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  • Flash Flood Warning: Eastern Ohio Until Noon EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Eastern Ohio Until Noon EDT

    Active as of 9:10 AM EDT, September 20, 2026. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of east-central Ohio — including portions of Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas counties — in effect until noon EDT.

    Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have already fallen across the warned area, with another half inch to an inch possible as the morning progresses. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly — the exact basement-water, saturated-drywall jobs that restoration teams in the Ohio Valley know as the classic Sunday-morning cloudburst pattern.

    This is a live snapshot as of 9:10 AM EDT. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Eastern Ohio — Flash Flood Warning

    Issued by: NWS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 9:02 AM EDT, September 20, 2026.
    Expires: 12:00 PM EDT.
    Counties: Northern Belmont County; Northeastern Guernsey County; Southern Harrison County; Southwestern Jefferson County; Southern Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

    Hazard, verbatim from the alert: “Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.” Source: “Radar indicated” — Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the warned area at 9:02 AM EDT. Impact, verbatim: “Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.”

    The National Weather Service expects rainfall totals in the warned area to keep climbing through the morning commute. Creeks and streams in east-central Ohio can rise fast on this kind of already-saturated ground — a gauge jump from nuisance to destructive can happen in well under an hour on small tributaries.

    Locations that will experience flash flooding include: Martins Ferry, St. Clairsville, Freeport, Newcomerstown, Bridgeport, Antrim, Flushing, Adena, Dillonvale, Brookside, Port Washington, Mount Pleasant, Holloway, New Athens, Harrisville, Piedmont, Tippecanoe and Gilmore.

    NWS Pittsburgh’s office page is weather.gov/pbz. This warning was issued through the National Weather Service alert system (AWIPS identifier FFWPBZ, WMO WGUS51 KPBZ) as VTEC event /O.NEW.KPBZ.FF.W.0151 — valid 9:02 AM to 12:00 PM EDT, September 20.

    Stay safe this morning

    Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through flooded roadways — water as shallow as six inches can reach the bottom of most cars, and moving water can sweep a vehicle off the road at depths far lower than most drivers expect. A flooded roadway can also hide a washed-out surface or a collapsed culvert underneath.

    If water enters your home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, and stay out of the basement until water recedes and power is confirmed off. Photograph everything before any cleanup — documentation is what makes an insurance claim move. Then call a local restoration contractor: water left sitting starts a second wave of damage — mold, swelling, delamination — within a day.

    What this means for restoration teams

    This is the signature eastern-Ohio spring-and-fall pattern: 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain in a few hours on rolling terrain, with creeks feeding into the Ohio River corridor around Martins Ferry and Bridgeport. Expect the damage mix that follows flash flooding in these counties — interior water intrusion from overwhelmed storm drainage, saturated drywall and insulation in finished basements, mold risk within 24 to 48 hours where water sits against organic material, and sewage backup in low-lying areas where combined systems overflow.

    The play: stage equipment now, not after the warning expires. Pre-position dehumidifiers and air movers for east-central Ohio response, keep an on-call rotation through the morning, and when the calls start coming, capture address, water source, and affected areas on the very first call. The first call intake is what determines whether a job is profitable — vague intake becomes unpaid detective work on site.

    Field discipline: photo-document everything before mitigation starts. Moisture-map every affected room, not just the visibly wet ones — water wicks behind baseboards and under flooring well beyond the obvious line. And keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts; emergency-morning jobs signed in a hurry are the ones that turn into collection headaches later.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If your property is damaged, the FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA app, and find in-person recovery centers at fema.gov/drc.

    Basic eligibility: U.S. 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 — you do not need to wait for every contractor estimate before starting the application.

    Looking ahead

    This warning runs until noon EDT. When it expires, that does not mean the water is gone — small creeks and streams in east-central Ohio can stay elevated or crest later in the day as upstream runoff collects. Watch for additional rounds of showers through the afternoon, and treat any low-water crossing or underpass as suspect until you can see the road surface.

    Demand window: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage — the musty smell shows up Monday, the buckled flooring shows up Tuesday. The next NWS update for this event will be the expiration or extension at noon; the watch for new alerts continues through the rest of the morning.

    Sources & how to verify

    To verify for your own county or ZIP code, go to weather.gov and enter your location, or check the NWS Pittsburgh page directly. The National Weather Service is the authoritative source; this post is a working snapshot only.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Charleston–Huntington Area Until 10:15 AM EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Charleston–Huntington Area Until 10:15 AM EDT

    Active as of 9:05 AM EDT, September 20, 2026. The National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia, has issued a Flash Flood Warning for portions of southwestern and west-central West Virginia, including the Charleston and Huntington metro areas, in effect until 10:15 AM EDT.

    Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have already fallen across the warned area, with another 0.5 to 1.5 inches possible as thunderstorms continue. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly — the exact interior flooding jobs that restoration teams across the Kanawha Valley see most after these morning cloudbursts.

    This is a live snapshot as of 9:05 AM EDT. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Charleston–Huntington Area — Flash Flood Warning

    Issued by: NWS Charleston, West Virginia, at 8:51 AM EDT, September 20, 2026.
    Expires: 10:15 AM EDT.
    Counties: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam, and Wayne, West Virginia.

    Hazard, verbatim from the alert: “Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.” Source: “Radar and automated gauges” — Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Impact, verbatim: “Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.”

    Locations that will experience flash flooding include: Charleston, Huntington, Nitro, Wayne, Hamlin, Beech Fork State Park, Jefferson, South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, Barboursville, Chesapeake, Marmet, Ceredo, Belle, Clendenin, Cedar Grove, East Bank, Glasgow, and Alum Creek.

    Highway impacts include: Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 96 and 109; Route 119 between mile markers 58 and 80; Interstate 64 between mile markers 9 and 11 and between mile markers 46 and 57; the West Virginia Turnpike between mile markers 85 and 95; and Interstate 79 between mile markers 1 and 10.

    NWS Charleston’s office page is weather.gov/rlx. The alert was issued through the National Weather Service alert system under NWS Charleston WV.

