Central West Virginia hit by historic flooding after 7 inches of rain

Severe thunderstorms dumped more than 7 inches of rain across central West Virginia on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, triggering catastrophic flash flooding that inundated homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure across multiple counties. The National Weather Service designated the event a "Particularly Dangerous Situation"—the highest level of alert—and issued a Flash Flood Emergency warning. Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties late Tuesday evening, enabling state agencies to mobilize resources across the affected region.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and emergency crews conducted at least 33 water rescues by early Wednesday, with some sources reporting the total reached 85 rescues by Wednesday afternoon. First responders worked through the night in Lewis and Upshur counties, where communication channels were heavily strained. The City of Buckhannon issued an immediate evacuation order Wednesday morning as water levels continued to rise and roads became impassable. Interstate 79 and multiple secondary routes were closed due to flooding, and emergency services in Upshur County warned that 911 service could face delays or interruptions. No deaths or serious injuries were reported as of Wednesday afternoon, though authorities continued damage assessment efforts.

Flood levels reached historic proportions. Sand Run creek, a tributary near Buckhannon, crested above 10.6 feet Tuesday night—surpassing the previous record of 8.34 feet set during the devastating 1985 flood event. This marked the first time in approximately 80 years of record-keeping that the gauge reached major flood stage. The same 1985 floods killed 47 people statewide and destroyed thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses in Upshur County; a decade prior to the current event, 23 people died in similar flooding in the same areas.

Governor Morrisey deployed 100 National Guard members to the hardest-hit counties overnight Tuesday, with an additional 200 expected by late Wednesday morning. The National Guard mobilized swiftwater rescue teams, engineers, and other specialized personnel. The West Virginia Emergency Management Division opened a shelter at Lewis County High School for displaced residents. Authorities reported that the ground was already saturated from storms that had dropped more than 2 inches of rain statewide on Saturday, contributing to the severity of Tuesday's flooding.

The same storm system that produced the West Virginia flooding also generated multiple tornadoes and damaging winds across a wider region. Tornado reports were confirmed in Kentucky, Ohio, and New Jersey, with damage documented in St. Marys and Belmont areas of West Virginia. Approximately 110,000 people in affected areas lost power. Flash flood warnings issued for New York City were later lifted. The National Weather Service in Charleston issued life-threatening flood warnings, urging residents to "SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW."