This alert expired on 20 May 2026 at 20:45 UTC. It is kept here as a record.
No stronger detection stands among the 167 recorded within 20 km of this point since 16 March 2026 — one other scored the same. Another comparable one was recorded here earlier the same day. 6 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NOAA reported: Tornado Warning issued May 20 at 4:19PM EDT until May 20 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
An estimated 46,838 people live within 50 km of this point.
Nearby, since 16 March 2026
- March 17, 2026 · score 34 · 11.0 km
- July 6, 2026 · score 34 · 12.8 km
How we know
One source: NOAA. Not yet confirmed by a second, independent source.
Our own score for this event is 58 out of 100, at 79 % confidence.
The score is ours, computed from intensity, exposed population and local history — not the source’s.
Computed under scoring rules v1. Rows carrying other versions were judged by different rules and are not directly comparable.
Event Data
| Type | Severe Weather |
| Severity | Critical |
| Calamity Score (ours) | 58 / 100 |
| Our confidence | 79% |
| Coordinates | 38.4560, -81.6440 |
| Nearest City | Charleston (12 km) |
| Population Exposed | 46.8K within 50 km |
| Impact Tier | significant |
| Timestamp | 2026-05-20T20:19:00.000Z |
| Source | https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.b6933ab53809224ee0f5ee736a757d2e2181bca7.002.1 |
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Event | Tornado Warning |
| Urgency | Immediate |
| Certainty | Observed |
| AreaDesc | Kanawha, WV |
| Headline | Tornado Warning issued May 20 at 4:19PM EDT until May 20 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV |
| Expires | 2026-05-20T16:45:00-04:00 |
| SenderName | NWS Charleston WV |
| HasExactCoords | true |
Safety Information
If a tornado warning is issued: go to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. A vehicle and a mobile home are not shelter. Cover your head and neck. Wait for the official all-clear before going outside, and watch for downed power lines and gas leaks afterwards.
Series begins 8 March 2026. Comparisons refer to that period only. Collection gap: 14-26 August 2026.
This data is aggregated algorithmically from scientific sources. Not a replacement for official emergency warnings.
Want to know when something happens near Charleston?
Calamity.live data shows a weather event with CalamityScore 58/100, near Charleston (United States), based on data from noaa. Source: Calamity.live, a platform aggregating real-time data from 185 scientific monitoring sources.