77
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$14.6M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Mercer County, West Virginia: 77 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #289 nationally and #5 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Mercer County, West Virginia: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Mercer County is the 2000s, when 28 of the county's 77 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Mercer County archive, flash flood makes up 22.6% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #289 for this hazard and #5 within West Virginia, putting it in the 90.7 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
May is the peak month for flash flood in Mercer County with 32 recorded events, while Apr is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2025 | HALES GAP | 0 | $0 |
| Feb 15, 2025 | KELLYSVILLE | 0 | $50K |
| Feb 15, 2025 | FLAT TOP | 0 | $2.0M |
| Sep 26, 2024 | SANDLICK | 0 | $25K |
| Sep 26, 2024 | PRINCETON | 0 | $100K |
| Sep 26, 2024 | LITTLESBURG | 0 | $0 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | BLUEFIELD | 0 | $0 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | BRUSH FORK | 0 | $0 |
| May 19, 2024 | FLIPPING CREEK JCT | 0 | $10K |
| May 19, 2024 | NEMOURS | 0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Mercer County
- Thunderstorm Wind 105
- Hail 87
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
County dispatch reported significant flooding and gravel washouts on Brickyard Road in Princeton down to the Gardner Loop. Water on the road was described as rushing like a river. Route 20 was closed heading into Athens as streams and creeks crested out of their banks. Stafford Road was described as a 'lake' in local news reports. Several businesses in the Princeton area experienced flooding with water 2 to 3 feet deep and residents were evacuated from a home surrounded by water.
Flooding was reported on several small creeks, including Laurel Creek and Tracy Fork north and east of Athens and at the town water treatment plant. Several private bridges were destroyed in the area near Red Sulphur Turnpike near Athens. A section of Red Sulphur Turnpike was badly damaged and impassable.
The Mercer County Sheriff's Department received multiple reports of flash flooding in the Bluewell Community due to 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain falling between 5 AM and 7 AM EST, on top of 1.5 to 2.25 inches that had fallen since the evening of the 28th. Multiple water rescues occurred as several creeks rose out of their banks and either surrounded or entered homes. This includes a home along Lorton Lick Road that was flooded by Lorton Lick Creek, requiring the rescue of six occupants. Another home was flooded along Ellen Avenue, requiring the rescue of another six people. Several homes were flooded along Pinnacle Lake Road as Lick Branch rapidly overflowed its banks. In addition, flood waters caused a portion of Warden Avenue to collapse, making the road impassible.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Mercer County, West Virginia?
77 flash flood events are recorded in Mercer County between 1996 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Mercer County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Mercer County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Mercer County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Mercer County, West Virginia.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/west-virginia/mercer-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.