    Stay safe this morning

    Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads — a roadway covered by water can hide a washed-out surface or a missing bridge deck.

    If water enters your home or business: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, and avoid the basement until water recedes and power is confirmed off. Photograph everything before you start cleanup — documentation matters for insurance. Then call a local restoration contractor. Water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day: soaked drywall wicks upward, carpet pad delaminates, and microbial growth follows fast.

    Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely. Your report helps the office verify and extend warnings downstream.

    What this means for restoration teams

    This is the signature call pattern for the Kanawha Valley: an early-morning flash flood round over the Charleston–Huntington corridor. Teams should expect the damage categories these events always produce: interior water intrusion in finished basements and ground-floor commercial space, saturated drywall and insulation wicking upward from the slab line, sewage backup in low-lying neighborhoods, and moisture trapped in wall cavities along the highways that flooded during the morning commute.

    The play this morning: stage extraction equipment and drying assets now, while the warning is still active — water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage. Keep an on-call rotation through the afternoon for the second wave of discovery calls. On the first call, capture the address, the water source (rainfall intrusion vs. storm sewer backup), and every affected area — source classification decides what the job is worth before a truck rolls.

    Field discipline: photo-document everything before mitigation starts, moisture-map every affected room (not just the visibly wet ones), and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work begins. Morning flood jobs skew toward panic-approvals that turn into collection headaches — get the paperwork tight while the crew is en route.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If you sustain serious damage: the FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find a recovery center at fema.gov/drc.

    Basic eligibility: U.S. 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 — and keep the photo documentation you took before cleanup.

    Looking ahead

    The warning expires at 10:15 AM EDT. When it lifts, do not read that as all-clear for water problems: small creeks and streams can crest after the rain stops, and low-lying drainage areas stay compromised well into the afternoon. Watch for follow-up statements from NWS Charleston for updated river and stream guidance, and keep an eye on additional thunderstorm rounds through the day.

    For restoration demand, this is a day-one event: the first calls start within hours of water receding, and discovery-driven calls keep coming for days as people return home, open basements, and find what the morning’s water did. Teams positioned now work the whole week.

    Sources & how to verify

    • National Weather Service Flash Flood Warning — issued by NWS Charleston, WV, 8:51 AM EDT September 20, 2026, expires 10:15 AM EDT. (This post, published during the active warning window.)
    • NWS Charleston office page: https://www.weather.gov/rlx/ (read September 20, 2026)
    • Alert source: National Weather Service alert feed, alerts.weather.gov (read September 20, 2026)

    To verify for your own county or ZIP: go to weather.gov, enter your ZIP code, and read the active alerts for your area — or go directly to your local NWS office page.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Central West Virginia Until 10 AM EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Central West Virginia Until 10 AM EDT

    Live snapshot as of 8:35 AM EDT on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The warning below is active now.

    The National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia, has extended a Flash Flood Warning for parts of central and north-central West Virginia. The warning is in effect until 10:00 AM EDT today and covers portions of Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Roane, and Webster counties. This is exactly the kind of interior-flooding scenario that produces the water-intrusion jobs restoration teams see most — saturated ground, small creeks rising fast, and roadways that go under before anyone expects it.

    This is a live snapshot as of 8:35 AM EDT on September 20, 2026. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Central West Virginia — Flash Flood Warning

    Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
    Issued: 8:25 AM EDT, Sunday, September 20, 2026
    Expires: 10:00 AM EDT, Sunday, September 20, 2026
    Message type: Update / extension of an earlier warning

    The warning covers: southeastern Roane County in central West Virginia; Braxton County in north central West Virginia; southeastern Calhoun County in north central West Virginia; central Clay County in north central West Virginia; southern Gilmer County in north central West Virginia; northwestern Webster County in northeastern West Virginia; south central Lewis County in northern West Virginia; and north central Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia.

    Per the National Weather Service alert, at 8:25 AM EDT Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have already fallen, and additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

    Hazard: Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
    Source: Radar indicated.

    Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Sutton, Gassaway, Birch River, Big Otter, Wallback, Holly River State Park, Harrison, Burnsville, Flatwoods, Frametown, Little Birch, Wilsie, Exchange, Strange Creek, Servia, Rosedale, Widen, Heaters, Cedarville, and Centralia.

    Expected impacts, per the NWS: flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

    Highway exposure: This includes Route 19 between mile markers 47 and 61, between mile markers 64 and 66, and near mile marker 68 — plus Interstate 79 between mile markers 34 and 80. Drivers on I-79 through the corridor should expect rapidly changing conditions at underpasses and low spots.

    NWS Charleston office page: weather.gov/rlx. Source alert issued by NWS Charleston WV at 8:25 AM EDT, September 20, 2026 (AWIPS identifier FFWRLX).

    Stay safe this morning

    Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

    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, and 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.

    You can report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely. Your report helps forecasters track what’s happening on the ground.

    What this means for restoration teams

    This is the signature central-West-Virginia flood pattern: radar-indicated training thunderstorms dropping 1.5 to 2.5 inches onto already-saturated ground, with small creeks and streams as the first failure points. For contractors across the warned counties, expect the call types that follow this kind of event:

    • Interior water intrusion — seepage through foundation walls and basement entry points in low-lying homes, especially in Sutton, Gassaway, Flatwoods, and along the I-79 corridor communities.
    • Saturated drywall and insulation — crawl spaces and lower wall cavities in homes near small creeks, where water rises from below rather than entering through openings.
    • Mold risk within 24–48 hours — organic materials that stay wet through the day will start microbial growth; drywall in affected rooms needs moisture mapping and likely removal.
    • Underpass and roadway splash damage — commercial buildings adjacent to flooded sections of Route 19 and I-79 can take on water through grade-level doors and loading areas.
    • Holly River State Park area exposure — campgrounds, cabins, and recreation facilities in the warned zone face both flash-flood and access-road washout issues.

    The play: stage extraction equipment now — the warning expires at 10:00 AM EDT but water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage. Pre-position drying assets, keep an on-call rotation through the evening, and capture address, water source, and affected areas on the first call. Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

    The National Weather Service notes flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly — treat the 0.5 to 1 inch of additional possible rainfall as still to come on top of the 1.5 to 2.5 inches already on the ground.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If your home or business sustains flood damage, help may be available through FEMA. The FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or visit fema.gov/drc to find a disaster recovery center near you.

    Basic eligibility generally includes citizenship or qualified immigration 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 Flash Flood Warning is set to expire at 10:00 AM EDT this morning. When it expires, the immediate threat window closes — but that does not mean the water is gone. Small creeks and streams can crest later in the morning as runoff works downstream, and saturated ground means any additional round of rain would produce flooding much faster. Watch for follow-up statements from NWS Charleston, which issued this warning as an extension and may adjust as conditions evolve.

    Demand window note: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage. Contractors in the warned counties should plan for a multi-day intake wave, not a single-day spike.

    Sources & how to verify

    • NWS Charleston WV Flash Flood Warning (AWIPS FFWRLX), issued 8:25 AM EDT September 20, 2026, expiring 10:00 AM EDT — weather.gov/rlx
    • NWS office page for Charleston, WV: weather.gov/rlx

    To verify the warning for your own county or ZIP code, go to weather.gov and enter your location, or check the NWS Charleston office page directly. Read dates: all data above is from the alert issued September 20, 2026 at 8:25 AM EDT, captured 8:35 AM EDT.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Tri-State Corridor (KY-OH-WV) Until 9:30 AM EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Tri-State Corridor (KY-OH-WV) Until 9:30 AM EDT

    A Flash Flood Warning is active right now across the tri-state corridor where Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia meet — covering Boyd and Greenup counties in Kentucky, Gallia and Lawrence counties in Ohio, and Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane, and Wayne counties in West Virginia. The National Weather Service office in Charleston, WV reports Doppler radar and automated gauges showing thunderstorms have dropped 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain, with flash flooding ongoing or expected to begin shortly — including along stretches of Interstates 64, 77, and 79.

    This is a live snapshot as of 5:08 AM PDT (8:08 AM EDT), Sunday, September 20, 2026. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Tri-State Corridor (KY / OH / WV) — Flash Flood Warning

    The National Weather Service in Charleston, WV has continued a Flash Flood Warning in effect until 9:30 AM EDT this morning. The warning was issued at 7:52 AM EDT and covers northern Boyd and southeastern Greenup counties in Kentucky; southwestern Gallia and Lawrence counties in Ohio; and northern Cabell, northern Kanawha, southwestern Roane, Jackson, southern Mason, Putnam, and northern Wayne counties in West Virginia.

    Detection is radar and gauge indicated: at 7:52 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen, with an additional 0.5 to 1 inch possible in the warned area. The hazard, per the NWS: flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

    Expected impacts, from the alert: flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor-drainage and low-lying areas.

    This warning names specific highways that will experience flash flooding:

    • Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 109 and 148
    • Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 8, and again between mile markers 10 and 46
    • Interstate 79 between mile markers 11 and 30

    That highway detail is the operational warning inside the warning: this is an urban and transportation-corridor flood event, not just creeks and hollers. Low-water underpasses, interchange ramps, and drainage-poor frontage roads along those stretches are the spots that go under first.

    Source: NWS Charleston WV office page and the full NWS alert text.

    Stay safe: flooding on the roads this morning

    The NWS instruction is the one that matters most, and it is blunt: turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads — most flood deaths occur in vehicles. With named interstate stretches under the warning, treat every underpass and low interchange on I-64, I-77, and I-79 through the corridor as suspect until the water is gone. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

    If water reaches your home:

    • Stay out of standing water where electricity may be present. Treat every wet room as live until you know otherwise.
    • Stay out of the basement until the water recedes and power is confirmed off.
    • Photograph everything before you touch anything. Wide shots of every room, close-ups of waterlines and damaged contents — documentation is the difference between a clean claim and a disputed one.
    • Then call a local restoration contractor. Water left sitting doesn’t wait: saturated drywall, subflooring, and insulation start a second wave of damage within a day, and mold risk rises sharply within 24 to 48 hours.

    Report flooding to the National Weather Service at the toll-free number 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely — it helps forecasters keep warnings accurate for your neighbors.

    What this means for restoration teams

    An eleven-county radar-and-gauge-indicated flash flood warning spanning three states, with 1.5 to 2.5 inches already down and another half inch to an inch possible, is a multi-market water-intrusion event. The damage profile across Boyd, Greenup, Gallia, Lawrence, Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane, and Wayne counties: flash flooding of small creeks and streams into finished basements and crawlspaces; urban flooding through floor drains, egress wells, and ground-level entries; and — the signature of this particular alert — highway-corridor flooding along I-64, I-77, and I-79, which puts commercial frontage, warehouses, and light-industrial buildings in the impact zone alongside homes.

    Expect the call mix to skew toward interior water intrusion, saturated drywall and insulation, standing water in basements and mechanical rooms, and sewage backup in low-lying areas. In the urbanized parts of Kanawha and Cabell counties especially, watch for commercial calls: flooded parking structures, ground-floor retail, and building mechanical rooms sit low and flood first when storm drains overwhelm.

    The play for contractors across the tri-state area:

    • Stage equipment now, in more than one market. Extraction units, dehumidifiers, and air movers pre-positioned before the 9:30 AM EDT expiry — this warning’s footprint is too wide for a single warehouse to serve without planning.
    • Keep an on-call rotation through the morning and beyond. Water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage.
    • Watch the interstates on dispatch. Flooded stretches of I-64, I-77, and I-79 can turn a 20-minute drive into an hour — route crews around the named mile-marker stretches and confirm clearance before committing a crew to the far side.
    • Capture address, water source, and affected areas on the first call. Ask: where did the water enter, how deep, and is the power on or off?
    • Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room. Keep the homeowner’s (or property manager’s) payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts — commercial clients in the corridor will want paper trails as much as homeowners do.

