BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston has issued a Flash Flood Warning for portions of Fayette and Raleigh counties as heavy rain moves through the area Tuesday night.
The warning includes south-central Fayette County and central Raleigh County and remains in effect until 11:45 p.m. Tuesday.
At 8:45 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain had already fallen, and the NWS said flash flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
The NWS reported that flash flooding was occurring in Beckley.
Locations that could experience flash flooding include Beckley, Mount Hope, Mabscott, Sophia, Dry Creek, MacArthur, Crab Orchard, Prosperity, Stanaford, Beaver, Bradley, Piney View, Daniels, Coal City, Lester, Glen Daniel and Bolt.
The warning also includes Route 19 between mile markers 1 and 4, Interstate 64 between mile markers 120 and 127, and the West Virginia Turnpike between mile markers 37 and 50.
Flash flooding could affect small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses and other low-lying or poorly drained areas.
The National Weather Service is urging motorists not to drive through flooded roadways, particularly at night when flooding can be more difficult to see.
“Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roads, the NWS advised.
