BECKLEY, W.Va. — A surge of heavy rainfall early Sunday morning triggered widespread flash‑flood warnings and dangerous conditions across parts of southern West Virginia, with Fayette County among the hardest hit.
The National Weather Service issued multiple flash‑flood warnings for Fayette, Raleigh, Summers and Greenbrier counties, including one labeled “Considerable,” which activated wireless emergency alerts on cellphones. Meteorologists reported 2 to 4 inches of rain across Fayette County, overwhelming creeks and drainage systems and sending water into familiar trouble spots — and some areas where residents said they had never seen water rise so quickly.
Unlike recent flooding events, emergency officials noted a significant number of mudslides across the region. Several slides brought down power lines, while others sent mud, rocks and trees tumbling down mountainsides as runoff accelerated.
Authorities urged residents to remain alert as additional rainfall is expected over the next several days. With ground already saturated, forecasters warn that even modest rainfall could trigger more flooding, slides and rapidly changing conditions.