    Local emergency contacts

    Verified from the NWS alert itself: report flooding to the National Weather Service toll-free at 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely. For county-level emergency management, check your county’s emergency management page or dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies. This post does not list unverified county numbers — when seconds matter, 911 and the NWS line above are the two numbers that always work.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If this morning’s flooding damages your home or business, federal help may be available. The FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA mobile app, and find recovery centers at fema.gov/drc.

    Basic eligibility generally requires U.S. citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it’s safe to do so — and remember that FEMA assistance is a bridge, not a replacement for insurance. Photograph everything before cleanup begins.

    Looking ahead

    When this warning expires at 9:30 AM EDT, watch the water, not the clock. Flash-flood events across this terrain keep creeks rising after the rain stops, and ponding in urban and low-lying areas can linger through the morning. The named interstate stretches merit a re-check before midday travel — standing water in underpasses doesn’t need a warning to be dangerous. The NWS will update the warning picture as conditions change; if flooding persists along the corridor, expect extensions rather than an all-clear.

    For restoration contractors, the demand window opens as water recedes and stays open for days: calls begin within hours and keep coming as property owners discover damage in rooms and buildings they don’t check daily. An eleven-county, three-state footprint means a long tail — the contractors who document first, extract fast, and communicate clearly will be busy through the week.

    Sources & how to verify

    To verify for your own county or ZIP code: enter it at weather.gov, or check your nearest NWS office page for active alerts. Warning polygons update faster than news articles — the NWS page is the source of truth.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: West Central West Virginia Until 9:45 AM EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: West Central West Virginia Until 9:45 AM EDT

    A Flash Flood Warning is active right now for five West Virginia counties — Clay, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Webster — issued by the National Weather Service office in Charleston, WV. Radar and automated rain gauges show thunderstorms have already dropped 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain across the warned area, and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. This is the exact interior-flooding scenario restoration teams see most: creeks and low-lying roads giving way under heavy rain, and water finding basements and ground floors within the hour.

    This is a live snapshot as of 5:05 AM PDT (8:05 AM EDT), Sunday, September 20, 2026. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    West Central West Virginia — Flash Flood Warning

    The National Weather Service in Charleston, WV has continued a Flash Flood Warning in effect until 9:45 AM EDT this morning. The warning was issued at 7:54 AM EDT and covers southwestern Clay, Pocahontas, southwestern Randolph, Webster, and Nicholas counties.

    Detection is radar and gauge indicated: at 7:54 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen, with an additional 0.5 to 1 inch possible in the warned area. The hazard, per the NWS: flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

    Expected impacts, from the alert: flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor-drainage and low-lying areas.

    Locations that will experience flash flooding, per the NWS, include Summersville, Richwood, Marlinton, Clay, Webster Springs, Cass Scenic Railroad, Green Bank, Addison (Webster Springs), Camden-On-Gauley, Craigsville, Snowshoe, Glen, Mingo, Cowen, Durbin, Hillsboro, Bergoo, Upper Glade, and Waneta. The warning also includes Route 19 between mile markers 34 and 49.

    Source: NWS Charleston WV office page and the full NWS alert text.

    Stay safe: flooding this morning

    The NWS instruction is the one that matters most, and it is blunt: turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads — most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

    If water reaches your home:

    • Stay out of standing water where electricity may be present. Treat every wet room as live until you know otherwise.
    • Stay out of the basement until the water recedes and power is confirmed off.
    • Photograph everything before you touch anything. Wide shots of every room, close-ups of waterlines and damaged contents — documentation is the difference between a clean claim and a disputed one.
    • Then call a local restoration contractor. Water left sitting doesn’t wait: saturated drywall, subflooring, and insulation start a second wave of damage within a day, and mold risk rises sharply within 24 to 48 hours.

    Report flooding to the National Weather Service at the toll-free number 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely — it helps forecasters keep warnings accurate for your neighbors.

    What this means for restoration teams

    A radar-and-gauge-indicated flash flood warning with 1.5 to 2.5 inches already on the ground and another half inch to an inch possible is a water-intrusion workload trigger for the five-county area. The damage profile writes itself: flash flooding of small creeks and streams pushes water into finished basements and crawlspaces; urban and low-lying flooding backs up through floor drains and egress points; and saturated ground plus blocked drainage finds the lowest point in every structure it touches.

    Expect the call mix to skew toward interior water intrusion, saturated drywall and insulation, standing water in basements and mechanical rooms, and sewage backup in low-lying areas — the classic flash-flood job set. Mold risk within 24–48 hours means today’s emergency response window decides next week’s mitigation scope: fast extraction and drying now is a smaller job than a mold remediation next week.

    The play for contractors in Clay, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Webster counties:

    • Stage equipment now — extraction units, dehumidifiers, and air movers pre-positioned before the warning expires at 9:45 AM EDT, so the first calls don’t wait on loading trucks.
    • Keep an on-call rotation through the morning. Water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage — this is not a 9 AM-to-5 PM situation.
    • Capture address, water source, and affected areas on the first call. Ask: where did the water enter, how deep, and is the power on or off? That triage decides crew size and equipment before you roll.
    • Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room. The insurance documentation habits that protect the homeowner protect your invoice too — keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

    Local emergency contacts

    Verified from the NWS alert itself: report flooding to the National Weather Service toll-free at 800-401-9535, when you can do so safely. For county-level emergency management, check your county’s emergency management page or dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies. This post does not list unverified county numbers — when seconds matter, 911 and the NWS line above are the two numbers that always work.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If this morning’s flooding damages your home or business, federal help may be available. The FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA mobile app, and find recovery centers at fema.gov/drc.

    Basic eligibility generally requires U.S. citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it’s safe to do so — and remember that FEMA assistance is a bridge, not a replacement for insurance. Photograph everything before cleanup begins.

