Communities in northern West Virginia are facing more heartbreak after another round of flash flooding hit the area Thursday night—less than two weeks after deadly storms swept through the same region.
Heavy rains drenched the Wheeling area, located about an hour southwest of Pittsburgh. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning after up to 2 inches of rain fell in a short time, with even more expected later in the evening.
Residents shared alarming footage on social media showing streets transformed into rushing rivers. Some reported the water came so quickly that homes still being cleaned from the last flood were swamped again.
“This storm came out of nowhere,” one resident wrote. “We barely had time to react before the water was pouring in again.”
Earlier this week, much of the eastern U.S. endured a stretch of extreme heat. That heatwave ended abruptly with violent thunderstorms. In Wheeling’s Elm Grove area, West Virginia Emergency Management posted a striking image: a measuring tape submerged in floodwaters. The caption read, “From dry as a bone to 5 inches in 45 minutes.”
Officials warned anyone living in flood-prone areas to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. “Move to higher ground if you’re in a low-lying area,” the agency urged.
The region is still recovering from a deadly flood that struck on June 14, when as much as 4 inches of rain fell in just 40 minutes across Wheeling and Ohio County. That storm killed nine people, devastated dozens of homes and businesses, and forced emergency crews to pull at least 75 vehicles from two overflowing creeks. In response, Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for the county.
This week, authorities confirmed the identity of 83-year-old Sandra Kay Parsons of Triadelphia, whose body was recovered from the Ohio River. She was the third victim identified, following Jesse Pearson, 43, also of Triadelphia, and Connie Veronis, 71, of Moundsville.
As communities try to clean up yet again, the emotional toll is becoming just as overwhelming as the physical damage. For many, the fear of another flash flood is now a daily concern. And with summer storm season still underway, residents are bracing for what could come next.
