A low pressure system lifted a warm front through the area as it travelled out of the Central Plains and into the Ohio Valley on the night of June 21st into the morning of the 22nd. A cold front was then dragged across the Middle Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians as the parent system continued onward towards the Mid-Atlantic Coast from the 22nd into the morning of the 23rd.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.
A low pressure system lifted a warm front through the area as it travelled out of the Central Plains and into the Ohio Valley on the night of June 21st into the morning of the 22nd. A cold front was then dragged across the Middle Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians as the parent system continued onward towards the Mid-Atlantic Coast from the 22nd into the morning of the 23rd.
A band of precipitation moved into northeast Kentucky on the night of the 21st and then continued east into West Virginia early on the morning of the 22nd. Additional rounds of showers and a few strong thunderstorms continued to progress across the area during the day, then precipitation came to an end following the frontal passage overnight. Precipitation amounts across the area ranged from a few tenths up to an inch and a half with the highest amounts occurring in Lawrence, southern Carter, and southern Boyd counties.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jun 22, 5:09 AM EST, 4 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
609 AM EDT Mon Jun 22 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Flood Watch for flash flooding has been issued across much of
the forecast area from 8 AM today until 11 PM. In addition, the
Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening
has been expanded. Finally, updated aviation discussion.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) A potent system for the beginning of astronomical summer
brings heavy rainfall which could lead to flash flooding
concerns, as well as strong to severe storms, to the area on
Monday.
- 2) Drier, cooler weather returns for midweek, before a more
active weather pattern returns for late Thursday through the
weekend, amid increasing warmth and humidity.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Low pressure, currently centered across central Indiana, will be
the main area of focus over the next 24 hours, bringing
multiple hazards to the area in the form of severe thunderstorm
and flash flooding potential. At present, an associated warm
front is lifting through the northern CWA, with the cold front
off to the west across the central Ohio Valley. Scattered
showers and a few storms have moved into western portions of the
forecast area, with more activity off to the west associated
with a low-level jet. This initial activity is expected to
weaken, with rounds of showers and storms then developing
throughout the day in the open warm sector amid progged Mixed-
layer CAPE of 1,000-1,500 J/Kg, along with fairly robust
kinematic fields for late June. Strong to severe thunderstorms
are expected to develop in the afternoon/evening ahead of the cold
front as it approaches, with the SPC having most locations
south of the Ohio River under a Slight Risk for severe
thunderstorms, while a Marginal Risk further to the northwest.
The primary threat with severe storms will be damaging wind
gusts. Freezing levels of 13-14 kft should limit the hail
threat, although a few instances of marginally severe hail
cannot be ruled out. An isolated tornado or two remains possible
given progged 0-3km SRH values of 100-200 m2/s2 across portions
of the forecast area, especially northeast. Any severe threat
quickly tapers by late evening following the passage of the
aforementioned cold front.
The other aspect of today will be the potential for heavy
rainfall and flash flooding. PW values of 1.7-2.0"+ will
facilitate heavy rainfall within thunderstorms, with multiple
rounds expected in some areas. Guidance varies in terms of
the placement of heaviest rainfall, but all CAMs depict
corridors of 1-2"+ of rainfall across portions of the CWA, with
embedded higher amounts. Given recent heavy rainfall across the
CWA, and after collaborating with neighboring offices, have
issued a Flood Watch for flash flooding for much of the CWA from
8 AM this morning until 11 PM this evening. Locations that
received the higher rainfall totals last week will be most
susceptible to flooding, especially given any training of
thunderstorms today. Highs temperatures will be in the upper
70s to low 80s across the lowlands, amid breezy southwest winds.
Rainfall will quickly taper from northwest to southeast this
evening into tonight, potentially lingering to dawn in the
mountains. Patchy fog could occur in some areas later tonight.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
High pressure brings a dry, tranquil period for midweek, with below
normal temperatures and early morning dense valley fog.
The chance for showers and storms returns Thursday afternoon
onward courtesy of a meandering front that will setup (more or
less) east to west across the region. Activity will be
diurnally driven to a degree, with periodic mid/upper level
waves moving across the area at times enhancing rainfall
activity. Rain chances should begin to decrease towards the end
of the forecast period (late weekend) as a stout upper ridge
begins to build overhead.
Seasonable to slightly above normal temperatures are progged to
return Thursday onward amid gradually increasing humidity.
&&
.AVIATION /09Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Rounds of scattered showers and storms are expected across the
area throughout today, with coverage progged to be greatest
during the afternoon and evening hours, thereafter becoming more
confined to the higher terrain for the overnight. Strong, heavy
storms are expected across portions of the area during the
afternoon and evening, resulting in brief MVFR/IFR VSBY in some
areas, along with strong gusty winds. MVFR CIGs are possible
during the day across the north, primarily impacting PKB. CIGs
will quickly lower into IFR/LIFR late Monday evening into the
overnight following the passage of a cold front, with the
potential for patchy fog in some areas.
South to southeast flow currently will veer to southwest area-
wide by mid-morning, then remain as such throughout the day.
Surface flow then veers to NNW after ~00Z Tuesday following the
passage of the cold front. Gusts of 20-25 kts are possible
during the day today, higher with any thunderstorms.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and flight category impact from showers
and thunderstorms may vary from the forecast. Restrictions
tonight from low stratus and/or fog may also 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.
DATE MON 06/22/26
UTC 1HRLY 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
EDT 1HRLY 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M M M H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M H M M 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 H
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 M H H
AFTER 12Z TUESDAY...
IFR conditions are possible in post-frontal stratus Tuesday
morning. IFR conditions are expected in valley fog Wednesday
morning.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through this evening for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>034-039-040-515>526.
OH...Flood Watch through this evening for OHZ075-076-083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through this evening for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through this evening for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...GW
AVIATION...GWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1020 AM EDT Mon Jun 22 2026
KYZ101>103-105-OHZ086-087-WVZ005-006-013-221500-
Boyd KY-Greenup KY-Carter KY-Lawrence KY-Gallia OH-Lawrence OH-
Lincoln WV-Wayne WV-Cabell WV-
1020 AM EDT Mon Jun 22 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BOYD...NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE...
SOUTHEASTERN GREENUP...SOUTHEASTERN CARTER...SOUTH CENTRAL GALLIA...
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE...CABELL...NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND NORTHERN
WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 AM EDT...
At 1020 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Yatesville Lake State Park, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Huntington, Ashland, Ironton, Grayson, Louisa, Coal Grove, Wayne,
Chesapeake, Proctorville, Beech Fork State Park, Cannonsburg, Grayson
Lake State Park, Yatesville Lake State Park, Barboursville, Kenova,
Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Fort Gay, Coalton, and Denton.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 64 in Kentucky between mile markers 164 and 191.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 23.
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3863 8245 3866 8228 3841 8219 3819 8217
3807 8294 3811 8289 3813 8291 3815 8291
3817 8292 3817 8298 3819 8299 3819 8301
3820 8301 3820 8303 3835 8309
TIME...MOT...LOC 1420Z 249DEG 36KT 3822 8273
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
09The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:40 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed on the Pleasant Valley Connector Road near Little Sandy.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, June 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1335664.