Alert archive / Ohio / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 227, NWS Cleveland, OH

August 12, 2026Hancock County, Wyandot County, Ohio

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2026, 11:48 AM EDT for Hancock County, Wyandot County, Ohio. It was in force for 19 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 12, 2026, 11:48 AM EDT (15:48 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2026, 12:07 PM EDT
In force
19 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Hancock County, OH, Wyandot County, OH

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 161 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:49 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 163 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 589 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 102 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
589 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-173 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
925 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

628 
WUUS51 KCLE 121548
SVRCLE
OHC063-175-121630-
/O.NEW.KCLE.SV.W.0227.260812T1548Z-260812T1630Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1148 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Wyandot County in northwestern Ohio...
  Southern Hancock County in northwestern Ohio...

* Until 1230 PM EDT.

* At 1148 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Rawson, or
  near Bluffton, moving east at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Expect damage to 
           trees and power lines.

* Locations impacted include...
  Bluffton, Forest, Arlington, Rawson, Mount Blanchard, Wharton,
  Benton Ridge, Jenera, Mount Cory, Kirby, and Williamstown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4104 8388 4092 8330 4071 8349 4082 8350
      4082 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 1548Z 290DEG 33KT 4095 8379 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

23
2 follow-up statements
613 
WWUS51 KCLE 121604
SVSCLE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1204 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

OHC063-175-121630-
/O.CON.KCLE.SV.W.0227.000000T0000Z-260812T1630Z/
Wyandot OH-Hancock OH-
1204 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM EDT
FOR WEST CENTRAL WYANDOT AND SOUTHEASTERN HANCOCK COUNTIES...

At 1204 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Arlington, or
10 miles south of Findlay, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Expect damage to 
         trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
Forest, Arlington, Mount Blanchard, Wharton, Kirby, and Williamstown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4084 8374 4097 8366 4089 8333 4074 8346
      4074 8349 4082 8350 4082 8369
TIME...MOT...LOC 1604Z 290DEG 33KT 4090 8360 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

23
630 
WWUS51 KCLE 121607
SVSCLE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1207 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

OHC063-175-121617-
/O.CAN.KCLE.SV.W.0227.000000T0000Z-260812T1630Z/
Wyandot OH-Hancock OH-
1207 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL WYANDOT AND
SOUTHEASTERN HANCOCK COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 4084 8374 4097 8366 4089 8333 4074 8346
      4074 8349 4082 8350 4082 8369
TIME...MOT...LOC 1603Z 290DEG 33KT 4089 8356 

$$

23

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 12, 7:52 AM EDT, 3 hours 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Several rounds of showers and storms remain possible through Thursday night. Some showers and storms could be strong to severe in Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania this afternoon with gusty winds and large hail. Broader coverage of showers and storms are possible in Central Ohio on Thursday afternoon and evening; locally heavy rain and nuisance flooding is possible. 2) Showers and storms could return as early as Saturday afternoon. Rain coverage will increase into Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 7:52 AM EDT, 3 hours 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
752 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
There is a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather for
Northeast Ohio and Northwest PA today. Some showers and storms
could be strong to severe with gusty winds and large hail.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Several rounds of showers and storms remain possible through
Thursday night. Some showers and storms could be strong to
severe in Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania this
afternoon with gusty winds and large hail. Broader coverage of
showers and storms are possible in Central Ohio on Thursday
afternoon and evening; locally heavy rain and nuisance flooding
is possible.

2) Showers and storms could return as early as Saturday
afternoon. Rain coverage will increase into Sunday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
The northwest flow pattern aloft and stalled front to the
southwest will continue to dictate the weather across the area
through Thursday night. For today, a mid-level shortwave will
ripple through the northwest flow this afternoon. This will
support a surface trough the will move through the eastern Great
Lakes and flare up showers and storms in Northeast Ohio and
Northwest PA this afternoon and evening. With better lift in
this area and some instability, some storms could be stronger
with gusty winds and large hail, but any severe event would be
isolated. Further southwest, the shortwave will reinvigorate
showers and storms along the front in Indiana and Southwest
Ohio. Some of these could spread into Northwest and Central Ohio
this afternoon. Any afternoon and evening activity should
largely wipe out instability and any large development tonight,
but some stray showers may develop over and near the lake with
some isentropic lift over the area.

