As high pressure wedged against the eastern face of the Appalachian mountains eroded, a warm front lifted north through southeast West Virginia. A passing mid-level shortwave trough contributed energy for the development of thunderstorms, with one storm becoming intense enough to produce damaging winds in Greenbrier County.
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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 RNK wrote it up.
As high pressure wedged against the eastern face of the Appalachian mountains eroded, a warm front lifted north through southeast West Virginia. A passing mid-level shortwave trough contributed energy for the development of thunderstorms, with one storm becoming intense enough to produce damaging winds in Greenbrier County.
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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 7:45 PM EST, 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 845 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Updated first paragraph of the Discussion to discuss this evening's convection. Heavy rain and lightning are the main concerns with a low chance for any damaging winds. The aviation forecast has been updated. && .KEY MESSAGES... KEY MESSAGE 1: Warm humid conditions return with periodic showers and thunderstorms. KEY MESSAGE 2: Isolated flash flooding is possible due to repeated rounds of showers/storms. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Warm humid conditions return with periodic showers and thunderstorms. Wedging has more or less broken down across the region, with winds across the area now out of the south or southeast. Area of decent thunderstorms was moving from SE WV into parts of VA this evening. Seeing some elevated winds around 30 kts, with lightning and moderate rain occurring in the stronger cells, now stretching from Bluefield WV to just north of Lewisburg, WV. SPC mesoanalysis was showing some pockets of MUCAPE on the outer edges of our previous wedge, and about where the storms are now. We are still very saturated with a little cap noticeable on this evening's RNK 00Z sounding. So not expecting anything severe, but heavy rain and lightning could pose a threat. Will be watching series of short waves embedded within the upper flow skirt our area to the west. This will bring opportunity for more organized showers and thunderstorms to the area, favoring the mountains with respect to greatest QPF this evening and tonight, then repeating the cycle Monday through Wednesday with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across the entire forecast area. It will be hard to peg exact timing of futuristic activity per noisy shortwave pattern and remnant stationary surface front, but at a minimum, should get a daily boost of CAPE from daytime heating leading to good opportunity for wetting and an abundance of cloud cover. In a nut shell, looking at several days of considerable cloud cover, showers, storms and elevated humidity. Temperatures may average a few degrees below normal, but due to the elevated dewpoints, the air will feel warmer due to less evaporation. KEY MESSAGE 2: Isolated flash flooding is possible due to repeated rounds of showers/storms. A very moist atmosphere (regional PWATs above 1.50) and potential for repeat shower/thunderstorm activity will lead to increasing potential for isolated flash flooding. Accumulative rain totals through Wednesday are expected to average 1-2" across the forecast area...not significant considering the ongoing drought, and much of this expected to be intercepted by vegetation and soaked up by the thirsty ground. But due to the high rain rates with some of the stronger deep convection it is possible to get isolated occurrences of 3-4 inches of rain in a short period of time yielding gully washer type rainfall on a localized basis. As such, the Weather Prediction Center has highlighted our forecast area for a marginal risk of excessive rainfall favoring the mountains tonight and expanding it to include the entire forecast area Monday through Wednesday, the most vulnerable being urban, low-lying and flood prone areas. To a lesser concern are the rivers, but multiple days of thunderstorm activity can lead to rises on the larger streams too. Even if it does not flood, those camping near streams need to be aware of sudden rises. There may be temptation to camp on sandbars and islands, but with thunderstorms in the forecast, a river can rise several feet in just a few hours, quickly flooding what appeared to be a safe place to camp. && .AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Showers and thunderstorms may approach BLF and LWB during the next couple hours. Otherwise, poor flying conditions are expected tonight due to a cool and damp easterly flow that will wedge moisture against the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge. Ceilings should lower to IFR and eventually LIFR by early Monday morning. Patchy fog and periods of rain will take place during this timeframe. By Monday afternoon, ceilings should improve to MVFR by Monday afternoon, but another round of showers and thunderstorms will occur as a frontal boundary remains stalled across the region. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... More chances of showers and thunderstorms will linger through Tuesday and Wednesday as a frontal boundary remains parked across the Appalachian Mountains. MVFR/IFR ceilings and visibilities are likely due to the damp conditions, especially during the nighttime hours where fog should develop. By Thursday, the frontal boundary will head southward as high pressure builds from the north. Conditions may improve to VFR by Thursday night into Friday as drier air arrives. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...PM/SH AVIATION...PW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 234 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 VAZ007-009-WVZ042>044-507-508-251845- Tazewell-Smyth-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 234 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is marginal risk of excessive rainfall tonight due to slow moving thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Due to a stalled frontal boundary, repeated rounds of rainfall, some heavy, are forecast each day through the week ahead. Where the heaviest rainfall occurs could see isolated flash flooding in urban, low-lying, and flood-prone areas. This risk will increase as the week progresses. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ010>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-251845- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd- Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick- Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox- Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 234 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Due to a stalled frontal boundary, repeated rounds of rainfall, some heavy, are forecast each day through the week ahead. Where the heaviest rainfall occurs could see isolated flash flooding in urban, low-lying, and flood-prone areas. This risk will increase as the week progresses. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
756 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
VAZ007-009-WVZ042-043-508-250030-
Tazewell VA-Smyth VA-Western Greenbrier WV-Mercer WV-Summers WV-
756 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN SMYTH...TAZEWELL...SOUTHWESTERN GREENBRIER...CENTRAL
SUMMERS AND WESTERN MERCER COUNTIES THROUGH 830 PM EDT...
At 756 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Babcock State Park to near Tazewell.
Movement was northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Richlands...
Bluefield...
Tazewell...
Hinton...
Saltville...
Chilhowie...
and Rainelle.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3722 8170 3721 8156 3727 8142 3758 8119
3759 8109 3772 8097 3768 8088 3782 8094
3787 8075 3795 8081 3801 8078 3792 8058
3722 8128 3705 8138 3704 8146 3700 8143
3673 8167 3693 8183 3696 8178 3707 8184
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 247DEG 31KT 3792 8092 3717 8151
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
833 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
VAZ007-010-011-WVZ042>044-507-508-250100-
Tazewell VA-Giles VA-Bland VA-Western Greenbrier WV-Mercer WV-
Summers WV-Eastern Greenbrier WV-Monroe WV-
833 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN GILES...EAST CENTRAL TAZEWELL...NORTHERN BLAND...
SOUTHWESTERN GREENBRIER...SUMMERS...SOUTHEASTERN MERCER AND WESTERN
MONROE COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM EDT...
At 833 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Quinwood to near Pipestem to near Burkes
Garden. Movement was east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Bluefield...
Princeton...
Hinton...
Rainelle...
Alderson...
Athens...
and Rupert.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3761 8059 3711 8108 3714 8148 3753 8101
3771 8095 3770 8090 3767 8090 3768 8088
3774 8092 3777 8089 3779 8092 3784 8090
3787 8081 3787 8075 3795 8081 3799 8077
3804 8083 3813 8041
TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 256DEG 28KT 3804 8072 3754 8090 3714 8130
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SHThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:49 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Three trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along the 1900 block of Miller Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, May 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: 1332010.