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.
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