    Looking ahead

    When this warning expires at 9:45 AM EDT, the rain may stop but the water won’t be done moving. Flash-flood events in this terrain push creeks and small streams to their peaks after the rain ends — watch for rivers and creeks cresting later this morning, ponding in low-lying areas, and additional rounds of thunderstorms later in the day. The NWS will update the warning picture as conditions change; if flooding persists, expect extensions rather than an all-clear.

    For restoration contractors, the demand window opens the moment water starts receding and stays open for days: calls typically begin within hours and keep coming as homeowners discover damage in rooms they don’t check daily. The contractors who document first, extract fast, and communicate clearly win these cycles — and this morning’s five counties are the ground to cover.

    Sources & how to verify

    To verify for your own county or ZIP code: enter it at weather.gov, or check your nearest NWS office page for active alerts. Warning polygons update faster than news articles — the NWS page is the source of truth.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Charleston Area Until 10:15 AM EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Charleston Area Until 10:15 AM EDT

    The warning, as of now

    The National Weather Service office in Charleston, West Virginia has issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of central and western West Virginia, effective until 10:15 AM EDT on Sunday, September 20, 2026. At 7:20 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area — between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain had already fallen, with additional rainfall amounts of up to 1.5 inches possible. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

    This is the exact kind of event that turns into the interior flooding jobs restoration teams see most: water through finished basements, saturated drywall, overwhelmed sump systems. This is a live snapshot as of 7:35 AM EDT — conditions change fast, so always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Central West Virginia — Flash Flood Warning

    Issued by: NWS Charleston WV (7:20 AM EDT, September 20, 2026)
    Expires: 10:15 AM EDT, September 20, 2026
    Severity: Severe • Certainty: Likely • Urgency: Immediate
    Hazard: Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms
    Source: Radar and automated rain gauges

    Counties and areas covered

    The warning covers northwestern Boone County, southern Cabell County, southwestern Clay County, Kanawha County, Lincoln County, southwestern Putnam County, and northeastern Wayne County in West Virginia.

    Locations in the warning path

    The National Weather Service names the following locations that will experience flash flooding: Charleston, Huntington, Nitro, Wayne, Hamlin, Beech Fork State Park, Jefferson, South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, Barboursville, Chesapeake, Marmet, Ceredo, Belle, Clendenin, Cedar Grove, East Bank, Glasgow, and Alum Creek.

    Highways affected

    Drivers should watch for flooding on:

    • Interstate 77 in West Virginia, mile markers 96 to 109
    • Route 119, mile markers 58 to 80
    • Interstate 64 in West Virginia, mile markers 9 to 11 and 46 to 57
    • West Virginia Turnpike, mile markers 85 to 95
    • Interstate 79, mile markers 1 to 10

    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.

    NWS Charleston WV office page • Alert issued at 7:20 AM EDT via the National Weather Service.

    Stay safe tonight

    Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles — never drive through flooded roadways, and never attempt to cross a flooded underpass. Be especially cautious at night, when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.

    If water is entering your home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, avoid the basement until the water recedes and power is confirmed off, and photograph everything before cleanup begins — that documentation matters for insurance. Then call a local restoration contractor. Water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day.

    If you can do so safely, report flooding to the National Weather Service toll-free at 800-401-9535 — those reports help forecasters update the warning.

    What this means for restoration teams

    This is a textbook water-intrusion setup for central West Virginia contractors. Charleston, Huntington, South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, Nitro, and Barboursville all sit in the warned area — dense housing stock, finished basements, and river-adjacent commercial properties. Expect:

    • Interior water intrusion from overwhelmed drainage, backed-up sewers in low-lying areas, and seepage through foundation walls as the additional 1.5 inches lands on already-saturated ground.
    • Saturated drywall and insulation — wicking up walls within the first hours.
    • Mold risk within 24–48 hours if drying doesn’t start promptly — warm late-summer air is a mold accelerator.
    • Commercial hits along the highway corridors — flooded underpasses and low spots on I-64, I-77, and the Turnpike mean commercial properties near those interchanges take water first.

    The play: stage equipment now, pre-position drying assets where they can reach Charleston and Huntington quickly, and keep an on-call rotation through the morning. On the first call, capture address, water source, and affected areas before you roll — dispatch is only as good as intake. Field discipline stays the same: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

    Water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of the water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage — the demand tail on this one runs well into next week.

    Local emergency contacts

    The National Weather Service asks anyone who can do so safely to report flooding toll-free at 800-401-9535. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. We are not listing county emergency-management numbers we cannot verify in real time — if you need them, start with your county’s emergency-management office via the state’s official site.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If this event causes damage beyond what insurance covers, help is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

    • FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week)
    • Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find a recovery center at fema.gov/drc.
    • Basic eligibility: U.S. citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it’s safe to do so.

    Looking ahead

    The warning runs until 10:15 AM EDT, but the hazard doesn’t end on the clock. With 1–1.5 inches already down and another 1.5 possible, creeks and streams can crest later than the warning window, and additional rounds of thunderstorms can re-trigger flooding in the same drainage areas. Watch for NWS updates as the 10:15 AM expiry approaches — Charleston’s forecasters will extend or let it expire based on gauge readings.

    For restoration teams, the real demand window opens as water recedes and homeowners find the damage: Sunday afternoon through midweek. The contractors who are already staged will be the ones answering those first calls.

    Sources & how to verify

    • National Weather Service Charleston WV Flash Flood Warning, issued 7:20 AM EDT September 20, 2026 — NWS Charleston office (weather.gov/rlx)
    • Report flooding to the NWS toll-free at 800-401-9535 when you can do so safely

    To verify for your own county or ZIP: check weather.gov and the NWS Charleston WV office page for the latest active warnings.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: North-Central West Virginia Until 9 AM EDT

    Flash Flood Warning: North-Central West Virginia Until 9 AM EDT

    Status: ACTIVE — Flash Flood Warning until 9:00 AM EDT, Sunday, September 20, 2026. This is a live snapshot as of 7:20 AM EDT. 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, has extended a Flash Flood Warning covering eight counties across north-central and northwestern West Virginia — Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood counties — through 9:00 AM EDT this morning. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have already fallen, thunderstorms are producing more heavy rain as measured by Doppler radar and automated rain gauges, and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. This is the exact kind of event that turns into interior water-intrusion work for restoration teams across the region: the basements, crawl spaces, and ground floors of homes and businesses sitting along small creeks and low-lying drainages.

