Flood Warning in Effect for Four West Virginia Counties Until 5 AM Monday
The National Weather Service Charleston WV warning covers parts of Kanawha, Clay, Fayette and Nicholas counties until 5:00 AM EDT Monday, August 17, 2026.
4 reports on this incident · first at Aug 16, 2026, 11:00 p.m. ET
Hazard products are revised and cancelled as conditions change. Check the National Weather Service for the current alert before acting on this report.
Earlier reports
Aug 16, 2026, 11:24 p.m. ET
National Weather Service Issues Flood Warning for Four West Virginia Counties
The National Weather Service Charleston WV has raised the hazard level to a flood warning, warning that flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. The flood warning took effect at 10:53 PM EDT on August 16, 2026, and remains in effect until 5:00 AM EDT on Monday, August 17, 2026.
According to official National Weather Service records, the warning covers East Central Kanawha County in central West Virginia, Southern Clay County in north central West Virginia, Northeastern Fayette County in southeastern West Virginia, and Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia. Official records state that flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring.
The agency advises motorists to turn around and not drown when encountering flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Flooding can be reported to the National Weather Service by calling toll free at 800 401 9535 when it can be done safely.
Aug 16, 2026, 11:20 p.m. ET
Flood Warning in Effect for Clay WV, Fayette WV, Kanawha WV and Nicholas WV Until 5 AM Monday
A flood warning is in effect for four areas of West Virginia — Clay WV, Fayette WV, Kanawha WV and Nicholas WV — according to the flood warning record issued by the National Weather Service Charleston WV.
"Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring," the record states. The cause, according to the same record, is excessive rainfall: "Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected."
The record describes the covered ground in more detail as "East Central Kanawha County in central West Virginia... Southern Clay County in north central West Virginia... Northeastern Fayette County in southeastern West Virginia... Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia..." Readers in Clay WV, Fayette WV, Kanawha WV or Nicholas WV should treat the warning as applying to them.
The warning took effect at 10:53 PM EDT on Aug. 16, 2026, and runs until 500 AM EDT Monday — 5:00 AM EDT on Aug. 17, 2026, per the record.
On precautions, the National Weather Service record says: "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free, 800 401 9535, when you can do so safely."
The headline carried on the record reads: FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT MONDAY.
Aug 16, 2026, 11:00 p.m. ETFirst report
Flood Warning for Clay, Fayette, Kanawha and Nicholas Counties in West Virginia
A flood warning is in effect for parts of central and southeastern West Virginia. According to the flood warning record issued by the National Weather Service Charleston WV and published in the agency's raw alert feed, the affected areas are Clay WV, Fayette WV, Kanawha WV and Nicholas WV.
The same record sets the alert level at warning — the highest of the flood alert tiers — and states the warning took effect at 10:53 PM EDT on August 16, 2026, and is set to expire at 5:00 AM EDT on Monday, August 17, 2026. The official headline reads: FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT MONDAY.
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. The record states that flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring.
Within those four counties, the warning record describes the covered ground in more detail: East Central Kanawha County in central West Virginia; Southern Clay County in north central West Virginia; Northeastern Fayette County in southeastern West Virginia; and Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia. Readers in Clay, Fayette, Kanawha or Nicholas counties should treat the warning as applying to them.
The National Weather Service advises people to turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Members of the public can report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free, 800 401 9535, when they can do so safely.
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Revision history
- Version 117 Aug 2026, 03:35current
First published.
- Version 117 Aug 2026, 03:20current
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- Version 117 Aug 2026, 03:24current
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