A mainly stationary front sprawled across southeast Ohio and West Virginia on the 26th and 27th of May, then a cold front arrived and sank down through the middle Ohio Valley and central Appalachians. This second front exited to the south by mid day on the 28th.
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 mainly stationary front sprawled across southeast Ohio and West Virginia on the 26th and 27th of May, then a cold front arrived and sank down through the middle Ohio Valley and central Appalachians. This second front exited to the south by mid day on the 28th. Precipitation spread north across the area on the 26th, then additional rounds of rain and storms continued to traverse the area through the 27th.
Soils were already saturated from previous rainfall, then an additional one to three inches of rain fell over the area. One strip of three to four inches fell over portions of Gilmer, Lewis, and Barbour counties. This excessive rainfall prompted minor flooding on portions of the Little Kanawha and West Fork Rivers as well as flooded roads in Barbour, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Lewis, Mason, Roane, and Randolph Counties. Mud and rock slides also occurred in Harrison and Wirt Counties. Strong to severe thunderstorms in the afternoon of the 27th produced wind damage that download trees and power lines in Boone, Harrison, Mason, Jackson, Lewis, Roane, and Upshur 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 May 27, 4:03 AM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
503 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) A Flash Flood Watch through 2 AM Thursday morning.
2.) Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening.
Tree damage is likely even in sub-severe winds given saturated
soils.
3.) A cold front will sweep through Wednesday night, bringing a
return to mainly dry weather and near normal temperatures for
Thursday into next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A cold front was located just north of our region this morning.
A disturbance moving across the region was providing some
showers and thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms remain
possible this morning, becoming more likely this afternoon and
evening. The cold front will then push southward late today and
tonight.
Meso models showing plenty of 2 to 3 inch rainfall bullseyes,
with a couple over 4 inches. Models showing effective layer
CAPE values of 1000 to 1500 developing over central West
Virginia and extreme southern Ohio. With the ground being saturated
at many locations, the flash flood threat remains high. Will
continue the Flood Watch for flash flooding through tonight over
northern and central portions of the region.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Models showing effective layer CAPE values of 1000 to 1500
developing over central West Virginia and extreme southern Ohio
southward this afternoon. In addition, models also show some mid
level dry air. Therefore damaging wind gusts, and possibly large
hail, are possible will stronger thunderstorms this afternoon
and evening. Even outside of severe thunderstorms, the wet
ground could allow sub-severe winds to uproot trees.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
A cold front will push south of the area Wednesday night. This
will bring drier air behind the front Thursday, continuing for
Friday, with a break from the precipitation.
A moisture starved reinforcing front will push through on
Saturday. Once again most of the area will remain dry, with the
dry weather continuing on Sunday and most likely into the next
work week.
With the drier air behind these fronts, nighttime temperatures
will be considerably cooler, with readings generally in the 50s,
with some cooler locations dipping into the 40s.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Some patchy fog will lift early this morning. Scattered showers
and thunderstorms will continue across the area, becoming more
numerous this afternoon and evening. A cold front will sink
southward across the area late today and tonight, providing more
showers and thunderstorms.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of fog lifting could vary this
morning. Timing and intensity of showers and thunderstorms could
vary.
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 WED 05/27/26
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 L H H H H H H M H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M M H H M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M M M M
EKN CONSISTENCY M L L M M L L M H H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY L L L L L L M L H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M L H H H H H L H H H H
AFTER 06Z THURSDAY...
Periodic IFR restrictions are possible in any heavier
showers and thunderstorms through early Thursday morning. IFR
in fog/stratus is possible Thursday morning, and in fog
Saturday/Sunday mornings.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ006>011-014>020-
027>032-039-040-521-522-525-526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103.
VA...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...RPY
AVIATION...RPYThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:36 UTC.
24 flash flood, 19 thunderstorm wind, 10 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Road was completely covered with water, along with mud slides.
Small streams flooded Old Mill Road heading north towards Jackson Mill.
High water and yard flooding was observed along Kliens Run Road in Alum Bridge.
Sycamore Run spilled out of its banks onto Rec Center Drive and Sycamore Run Road in Glenville. Stewart Creek flooded portions of Route 33. Flooding was also observed along Linn Cox S Mills in Troy and at the intersection of Newbourne and Jessie Run Roads.
Flooding was observed at the intersection of Bills Creek Road and Marysville Run Road in Belington, Pea Ridge Road and Nestorville Road in Philippi, and Union Road. Flooding also occurred on multiple sections of Buckhannon Road, including in Volga and on Marjorie and Wellington View Lanes.
Laurel Run spilled out of its banks and flooded Arnoldsburg Road.
Flooding was observed along Old Mill Road at the intersection of 4B Trailer Court.
