Drought in West Virginia, June 1 to 30, 2026

Name: Drought in West Virginia, June 1 to 30, 2026
Start: 2026-06-01T00:00
End: 2026-06-30T23:59
Location: West Virginia

June 1 to 30, 2026 · NWS RLX · 20 events in 20 counties and zones

Ongoing severe drought (D2) persisted across portions of southeast West Virginia, including: Boone, southern Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh, southern Roane, southern Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Moderate drought (D1) also remained present just north and west of the D2 area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.

Significant improvements occurred during the second half of the month as multiple rounds of rain and storms produced four to eleven inches of rain that resulted in weekly category improvements. By the second week of the month, D2 was confined to Mingo, McDowell, and portions of Kanawha, Clay, Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Logan counties. Minimal improvements to D1 also occurred. In the third and fourth weeks of the month, both D2 and D1 eroded from all but McDowell, and parts of Wyoming and Raleigh counties.

What forecasters said that day

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 May 31, 6:21 PM EST, 5 hours 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1) A couple of disturbances support chances of showers, and possibly a few thunderstorms, at times this week and next weekend. 2) Areas of valley fog could develop and impact some early morning commuters this week.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 6:21 PM EST, 5 hours 39 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
721 PM EDT Sun May 31 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
00Z Aviation Forecast Discussion update.

A few showers or storms possible for portions of the area early
this week and next weekend.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) A couple of disturbances support chances of showers, and
possibly a few thunderstorms, at times this week and next
weekend.

2) Areas of valley fog could develop and impact some early
morning commuters this week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

The upper level pattern initially consists of a trough over the
northeast US and a ridge across the south-central part of the
country. A shortwave traveling around the periphery of the trough
prompts low-end chances (15 to 30 percent) of showers as it grazes
the forecast area late tonight into Monday. Best potential for
precipitation will be in southern WV and southwest VA, while
drier conditions should persist to the north. Additional
showers, and perhaps a few thunderstorms, may develop as the
trough continues to pivot overhead on Tuesday. This time,
precipitation chances are projected to be highest along the
mountains.

Ridging builds into the area as the upper trough departs, resulting
in a period of drier weather from mid to late week. Chances of
showers and storms should then begin to work back into the area
during the weekend as ridging recedes and moisture increases
ahead of the next system.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

Enough cloud cover should be present to limit fog development
across the majority of the area tonight into Monday morning.
Clearer skies and calm to light flow then provide better
potential for areas of fog to form in the valleys over the next
couple of nights. Although widespread fog is not anticipated
during this time, some early morning commuters could be affected
by reduced visibilities.

&&

.AVIATION /21Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
High pressure sits north of the area while weak disturbances
pass south of the area through Monday. With showers and late day
thunderstorms associated with these disturbances remaining
south of the area, this maintains mainly VFR conditions.

Mid and high cloud associated with the disturbances will keep
overnight fog formation limited to the deeper valleys in and
near the mountains tonight. EKN is the TAF site most likely to
be impacted, where IFR visibility has been coded up 09-12Z.

Light and variable to calm surface flow tonight will become
light north to northeast Monday morning. Light west flow aloft
tonight will veer to north Monday morning.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z
TUESDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium to high.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Extent and duration of fog may 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.

UTC 1HRLY       22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09
EDT 1HRLY       18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    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    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    L    L
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    H    H    H

AFTER 00Z TUESDAY...
IFR conditions possible in valley fog each morning this week
under high pressure.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...None.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...TRM

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Boone

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.023, -81.711 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Braxton

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Braxton forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.700, -80.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Clay

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.463, -81.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kanawha

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Kanawha forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.337, -81.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lincoln

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.175, -82.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Logan

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.832, -81.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, McDowell

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: McDowell forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.379, -81.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mingo

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Mingo forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.726, -82.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Fayette

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.029, -81.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Nicholas

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.292, -80.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Raleigh

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.771, -81.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Webster

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Webster forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.495, -80.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Putnam

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.509, -81.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Roane

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Roane forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.714, -81.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Fayette

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.029, -81.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Nicholas

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.292, -80.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Raleigh

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.771, -81.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Webster

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Webster forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.495, -80.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wayne

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 38.146, -82.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wyoming

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.610, -81.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, June 2026

Sources

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: 1341927, 1341928, 1341931, 1341937, 1341940, 1341945, 1341946, 1341948, 1341950, 1341952, 1341953, 1341955, 1341956, 1341958, 1341959, 1341960, 1341961, 1341962, 1341964, 1341966.