    West Virginia — Flash Flood Warning

    Issuing office: National Weather Service, Charleston WV (weather.gov/rlx)
    Issued: 7:14 AM EDT, Sunday, September 20, 2026 (an extension of the earlier warning)
    Expires: 9:00 AM EDT, Sunday, September 20, 2026
    Severity: Severe · Certainty: Likely · Urgency: Immediate

    Hazard, in the NWS alert’s own wording: “Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.”
    Source: “Radar and automated gauges.”
    Rainfall so far: Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen across the warned area. Additional rainfall amounts of up to 1 inch are possible.

    Counties and areas covered:

    • Northern Roane County in central West Virginia
    • Calhoun County in north central West Virginia
    • Gilmer County in north central West Virginia
    • Southwestern Doddridge County in northern West Virginia
    • Northeastern Jackson County in northwestern West Virginia
    • Southern Ritchie County in northwestern West Virginia
    • Wirt County in northwestern West Virginia
    • Southeastern Wood County in northwestern West Virginia

    Named locations that will experience flash flooding, per the alert: Spencer, Glenville, Elizabeth, Grantsville, Arnoldsburg, Cedar Creek State Park, Reedy, Sand Fork, Pullman, Auburn, Munday, Annamoriah, Brohard, Creston, Macfarlan, Big Springs, Mount Zion, Smithville, Cherry, and Millstone. This includes Interstate 77 in West Virginia near mile marker 150, and between mile markers 152 and 163.

    Expected impacts, verbatim from the alert: “Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.”

    Source: NWS alert (api.weather.gov) · NWS Charleston WV

    Stay safe this morning

    The alert’s instructions are plain: 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. Never drive through flooded roadways — turn around and find another route.

    If water enters your home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, avoid the basement until the water recedes and power is confirmed off, and photograph everything before you start cleanup — documentation matters for insurance. Then call a local restoration contractor. Water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day: saturated drywall, swelling subfloors, and the beginning of microbial growth.

    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

    Eight counties, a mix of small cities, town centers, and rural valley communities along creeks and streams — this is a classic interior-water event shape. With 1.5 to 2.5 inches already down and up to another inch possible, the call volume won’t be dramatic structural collapse. It will be saturated basements, flooded crawl spaces, water pushing in at foundation walls, sewage backup in low-lying areas, and ground floors taking on water in the towns the alert names — Spencer, Glenville, Elizabeth, Grantsville, and the I-77 corridor between mile markers 150 and 163.

    Damage categories to expect: interior water intrusion at slab and basement level, saturated drywall and insulation along foundation walls, mold risk building within 24–48 hours wherever porous material stays wet, sewage backup where drainage and low-lying areas overwhelm systems, and roadways/underpasses flooding along the I-77 corridor.

    The play: stage equipment now, pre-position drying assets, and keep an on-call rotation through the morning — the warning runs until 9 AM EDT, but discovery calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people find damage they didn’t see the first morning. On the first call, capture address, water source, and affected areas. Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If your home or business takes serious damage, the FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find a recovery center 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’s safe — don’t wait for insurance to resolve.

    Looking ahead

    When this warning expires at 9:00 AM EDT, the rain may have moved on — but flash flooding doesn’t always end when the rain does. Small creeks and streams in steep West Virginia valleys can keep rising after the heaviest rain stops, and poor-drainage areas and underpasses can hold water well into the morning. The NWS will update or let the warning expire on its own terms; check NWS Charleston for the next update.

    For restoration operators: this is the start of the demand window, not the peak. Water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as homeowners discover damage — soft spots in drywall, musty basements, flooring that didn’t look wet on Sunday morning. The teams that capture addresses and document first get the jobs that go to insurance.

    Sources & how to verify

    To verify for your own county or ZIP code: go to weather.gov and enter your location, or check the NWS Charleston hazards page. The alert above was verified against the live NWS API this morning.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Dubuque, IA Area Until 11:15 AM CDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Dubuque, IA Area Until 11:15 AM CDT

    A Flash Flood Warning is in effect this morning for parts of northeastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. The National Weather Service in Quad Cities issued the warning at 5:45 AM CDT on Sunday, September 20, and it runs through 11:15 AM CDT. Doppler radar shows thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area — between 1 and 2.5 inches have already fallen, and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. These are exactly the interior flooding jobs restoration teams see most after a slow morning of heavy rain.

    This is a live snapshot as of 6 AM CDT Sunday, September 20. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Dubuque County & Northeast Iowa — Flash Flood Warning

    Issuing office: NWS Quad Cities IA IL · Issued: 5:45 AM CDT, Sunday, September 20 · Expires: 11:15 AM CDT

    The warning covers Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, and Jones counties in Iowa, plus Jo Daviess County in Illinois. VTEC tag: /O.CON.KDVN.FF.W.0050 — this is a continuation of the Quad Cities office’s active flash flood warning for the area.

    Per the alert, at 5:45 AM CDT Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen, and additional rainfall of 0.5 to 1 inch is possible in the warned area. The National Weather Service states flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

    Locations that will experience flash flooding include: Dubuque, Asbury, Dyersville, Monticello, Bellevue, Cascade, Epworth, East Dubuque, Farley, Peosta, Earlville, Hopkinton, New Vienna, Colesburg, Worthington, Holy Cross, La Motte, Luxemburg, and Rickardsville.

    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.

