Alert archive / Ohio / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Cleveland, OH

March 26, 2026Knox County, Morrow County, Richland County, Ohio

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this tornado warning at Mar 26, 2026, 8:38 PM EDT for Knox County, Morrow County, Richland County, Ohio. It was in force for 52 min. 15 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 26, 2026, 8:38 PM EDT (00:38 UTC)
Expired
Mar 26, 2026, 9:30 PM EDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Knox County, OH, Morrow County, OH, Richland County, OH

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:41 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 26, 8:40 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGEdison, OHTrees down.
Mar 26, 8:41 PM EDTTORNADO2 Ene Mount Gilead, OHAn EF-1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 95 mph and a maximum width of 75 yards began northeast of Mount Gilead along US 42 near Home Road, causing extensive tree damage including multiple snapped and uprooted trees. The tornado continued southeast crossing
Mar 26, 8:42 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 Ne Cardington, OHTrees downed.
Mar 26, 8:42 PM EDTHAIL 0.885 Ssw Galion, OH
Mar 26, 8:42 PM EDTHAIL 0.885 Ssw Galion, OH
Mar 26, 8:43 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Nne Mount Gilead, OHTrees and powerlines down near Candlewood Lake.
Mar 26, 8:45 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Nnw Chesterville, OHSeveral trees down on two properties off of Township Road 96. Time estimated via radar.
Mar 26, 8:46 PM EDTHAIL 1.56 Ne Mount Gilead, OHdelayed report - 1.5 inch hail.
Mar 26, 8:48 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 E Mount Gilead, OHDamage to the roof of a building at Hidden Lakes Campground. A few branches also broken off at the campground.
Mar 26, 8:56 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGFredericktown, OHTree downed on a house near Fredericktown.
Mar 26, 8:56 PM EDTTORNADO4 Sw Fredericktown, OHA brief EF-0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 75 mph and a maximum width of 20 yards began just west of Granny Creek road southwest of Fredricktown. The tornado ripped off part of a metal roof of a barn and carried it southeast, with debris scattered across
Mar 26, 9:00 PM EDTHAIL 13 Sw Lexington, OHReport from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
Mar 26, 9:02 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Sse Fredericktown, OHSporadic trees down across Knox County. Most of the down trees were observed in Fredericktown and Mount Vernon. Time estimated via radar.
Mar 26, 9:04 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGMount Vernon, OHA few calls for downed trees and powerlines in the Mt Vernon area.
Mar 26, 9:04 PM EDTHAIL 13 S Butler, OH

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 26, 4:52 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 155 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 00:00Z on 2026-03-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 362 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2026-03-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 353 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
362 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-294 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1653 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
353 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
454 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

207 
WFUS51 KCLE 270038
TORCLE
OHC083-117-139-270130-
/O.NEW.KCLE.TO.W.0004.260327T0038Z-260327T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
838 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Richland County in north central Ohio...
  Morrow County in north central Ohio...
  Knox County in north central Ohio...

* Until 930 PM EDT.

* At 838 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Cardington, or near Mount Gilead, moving southeast
  at 65 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Chesterville and Sparta around 845 PM EDT.
  Mount Vernon and Fredericktown around 850 PM EDT.
  Gambier around 855 PM EDT.
  Utica around 900 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Fulton, North Liberty, Waterford, Marengo, Martinsburg, Bladensburg,
Shauck, Iberia, Edison, and Gann.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4024 8247 4027 8248 4027 8252 4037 8285
      4049 8300 4049 8296 4064 8295 4064 8286
      4071 8286 4072 8283 4058 8234 4056 8233
      4056 8229 4053 8218 4024 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 300DEG 58KT 4052 8288 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

03
3 follow-up statements
933 
WWUS51 KCLE 270100
SVSCLE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
900 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

OHC117-270109-
/O.CAN.KCLE.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260327T0130Z/
Morrow OH-
900 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR MORROW COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for north central
and northeastern Ohio.

LAT...LON 4024 8247 4027 8248 4032 8267 4036 8264
      4055 8264 4055 8262 4064 8254 4058 8234
      4056 8233 4056 8229 4053 8218 4024 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 280DEG 52KT 4052 8247 

$$

OHC083-139-270130-
/O.CON.KCLE.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260327T0130Z/
Richland OH-Knox OH-
900 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN RICHLAND AND KNOX COUNTIES...

At 859 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Fredericktown, or 9 miles north of Mount Vernon,
moving east at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Mount Vernon and Danville around 905 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include North
Liberty, Gann, Waterford, Martinsburg, Butler, and Bladensburg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4024 8247 4027 8248 4032 8267 4036 8264
      4055 8264 4055 8262 4064 8254 4058 8234
      4056 8233 4056 8229 4053 8218 4024 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 280DEG 52KT 4052 8247 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

03
228 
WWUS51 KCLE 270111
SVSCLE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
911 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

OHC139-270120-
/O.CAN.KCLE.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260327T0130Z/
Richland OH-
911 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN RICHLAND COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for north central
and northeastern Ohio.

LAT...LON 4024 8247 4027 8248 4041 8243 4055 8235
      4056 8229 4053 8218 4024 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 279DEG 51KT 4034 8235 

$$

OHC083-270130-
/O.CON.KCLE.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260327T0130Z/
Knox OH-
911 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
KNOX COUNTY...

At 910 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Gambier, or 7 miles southeast of Mount Vernon,
moving east at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Danville around 915 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Martinsburg, Gann, and Bladensburg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4024 8247 4027 8248 4041 8243 4055 8235
      4056 8229 4053 8218 4024 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 279DEG 51KT 4034 8235 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

03
852 
WWUS51 KCLE 270123
SVSCLE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
923 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

OHC083-270133-
/O.EXP.KCLE.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260327T0130Z/
Knox OH-
923 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN KNOX COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 930 PM
EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for north central
and northeastern Ohio.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Cleveland.

LAT...LON 4024 8247 4027 8248 4041 8243 4055 8235
      4056 8229 4053 8218 4024 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 0123Z 300DEG 58KT 4025 8214 

$$

03

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 26, 8:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEHolmes, Wayne28 min
Mar 26, 8:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford, Hancock, Huron, Marion, Morrow, Richland and 3 more54 min
Mar 26, 8:10 PM EDTTornado WarningCLEHolmes20 min
Mar 26, 8:11 PM EDTTornado WarningCLECrawford, Marion, Morrow, Wyandot34 min
Mar 26, 8:14 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE65 min
Mar 27, 11:17 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCLEHolmes, Wayne69 hr
Mar 27, 3:14 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningCLETrumbull20 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Ohio, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.