For Thursday into Thursday night, the front to the southwest
will try to lift north and get into Central Ohio, if not into
the southwest portions of the forecast area. One more shortwave
will ripple through the northwest flow aloft and allow for more
rain and storms to develop. Believe that any storms with any
bite to them will be southwest of the forecast area with the
better instability. However, any storms will have heavy rain and
the potential for localized flooding does exist. High pressure
will build from the northwest for Friday, pushing the front and
rain chances out of the area.

KEY MESSAGE 2...
The upper ridge over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys will recede
south a bit on Saturday into Sunday and allow for northwest flow
on the northeast side of the ridge. This will allow for a series
of shortwaves to move through the region starting as early as
Saturday afternoon with most impacts on Saturday night into
Sunday. These shortwaves will support shower and storm chances
across the area. There is a non-zero chance for strong to severe
storms on Sunday with a more organized surface low moving
through the eastern Great Lakes region. Temperatures ahead of
the low and Sunday convection could get into the mid 80s.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z Wednesday THROUGH Sunday/...
Fog will slowly burn off through mid morning, but cigs are
trending more pessimistic in much of the region through the
afternoon, so expanded the duration of MVFR cigs, except for
KERI which should be mainly VFR. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms will develop late this afternoon and evening. All
sites have the potential to see some brief rain, but maintained
the mentions at KTOL, KFDY, KMFD, KCLE, KCAK, and KYNG where
chances are highest. KERI may see a shower, but confidence was
too low for the TAF. Moving into tonight, VFR should dominate
until fog and mist start to form once again. Kept visibilities
in the MVFR to IFR range, but it is possible these will be
lowered as confidence increases.

Light and variable winds early this morning will become SW at
5-10 knots this afternoon and evening before turning light again
tonight.

Outlook...Non-VFR possible in showers and thunderstorms Thursday
into Thursday night. Non- VFR possible again in showers and
thunderstorms Saturday afternoon into Sunday.

&&

.MARINE...
Quiet conditions will continue on Lake Erie through Thursday as
the active frontal boundary slowly shifts south and high
pressure attempts to briefly build into the Great Lakes. SW
winds of 5-10 knots today will become light and variable tonight
and Thursday before turning NE and increasing to 5-15 knots by
Friday and Friday night as the high becomes better established.
Winds will back to E to SE Saturday and eventually turn S to SW
by Sunday as a warm front lifts north, with speeds increasing to
10-20 knots Sunday.'

Scattered thunderstorms could bring locally higher winds and
waves this evening and again this weekend.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...None.
PA...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Sefcovic
AVIATION...Garuckas
MARINE...Garuckas
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 12, 3:35 AM EDT, 8 hours 13 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
335 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

LEZ061-142>149-162>169-OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-
089-PAZ001>003-130745-
Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-
Reno Beach to The Islands OH-The Islands to Vermilion OH-
Vermilion to Avon Point OH-Avon Point to Willowick OH-
Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH-Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH-
Conneaut OH to Ripley NY-
Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay OH to Reno Beach OH beyond 5NM
offshoreline to US-Canadian border-
Reno Beach to The Islands OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
The Islands to Vermilion OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
Vermilion to Avon Point OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
Avon Point to Willowick OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the-
Lake OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-Canadian border-Geneva-on-the-
Lake to Conneaut OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-Canadian border-
Conneaut OH to Ripley NY beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-
Geauga-Ashtabula Inland-Hancock-Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-
Trumbull-Wyandot-Crawford-Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-
Marion-Morrow-Holmes-Knox-Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-
Southern Erie-
335 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie, north central
Ohio, northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

More showers and storms are possible across the area this afternoon
and evening. Some storms may approach strong to severe limits with
gusty winds and large hail. The best area for any stronger storm will
be Northeast Ohio and Northwest PA, but there is some potential for
all areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 12, 11:42 AM EDT, 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1142 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

OHZ017-027-121630-
Wyandot OH-Hancock OH-
1142 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL WYANDOT AND
SOUTHERN HANCOCK COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 PM EDT...

At 1141 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rawson, or near Bluffton, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Bluffton, Forest, Arlington, Rawson, Mount Blanchard, Wharton, Benton
Ridge, Jenera, Mount Cory, Kirby, and Williamstown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4107 8388 4090 8336 4078 8344 4079 8350
      4082 8351 4082 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 1541Z 292DEG 33KT 4097 8387

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

23

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cleveland, OH issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 11:42 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEHancock48 min
Aug 12, 4:51 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE84 min
Aug 12, 4:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLELake48 min
Aug 12, 5:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEAshtabula65 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Ohio, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.