reported to have accumulated in 45 minutes.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:01 PM EDT, 10 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
701 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0655 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Buckhannon              38.98N 80.22W
07/21/2026                   Upshur             WV   Amateur Radio

            Report of swift water rescue from the creek
            along Little Sand Run Road.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:03 PM EDT, 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
703 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0655 PM     Flash Flood      1 SE Buckhannon         38.98N 80.21W
07/21/2026                   Upshur             WV   Broadcast Media

            Significant flooding along Morgan Addition
            Road with homes affected.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:04 PM EDT, 7 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
704 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0655 PM     Flash Flood      Buckhannon              38.98N 80.22W
07/21/2026                   Upshur             WV   Amateur Radio

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from
            Buckhannon. Report of swift water rescue
            from the creek along Little Sand Run Road.

&&

Webb

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:08 PM EDT, 3 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
708 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

0707 PM     Flash Flood      4 SW Buckhannon         38.96N 80.29W
07/21/2026                   Upshur             WV   Amateur Radio

            Swift water rescues underway for people
            trapped in the upstairs of their home along
            Brush Fork Road.

&&

Webb

The 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	Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence	22 hr
Jul 21, 1:37 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Greenup	38 min
Jul 21, 4:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boyd, Carter, Greenup	54 min
Jul 21, 4:56 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Greenup	37 min
Jul 21, 5:12 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Greenup	3 hr
Jul 21, 5:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boyd, Carter, Greenup	49 min
Jul 21, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Boyd	36 min
Jul 21, 6:22 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Boyd	23 min
Jul 21, 6:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Carter, Lawrence	42 min
Jul 21, 6:39 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Boyd, Greenup	3 hr
Jul 21, 6:48 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RLX	Lawrence	27 min
Jul 21, 7:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Lawrence	47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes 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.