The ground was wetter than normal from around an inch of rain that occurred on the 15th into the 16th. Periods of rain started to fall again on Sunday the 20th. A front then sank south on Monday the 21st and became nearly stationary just south of Huntington and Charleston. Rain fell heaviest just north of that boundary late Monday afternoon into the early evening across central West Virginia. From near Jackson County on east to southern Upshur County about a half inch to three quarters of an inch of rain fell.
On Tuesday, the 22nd, there were 2 distinct waves of rain. The first wave was from about 0600E to 1300E as the stationary front was beginning to lift back north as a warm front. A lull then occurred during the mid afternoon. The second wave of rain occurred from around 1800E to 0200E on Wednesday the 23rd. This second wave was associated with the moisture plume ahead of the cold front. Dew points were on either side of 60 degrees in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. The heaviest rain rates from both these waves were on the order of three quarters of an inch in 3 hours. The total 24 hour rain amounts ending at dawn on the 23rd were over 2 inches from eastern Putnam County and southern Jackson County, through northern Kanawha County, Roane, and Calhoun Counties, and into portions of Clay and Gilmer Counties.
The axis of the maximum 3 day rain amount went from near Huntington on northeast through northern Putnam County into Roane County to southern Upshur County. The 3 day rain total of 2.5 to 3.5 inches was common. The heaviest recorded rain amount was from the cooperative observer at Spencer, where 4.6 inches was measured.
Widespread small stream flooding started Tuesday morning. Much of the small stream flooding continued overnight Tuesday night with the second wave of rain. The larger headwater rivers, including the Pocatalico, the West Fork, the Buckhannon, and the Little Kanawha, then caused minor flooding to continue through Wednesday the 23rd. The main effect of both the small stream and the river flooding was to close the usual low vulnerable spots on adjacent roads. As a result, citizens had limited access. Several vehicles were flooded because drivers tried to drive through water that was too deep. Being deer hunting season, several hunters found themselves unable to cross swollen streams. Vulnerable parks and camping spots along the rivers were also flooded.