Published Monday, September 21, 2026 — this is a live snapshot of an active National Weather Service warning. Conditions change fast; always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.
The National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia issued a Flash Flood Warning at 7:38 PM EDT on September 21, 2026, covering parts of five counties across central and southeastern West Virginia. The warning runs until 10:45 PM EDT. Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain — between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain had already fallen at issue time, with an additional 1 to 2 inches possible. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. For restoration teams, this is the exact interior-flooding profile that generates their most urgent residential and commercial jobs.
Northeastern Boone, Southeastern Kanawha, Southwestern Clay, Northwestern Fayette & West Central Nicholas — Flash Flood Warning
Issuing office: National Weather Service Charleston, WV
Issued: 7:38 PM EDT, September 21, 2026
Expires: 10:45 PM EDT, September 21, 2026
Hazard detail (per NWS, verbatim): HAZARD… Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE… Radar indicated. At 7:38 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
Warned areas: Northeastern Boone County in central West Virginia, Southeastern Kanawha County in central West Virginia, Southwestern Clay County in north central West Virginia, Northwestern Fayette County in southeastern West Virginia, and West Central Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia.
Locations that will experience flash flooding include: Montgomery, Chesapeake, Marmet, Belle, Cedar Grove, East Bank, Glasgow, Smithers, Gauley Bridge, Pratt, Powellton, Handley, Pond Gap, Sharon, Dawes, Bentree, Eskdale, Swiss, Indore and Bickmore. This also includes the West Virginia Turnpike between mile markers 73 and 90.
Expected impacts: Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
Track the alert directly from the issuing office: NWS Charleston, WV.
Stay safe tonight
Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night, when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.
If water enters your home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present. Avoid the basement until water recedes and power is confirmed off. Photograph everything before cleanup — documentation matters for insurance. Then call a local restoration contractor; water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely.
What this means for restoration teams
A multi-county flash flood warning across the Kanawha Valley corridor is the signature night for water-damage work. Expect calls from Montgomery, Marmet, Belle, Cedar Grove, and the towns along the WV Turnpike corridor. This is interior water intrusion: saturated drywall and insulation, basement flooding, and mold risk within 24 to 48 hours if drying doesn’t start immediately. Low-lying areas along small creeks and streams are also candidates for sewage backup — treat every gray-water intrusion accordingly until the water source is confirmed.
The play: stage equipment now. Pre-position drying assets — air movers, dehumidifiers, extractors — so a crew can roll the moment the water recedes. Keep an on-call rotation through the morning, because flash-flood calls rarely arrive during the warning itself; they arrive when homeowners come home, wake up, or discover the basement hours later. Capture three things on the first call: the address, the water source (rising creek, street runoff, sewer backup), and every affected area. That triage decides your dispatch order.
Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation starts. Moisture-map every affected room, not just the obviously wet ones — water wicks into drywall and under flooring beyond what the eye sees. Keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts. With 1 to 2.5 inches already on the ground and more possible, this is a multi-call evening; triage the occupied homes with standing water first.
FEMA & federal assistance
If the flooding causes serious damage: FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week), or apply at DisasterAssistance.gov and through the FEMA app. Find local recovery centers at fema.gov/drc. Basic eligibility: citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it is safe to do so.
Looking ahead
The warning expires at 10:45 PM EDT, but the water story doesn’t end there. Small creeks and streams in the Kanawha, Coal, and Elk River watersheds can crest hours after the rain stops, and saturated ground means any additional round of storms overnight re-floods faster than the first. Watch for NWS updates from the Charleston office through the night — flash flood warnings can be extended or replaced with flood warnings as rivers respond.
For contractors, the demand window is just opening: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage — the slow basement leak behind the furnace, the carpet that smells wrong on Tuesday. Stay staffed through mid-week on this one.
Sources & how to verify
- NWS Charleston, WV — issuing office; alert id tracked via api.weather.gov
- weather.gov — enter your county or ZIP code to verify current warnings for your area
This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.
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