Alert archive / Ohio / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Wilmington, OH
NWS Wilmington, OH issued this flash flood warning at May 27, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT for Fairfield County, Franklin County, Licking County, Ohio. It was in force for 3 hr. 5 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
- May 27, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT (14:12 UTC)
- Expired
- May 27, 2026, 1:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Wilmington, OH
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Fairfield County, OH, Franklin County, OH, Licking County, OH
The radar
The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:16 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 10:49 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 3 Ese Urbancrest, OH | Jackson Pike closed from Dyer to Stringtown. |
| May 27, 11:04 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 3 S Bexley, OH | Video shows rushing water at Creeksedge Apartments. |
| May 27, 11:10 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 S Lincoln Village, OH | High water at Emerald Glen apartments breaching apartments. |
| May 27, 11:15 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Sse Downtown Columbus, OH | Video of moving water at Third and Willow. |
| May 27, 12:47 PM EDT | FLOOD | 2 Sse Bexley, OH | Basement flooding on Burnaby Road. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 4 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 37 minutes after it went out.
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, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 87 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 543 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 611 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 81 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.7
The text
As transmitted.
146
WGUS51 KILN 271412
FFWILN
OHC045-049-089-271715-
/O.NEW.KILN.FF.W.0013.260527T1412Z-260527T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1012 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Fairfield County in central Ohio...
Central Franklin County in central Ohio...
Southwestern Licking County in central Ohio...
* Until 115 PM EDT.
* At 1012 AM EDT, radar and automated rain gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
2 and 3.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts
of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible. Flash flooding is ongoing or
expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that may experience flash flooding include...
Columbus, Reynoldsburg, Grove City, Upper Arlington, Gahanna,
Pickerington, Bexley, Pataskala, Groveport, Ohio State University,
Summit Station, Beechwood Trails, Whitehall, Etna, Grandview
Heights, Obetz, Urbancrest, Valleyview, Marble Cliff and
Kirkersville.
Additional showers and thunderstorms are moving over an area which
already received between 2 to 3.5 inches of rainfall earlier this
morning.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
To report flash flooding, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and
submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3982 8324 3986 8325 3988 8325 3992 8323
4003 8298 4005 8281 4002 8254 3993 8260
3989 8278 3983 8311
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
$$
Aiena1 follow-up statement
269
WGUS71 KILN 271708
FFSILN
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
108 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
OHC045-049-089-271718-
/O.EXP.KILN.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260527T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Fairfield OH-Franklin OH-Licking OH-
108 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 115 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NORTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD, CENTRAL FRANKLIN AND SOUTHWESTERN LICKING
COUNTIES IN CENTRAL OHIO...
The heaviest rain has ended. A Flood Advisory remains in place
across the area. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT Thursday for
portions of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
&&
LAT...LON 3982 8324 3986 8325 3988 8325 3992 8323
4003 8298 4005 8281 4002 8254 3993 8260
3989 8278 3983 8311
$$
AienaWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 27, 6:55 AM EDT, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Periods of showers and embedded thunderstorms will occur into the early evening. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible. 2) An extended period of dry weather will occur from Thursday into at least the early next week with temperatures generally within a few degrees of normal.
Area forecast discussion, May 27, 6:55 AM EDT, 3 hours 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
655 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Periods of showers and embedded thunderstorms will occur into the
early evening. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible.
2) An extended period of dry weather will occur from Thursday into at
least the early next week with temperatures generally within a few
degrees of normal.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1)
Showers across the northern part of the forecast area are occurring
on the nose of a modest southwesterly low level jet. As the low level
jet curves off to the east, sheared out mid level energy will pass
across the region in confluent flow later this morning. This will
create a west to east zone for continue development of showers and
possibly some thunderstorms. Precipitable water is increasing to
1.6-1.8 inches and the warm cloud depth is around 3.5 km. This all
lead to the potential for locally heavy rain and possibly repeated
rounds of showers. 00Z HREF and REFS are in pretty good agreement
placing the maximum rainfall axis in proximity to the I-70 corridor.
A short wave approaching from the northwest will cause everything to
shift southeast through the afternoon with the possibility that some
activity could linger into the early evening in far southeast
counties. Convective allowing guidance does show streaks of heavier
precipitation during this time frame, generally in a west northwest-
east southeast orientation but there is more variability in the
location of these corridors. In addition, CAPE will increase to
1000-1500 J/Kg with 0-6 km shear of 20-25 kt. So a few stronger
storms could develop with wind being the primary hazard beyond the
heavy rainfall.