    Certainty: Likely · Urgency: Immediate · Severity: Severe

    Stay safe this morning

    The National Weather Service’s instruction for this warning:

    • Turn around, don’t drown. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through flooded roadways — you cannot tell how deep the water is or whether the road beneath it has washed out.
    • Low-water crossings are especially dangerous in heavy rain. The alert notes that in hilly terrain there are hundreds of low-water crossings which can turn dangerous fast. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads; find an alternate route.
    • If water enters your home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present. Avoid the basement until the water recedes and power is confirmed off. Photograph everything before cleanup — documentation matters for insurance — and then call a local restoration contractor. Water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day.
    • Report what you see. The NWS asks residents to report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass the information to the National Weather Service, when it is safe to do so.

    What this means for restoration teams

    A Sunday-morning flash flood warning across Dubuque and the surrounding counties reads like a textbook call-surge setup. Radar-indicated flooding with 1 to 2.5 inches already down means water is finding the usual ways in: foundation seepage, window-well intrusion, storm-drain backups in low-lying streets, and saturated crawlspaces and basements. Homes that take water early in the morning often don’t get discovered until people wake up and walk downstairs — so expect the call volume to build through the 8 AM–noon window as the warning expires at 11:15 AM CDT.

    The damage categories to plan for:

    • Interior water intrusion — saturated drywall and insulation along lower walls and basements.
    • Mold risk within 24–48 hours — wet porous materials that don’t start drying today become mold jobs tomorrow.
    • Sewage and drain backup — heavy rain overwhelming municipal and private systems in low-lying areas.
    • Roadway and underpass flooding — slows crew dispatch; stage equipment on the right side of the water now.

    The play: Stage equipment now and pre-position drying assets in Dubuque, Dyersville, Monticello, and along the Highway 20 corridor. Keep an on-call rotation through mid-morning. On the first call, capture the address, the water source (intrusion, backup, or seepage), and every affected room — intake quality on a busy morning is what separates a clean claim from a disputed one.

    Field discipline: Photo-document before any mitigation. Moisture-map every affected room, not just the one that looks wet. And keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts — insurance questions always come after the water, never before.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If flooding damages your home or business, federal help may be available:

    • FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week.
    • Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find a recovery center 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’s safe to do so — you do not need to wait for cleanup to begin.

    Looking ahead

    The warning expires at 11:15 AM CDT. Even after expiry, this event isn’t necessarily over for property owners: creeks and small streams in Delaware, Jones, Jackson, and Dubuque counties can crest after the rain stops, and up to another inch of rain is still possible this morning. Watch for additional rounds — the Quad Cities office will update or extend the warning if the rainfall totals keep climbing.

    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 — finished basements, musty odors, and drywall that looked fine on Sunday but reads wet on a meter by Tuesday. If you serve the Dubuque metro, Asbury, Peosta, Dyersville, or the Galena-side Illinois towns, today’s warning is your early notice to staff up.

    Sources & how to verify

    • NWS alert: Flash Flood Warning for Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones (IA) and Jo Daviess (IL) counties, issued 5:45 AM CDT September 20 by NWS Quad Cities — expires 11:15 AM CDT. VTEC /O.CON.KDVN.FF.W.0050.
    • NWS Quad Cities office: weather.gov/dvn
    • Verify for your county or ZIP: go to weather.gov and enter your ZIP code, or check the NWS Quad Cities page directly for the latest warning map.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Eastern Iowa Area Until 8:15 AM CDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Eastern Iowa Area Until 8:15 AM CDT

    This is a live snapshot as of 3:47 AM PDT (5:47 AM CDT), September 20, 2026. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has extended a Flash Flood Warning for seven east-central and southeastern Iowa counties — Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Louisa, Muscatine, and Washington — until 8:15 AM CDT. This is an observed flash flood event: trained weather spotters have confirmed flooding on the ground in Kalona, with the English River out of its banks. For restoration contractors, this is the exact interior-flooding workload that fills a water crew’s week — saturated ground, rising streams, and homes taking water while families are still asleep.

    The warning: Seven Iowa counties — Flash Flood Warning

    Issuing office: NWS Quad Cities IA/IL (KDVN) · Issued: September 20 at 5:41 AM CDT · Expires: September 20 at 8:15 AM CDT · Status: Actual, severity Severe, urgency Immediate · Detection: OBSERVED (spotter-confirmed)

    The warning covers Southern Cedar County in east central Iowa; Iowa, Johnson, and Muscatine counties in east central Iowa; Keokuk County in southeastern Iowa; northwestern Louisa County in southeastern Iowa; and Washington County in southeastern Iowa.

    At 5:41 AM CDT, trained weather spotters reported flash flooding in Kalona. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have fallen across portions of the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing. Rain has tapered off to mainly light to at-times-moderate rain, with the heaviest rain having already occurred. Residents should be alert for rapid rises and flooding on area streams and creeks and along the English River.

    Washington County deputies reported around a foot of water covering the intersection of 133rd Street and Nutmeg Street in Kalona due to the English River being out of its banks.

    Hazard: Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms (spotter-reported). Impact: Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor-drainage and low-lying areas.

    Locations in the warning path: Iowa City, Muscatine, Washington, Tipton, Marengo, West Branch, Sigourney, Columbus Junction, Durant, Coralville, North Liberty, West Liberty, Williamsburg, Wilton, Kalona, Tiffin, Wellman, Lone Tree, and University Heights.

    Highways affected: Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 205 and 277, and Interstate 380 between mile markers 1 and 7.

    Source: the live NWS alert is available here; NWS Quad Cities’ office page is at weather.gov/dvn.

    Stay safe this morning

    Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. The NWS stresses extra caution in the dark — it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding before dawn — and urges everyone to be aware of their surroundings and never drive on flooded roads.

    If water enters the home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, avoid the basement until water recedes and power is confirmed off, and 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.

    What this means for restoration teams

    An observed overnight flash flood in eastern Iowa is a water-intrusion pipeline, not a one-morning event. Expect the call pattern to run: flooded basements and crawlspaces in Kalona and along the English River bottoms first, then saturated slabs and ground-floor rooms as homeowners discover damage through the morning. Saturated drywall and insulation that isn’t opened up and dried within 24 to 48 hours becomes a mold-risk job — and low-lying areas always carry a sewage-backup possibility in this kind of event.

