08/16/2026
On behalf of Ohio County, West Virginia, 911 Center
⚠️ WEATHER ALERT — WHEELING & OHIO COUNTY, WV
The National Weather Service Pittsburgh has issued an updated severe weather and flooding briefing for Sunday, August 16. The main concerns for Wheeling and Ohio County today are heavy rainfall, flash flooding, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado threat.
🌧️ FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 8 AM MONDAY: Wheeling and northern West Virginia remain under a Flood Watch. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected today and tonight, and heavy rain could flood roads, low-lying areas, creeks and streams.
⏰ WHEELING AREA TIMING IS IMPORTANT: Storms are expected to move into areas west of I-77 around noon–2 PM. The NWS specifically identifies the 3–5 PM period in the WV Panhandle as having the greatest severe-weather risk. Storms may repeatedly move over the same locations, with rainfall rates potentially reaching 1.5–2.5 inches per hour.
⛈️ SLIGHT RISK — LEVEL 2 OF 5: This afternoon and evening, the threats include damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and heavy downpours. The NWS says confidence in severe thunderstorms has increased and that a few storms could become significant.
For Wheeling specifically, the NWS gives a 65% chance of at least 0.25" of rain, 43% chance of at least 0.50", and 21% chance of at least 1" between 8 AM Sunday and 8 AM Monday. The heaviest rain is expected in two rounds—Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon/evening.
⚠️ Please stay weather aware today, particularly from mid-afternoon into the evening. Keep multiple ways to receive weather warnings and be prepared to act quickly if a warning is issued.
Never drive through a flooded roadway. TURN AROUND, DON’T