KEY MESSAGE 2)
An omega block will develop across North America for the latter part
of the week and into next week. Surface high pressure will prevail.
This will allow the region to dry out. Temperatures will generally be
within +/- 3 degrees of normal with some minor fluctuations from day
to day.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Generally IFR ceilings to start will lift to MVFR. Showers and
thunderstorms will move across the terminals. Have attempted to time
out windows with the greatest potential for thunder and/or additional
restrictions. The precipitation will move off to the southeast of all
the terminals by 22Z. After the showers and storms end, conditions
will become VFR as lower clouds lift and scatter with skies
eventually becoming clear. There is the potential for some shallow
fog at KLUK late in the period.
OUTLOOK...No significant weather expected.
&&
.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ042>046-051>056-060>065-
070>074-077>082-088.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ089>100.
IN...Flood Watch through late tonight for INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080.
&&
DISCUSSION...
AVIATION...Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 2:36 AM EDT, 7 hours 36 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington OH 236 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026 OHZ026-034-035-280645- Hardin-Mercer-Auglaize- 236 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ042>046-051>056-060>065- 070>074-077>082-088-280645- Wayne-Fayette-Union-Franklin-Ripley-Dearborn-Ohio-Switzerland- Carroll-Gallatin-Boone-Kenton-Campbell-Owen-Grant-Pendleton-Bracken- Robertson-Mason-Lewis-Darke-Shelby-Logan-Delaware-Miami-Champaign- Clark-Madison-Licking-Preble-Montgomery-Greene-Pickaway-Fairfield- Butler-Warren-Clinton-Ross-Hocking-Hamilton-Clermont-Brown-Highland- Adams-Pike-Scioto- 236 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Indiana, southeast Indiana, northeast Kentucky, northern Kentucky, central Ohio, south central Ohio, southwest Ohio and west central Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. In addition, a few strong to possibly severe storms could develop this afternoon with wind being the primary hazard. .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
Local storm report, May 27, 6:00 AM EDT, 4 hours 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
600 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0559 AM Flood 2 NE Urbancrest 39.92N 83.07W
05/27/2026 Franklin OH Dept of Highways
High water over Alkire Road at Harrisburg
Pike.
&&Local storm report, May 27, 7:31 AM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
731 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 AM Flood 3 E Urbancrest 39.90N 83.02W
05/27/2026 Franklin OH Broadcast Media
Two cars submerged up to their windows in
high standing water near Jackson Pike,
requiring water rescues.
&&Local storm report, May 27, 9:52 AM EDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
952 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0952 AM Flood 2 NW Fairborn 39.84N 84.04W
05/27/2026 Greene OH Trained Spotter
6-8 inches of standing water on Medway Road
just north of 235.
&&Local storm report, May 27, 9:54 AM EDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
954 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0907 AM Flood 1 SSW Enon 39.87N 83.94W
05/27/2026 Clark OH Broadcast Media
High water on Green Meadows Drive.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Wilmington, OH issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 4:05 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Franklin, Madison | 18 hr |
| May 27, 7:41 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Fairfield, Franklin, Licking | 17 hr |
| May 27, 8:21 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble | 6 hr |
| May 27, 9:19 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Champaign, Clark, Greene | 5 hr |
| May 27, 10:41 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Licking | 28 hr |
| May 27, 11:31 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ILN | Fairfield | 29 min |
| May 27, 11:49 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Hocking | 41 min |
| May 27, 11:51 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | ILN | Fairfield | 24 min |
| May 27, 12:09 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ILN | Fairfield | 18 min |
| May 27, 12:14 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Clark | 13 hr |
| May 27, 12:19 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ILN | Fairfield | 26 min |
| May 27, 1:16 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Fairfield, Franklin, Hocking, Pickaway | 9 hr |
| May 27, 1:54 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble | 7 hr |
| May 27, 2:08 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Champaign, Clark, Greene | 7 hr |
| May 27, 2:36 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Pickaway | 53 hr |
| May 27, 3:32 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Butler, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Warren | 6 hr |
| May 27, 3:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ILN | Hamilton | 29 min |
| May 27, 4:12 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ILN | Clermont | 33 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Ohio, 2026Every flash flood 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.