FloodZoneMap.org

Flash Flood — Putnam, WV

Feb 18, 2000

A warm front surged north during the morning of Friday the 18th, dropping a half inch to an inch of rain. Meanwhile, low pressure extended from southern Ohio on down the entire length of the Ohio River during that afternoon. A southerly wind at the surface, with dew points in the 55 to 60 degree range, fed moisture north from Tennessee and Kentucky. This moisture was advected into the boundary along the Ohio River. Additional rains sank south into western and central West Virginia during

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5128827). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Putnam, WV

This event is one of many recorded floods in Putnam County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.

View Putnam County flood data →

More Flood Stories

Flash Flood

Putnam, WV · Feb 6, 2025

Showers first entered into West Virginia on the evening of February 5th as a disturbance skirted by to the south. Precipitation continued into the next day, in addition to a few severe thunderstorms that developed ahead of a cold front in the early afternoon.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$25K damage

Putnam, WV · May 6, 2022

A slow moving low pressure system, along with plenty of moisture, allowed for showers and thunderstorms to gradually move through the Ohio Valley during the day on May 6th.

Read the full account →
Flood

Putnam, WV · Jan 31, 2025

An advancing low pressure system set forth ample amounts of lift and moisture to round out the month of January. Widespread rainfall first entered into the southwestern coalfields of West Virginia on the morning of January 31st, and continued to invade northeastward and up into…

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$3.0M damage

Putnam, WV · May 26, 2018

The combination of daytime heating and an approaching upper level trough led to scattered thunderstorm development on the afternoon and evenings of the 26th, 27th and 28th. While these storms were slow moving, most moved enough to limit flooding.

Read the full account →