Parsons Road was closed in spots due to high water.
A tree was blown down on Middle Horse Creek Rd in the town of Julian.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along Ashford-Nellis Road at Casey Fork.
Flooding was observed on Audrey Park Road.
High water was observed on County Route 11 near Walnut Fork.
A tree was blown down and blocked Sycamore Fork Road near the Doddridge County line.
Power lines and a tree were blown down around the 2900 block of Gregorys Run Road outside of Clarksburg, causing local power outages.
A downed tree was observed at the 600 block of Trouser Leg Road near Benedum Hollow Road.
Sherwood Road flooded in the 100 block near Johnson Avenue.
Flash flooding covered parts of Ohio River Road near Scenic Drive in Point Pleasant.
High water was observed on Route 270 near Lena Lane and Grantview Drive.
A downed tree blocked portions of Bear Wallow Road near Thomas Ridge Road.
A large tree was blown down and blocked the entire road around the 3800 block of Ten Mile Creek Road.
Multiple large hardwood trees were blown down along Left Freemans Creek Road, Churchville Road, and Freemans Creek Road between Churchville and Camden.
Several trees were blown down along Valley Chapel Road.
A tree was blown down around the 2300 block of Baier Ridge Road near Bar Ridge Road.
Tree damage was observed along Clearview Heights Road in the Ripley area.
Barbour County Highway flooded in the 19400 block just north of Philippi. Route 38 was closed from Baughman Road to Route 92, with multiple homes flooding just past the Morgantown Pike service station. On Morgantown Pike, a bridge washed out in the 10600 block and severe flooding occurred from Baughman Road to Nestorville Road. Laurel Creek Road was impassable. A water rescue occurred on Clemtown Road and portions of the road were torn up by swift water.
A downed tree was observed off of Evans Road near the community of Angerona.
Downed trees were observed near the intersection of Ripley Road and Carnian Ford Road in Ripley.
Multiple spots of Route 33 that parallel Polk Creek flooded.
A field flooded and high water ran across portions of Windell Ridge Road.
Street flooding was observed in the 1600 block of Philippi Pike in Clarksburg. Some homes in the area began to flood.
A tree was blown down along Cedar Valley Road in Fairplain.
In the community of Aspinall, a few trees fell onto Bens Run Road.
Bear Run Road was flooded.
Middle Fork Road was flooded.
State Route 270 was closed near South Harrison High School.
Flooding was observed along Lost Creek in the town of Lost Creek.
A tree blew down onto power lines along Haw Run Road at the intersection of Alpin Ridge Road.
Tree damage in the Harmony area resulted in approximately 100 homes to be without power.
Water rescue occurred due to a car in water at Allison and Jerico Roads.
A downed tree was observed across the roadway along Poca Road.
Several trees were blown down along Tallmansville Road in the vicinity of Tallmansville Baptist Church near Goodwin Road and Preacher Tenney Road.
Water covered Plain Valley Road where it crosses Fallentimber Branch.
Water covered Ten Mile Creek Road near Thomas Ridge Road and Claylick Run Road.
Portions of Vicksburg Road near Buckhannon River were covered with water.
Copley Road was closed in both directions due to high water.
Loveberry Road was closed in both directions due to high water.
Freemans Creek flooded fields and multiple sections of Valley Chapel Road.
A low spot on Kincheloe Road northwest of Jane Lew flooded.
The West Fork River near Clarksburg rose above a flood stage of 14 feet the night of May 27. After cresting around 15.3 feet the next morning, the river receded below flood stage again late morning on the 28th. At 15 feet, homes on low sections of Liberty Avenue and Route 19 flood.
The Little Kanawha River at Glenville rose above a flood stage of 23 feet early in the morning of May 25th. After rising to a crest around 23.6 feet, the river quickly returned below flood stage later the same morning. Impacts include flooding of low spots on Brooklyn Drive, Elm Street, and River Street.
Laurel Park Road was impassible near the intersection of Alpha Hill Road due to flooding from the West Fork River.
Stevens Run Road was impassible near the intersection with Hastings Run Road due to high water from Elk Creek.
Flooding reported in several sections of Laurel Park 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: 1335595, 1335583, 1335584, 1335572, 1335557, 1335577, 1335585, 1335576, 1332146, 1332147, 1335563, 1335586, 1332150, 1332151, 1332149, 1335596, 1335591, 1335597, 1332152, 1332153, 1332154, 1332161, 1332155, 1332158, 1335564, 1332159, 1332156, 1335587, 1335582, 1335598, 1332157, 1332160, 1335578, 1335579, 1335599, 1335600, 1332164, 1332163, 1335592, 1332162, and more.