    The play for contractors in the seven-county warned area: stage equipment now, pre-position drying assets, and keep an on-call rotation through the morning. On the first call, capture the address, the water source (floodwater intrusion vs. interior source), and the affected areas — the answer shapes the entire job. Field discipline holds: photo-document before mitigation begins, moisture-map every affected room, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

    One more thing to watch: the English River cresting later in the day. Flash flood warnings expire, but rivers keep rising after the rain stops — the homes closest to the river may take water hours after this warning ends.

    Local emergency contacts

    Contact information for the individual county emergency management offices in the warned area could not be verified for this post, so no numbers are listed here. For authoritative local guidance, check your county’s emergency management page or the NWS Quad Cities office at weather.gov/dvn. Dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If your home is damaged, the FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week). You can also apply through DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA mobile app, or find a recovery center at fema.gov/drc. Basic eligibility generally requires citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it’s safe to do so — don’t wait for a disaster declaration to gather your documentation.

    Looking ahead

    This warning runs until 8:15 AM CDT. When it expires, the immediate concern shifts from flash flooding to the English River and area streams, which can crest hours after the heaviest rain — the Kalona report of water over 133rd and Nutmeg shows the river is already high. NWS Quad Cities may extend or replace this warning depending on how creeks respond through the morning; watch their office page for updates.

    The demand window for restoration work typically opens within hours of water receding and keeps coming for days as people discover damage. Contractors should treat the English River corridor — and the low-lying ground in Kalona, Columbus Junction, and the Iowa River towns — as the highest-probability call zones for the next 48 hours.

    Sources & how to verify

    To verify for your own county or ZIP code: enter your location at weather.gov or visit your local NWS office page.

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

  • Flash Flood Warning: Cedar Rapids Area Until 8:00 AM CDT

    Flash Flood Warning: Cedar Rapids Area Until 8:00 AM CDT

    The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties in east-central Iowa — including the Cedar Rapids metro — in effect until 8:00 AM CDT Sunday. Heavy rain earlier brought 2 to 5 inches across the warned area, and flash flooding is either ongoing or expected to begin shortly as that runoff combines with the steady rain still falling.

    This is a live snapshot as of 5:20 AM Central (3:20 AM Pacific) on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

    Cedar Rapids & Linn County, IA — Flash Flood Warning

    Issued by: NWS Quad Cities (Iowa/Illinois), 5:04 AM CDT. Expires: 8:00 AM CDT Sunday.

    The hazard, in NWS wording: At 5:04 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a large area of light to moderate rain was occurring across the warned area. Heavy rain producing storms earlier brought rainfall of 2 to 5 inches across the warned area. Flash flooding is either ongoing or expected to begin shortly due to runoff from the earlier heavy rain combined with the steady rain falling. Source: radar indicated.

    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.

    Communities: Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, Fairfax, Ely, Walford, Springville, and Palo are all named in the warning. This includes Interstate 380 between mile markers 8 and 36 — drivers on I-380 should expect ponding and possible lane flooding through the morning commute window.

    Benton, Iowa & Johnson Counties, IA — Flash Flood Warning

    Same warning window: issued 5:04 AM CDT, in effect until 8:00 AM CDT Sunday, with the same 2-to-5-inch rainfall footprint from the earlier heavy storms plus continuing steady rain.

    Communities: Vinton, Belle Plaine, Marengo, Solon, and Atkins are the named locations across these counties.

    The runoff math here is the dangerous part: the big rain already fell, the ground is primed, and even light-to-moderate steady rain on top of 2 to 5 inches keeps pushing water into the same creeks and low spots. This is the kind of setup where the flooding starts after the heavy rain ends — don’t let a quiet radar fool you.

    Cedar & Jones Counties, IA — Flash Flood Warning

    Same warning, same timing. Communities: Mechanicsville, Stanwood, Center Point, Lisbon, Mount Vernon, and Anamosa sit inside the warned portions of these counties.

    Small creeks and streams are the first to jump in this corridor — the NWS impacts list leads with them for a reason. Low crossings on county roads, underpasses, and urban storm-drain bottlenecks in the smaller towns are the places to watch before sunrise.

    Stay safe this morning

    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 — and be aware of your surroundings on the morning drive: I-380 between mile markers 8 and 36 is explicitly inside this warning, and flooded underpasses on a commuter highway are exactly where bad mornings happen.

    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 observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement, and ask them to pass the information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely.

    What this means for restoration teams

    Two to five inches across a metro like Cedar Rapids is a volume job. The damage categories: interior water intrusion in finished basements (the exact jobs restoration teams see most), saturated carpet and pad, water wicking up drywall from slab edges, overwhelmed sump systems, and storm-drain backup in the urban core. With the warning naming I-380 explicitly, expect commercial properties along the corridor to report water in loading docks and low entries too.

    Mold risk clocks start the moment materials stay wet: 24 to 48 hours on saturated drywall and insulation. The continuing light-to-moderate rain matters here — it extends the wet window, which extends the drying window, which is the number you put on the job sheet.

    The play for east-central Iowa contractors: stage extraction equipment and dehumidifiers now, because the warning expires at 8:00 AM CDT and the discovery wave starts as people wake up. Keep an on-call rotation through the morning. Capture address, water source, and affected areas on the first call — “water source” matters more than usual here because runoff-driven flooding and sump failures and drain backup all dry out differently. Photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

    FEMA & federal assistance

    If the flooding turns into a declared disaster, the FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local, 7 days a week). You can also apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find recovery centers at fema.gov/drc. Basic eligibility: U.S. 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 8:00 AM CDT. After that, watch whether the NWS extends — steady rain on top of 2 to 5 inches is an extension-prone setup — and watch the creeks and small streams, which can crest after the rain lets up. The next NWS update lands with any extension or at expiration; check the Quad Cities office page for the latest.

    Demand window note for contractors: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage — in a metro this size, the tail on this one runs all week.

    Sources & how to verify

    This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.