Alert archive / Ohio / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 79, NWS Wilmington, OH
NWS Wilmington, OH issued this flash flood warning at Aug 20, 2026, 3:49 AM EDT for Fairfield County, Franklin County, Licking County, Ohio. It was in force for 4 hr. 13 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
- Aug 20, 2026, 3:49 AM EDT (07:49 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 20, 2026, 7:29 AM EDT
- In force
- 4 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), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 4:45 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Pataskala, OH | Water rescue on South Main Street in Pataskala. |
| Aug 20, 4:50 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 3 Se Beechwood Trails, OH | Water rescue in progress on Chevrolet Avenue Southwest. |
| Aug 20, 5:45 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Sw New Albany, OH | Water around 3 feet deep on Morse Road at US-62. |
| Aug 20, 6:00 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Wnw Kirkersville, OH | Water flowing across York Road just south of Refugee Road. Time estimated. |
| Aug 20, 6:00 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Pataskala, OH | Flooding along Creek Road in Harrison Township. Time estimated. |
| Aug 20, 6:00 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Pataskala, OH | High water along a portion of South Main Street. Time estimated. |
| Aug 20, 6:30 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Nw Kirkersville, OH | Road washed out on Beaver Run Rd between York Rd SW and Outville Rd SW. |
| Aug 20, 6:30 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Nw Kirkersville, OH | Culvert washed out on Beaver Run Road a half mile east of York Road. Time estimated. |
| Aug 20, 7:00 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 E Gahanna, OH | A local business near Rocky Fork was flooded by water. |
| Aug 20, 7:00 AM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Nnw Reynoldsburg, OH | Rushing water moving south on Reynoldsburg New Albany Road near Blacklick Circle. Several vehicles disabled in the flood waters. Time estimated. |
| Aug 20, 7:18 AM EDT | FLOOD | 2 Ene Summit Station, OH | Water over Columbia Road SW at Muddy Fork, to the east of Mink Street. |
| Aug 20, 7:21 AM EDT | FLOOD | 1 Wnw Pataskala, OH | Water over Broad Street at Muddy Fork west of Park Avenue. |
| Aug 20, 7:31 AM EDT | FLOOD | 1 Sw Hebron, OH | Water across the intersection of Hamilton Ave and Pence Street. |
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 12 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 56 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 00:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 110 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
- 192 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -14 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 864 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 126 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 135 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.4
The text
As transmitted.
272
WGUS51 KILN 200749
FFWILN
OHC045-049-089-201045-
/O.NEW.KILN.FF.W.0079.260820T0749Z-260820T1045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
349 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Fairfield County in central Ohio...
Eastern Franklin County in central Ohio...
Southwestern Licking County in central Ohio...
* Until 645 AM EDT.
* At 349 AM EDT, radar and automated rain gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
1.5 and 3.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts
of 0.5 to 2 inches 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, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington,
Worthington, Bexley, Granville, Pataskala, Groveport, Buckeye Lake,
Hebron, Minerva Park, Summit Station, Beechwood Trails, Easton,
Granville South and Ohio State University.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
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 3986 8280 3987 8302 4014 8302 4013 8276
4013 8258 4009 8252 3993 8248 3988 8265
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
$$
McGinnis2 follow-up statements
838
WGUS51 KILN 200843
FFWILN
OHC045-049-089-201145-
/O.EXT.KILN.FF.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260820T1145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
443 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Fairfield County in central Ohio...
Eastern Franklin County in central Ohio...
Southwestern Licking County in central Ohio...
* Until 745 AM EDT.
* At 443 AM EDT, Broadcast media reported flash flooding across the
warned area. Between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain have fallen.
Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are possible.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
flash flooding.
SOURCE...Broadcast media reported water rescues occurring in
Pataskala.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
* Some locations that may experience flash flooding include...
Columbus, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington,
Worthington, Bexley, Granville, Pataskala, Groveport, Buckeye Lake,
Hebron, Minerva Park, Summit Station, Beechwood Trails, Easton,
Granville South and Ohio State University.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
To report flash flooding, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and
submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3986 8280 3987 8302 4014 8302 4013 8276
4013 8258 4009 8252 3993 8248 3988 8265
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
McGinnis534
WGUS71 KILN 201129
FFSILN
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
729 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
OHC045-049-089-201139-
/O.CAN.KILN.FF.W.0079.000000T0000Z-260820T1145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Fairfield OH-Franklin OH-Licking OH-
729 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD, EASTERN FRANKLIN
AND SOUTHWESTERN LICKING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL OHIO HAS BEEN REPLACED
WITH A FLOOD WARNING...
Flash flooding has ended across the area, but flooding continues.
Therefore the flash flood warning has been replaced by a flood
warning. Please refer to that bulletin for more information.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM EDT for portions of
east central Indiana and Ohio.
&&
LAT...LON 3986 8280 3987 8302 4014 8302 4013 8276
4013 8258 4009 8252 3993 8248 3988 8265
$$
08What 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 Aug 20, 2:34 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Showers and embedded thunderstorms across the area will move off to the east this morning. Locally heavy rain remains possible. 2) Additional storms are expected on Saturday with another cold front sweeping through.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 2:34 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
234 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Showers and embedded thunderstorms across the area will move off
to the east this morning. Locally heavy rain remains possible.
2) Additional storms are expected on Saturday with another cold
front sweeping through.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1)
Showers will a few embedded thunderstorms continue to move across the
area. While more robust activity is generally progressive, it has
also been quite proficient given warm rain processes in a very moist
environment. Most of these showers and storms will be passing east of
the forecast area towards daybreak. Flood watch continues. Cannot
rule out a few spotty showers developing this afternoon.
KEY MESSAGE 2)
Mid level trough extending from Hudson Bay to the southern
Appalachians will become deeper as a substantial short wave drops
through the Great Lakes into the upper Ohio Valley on Saturday. This
will push a cold front through the area Saturday afternoon and
evening. Atmosphere is forecast to become moderately unstable, but
better shear is lagging the instability. If this remains the case,
then storm organization will be limited.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Showers and embedded thunderstorms will continue to move across the
region for the early part of the period. This will bring temporary
lower conditions. While not a certainty, it does appears that
moistening low levels will result in MVFR ceiling developing for a
period of time after 12Z. Expect lower clouds to diminish towards
18Z but a VFR deck will remain. These clouds will decrease towards
00Z.
OUTLOOK...MVFR to IFR ceilings and visibilities possible late tonight
into Friday morning. Thunderstorms possible Saturday afternoon and
evening.
&&
.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Flood Watch until 10 AM EDT this morning for OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-074.
KY...None.
IN...Flood Watch until 10 AM EDT this morning for INZ050-058-059.
&&
DISCUSSION...35
AVIATION...35Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 2:38 AM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington OH 238 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 INZ050-058-059-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-051>056-060>065-074-210645- Wayne-Fayette-Union-Hardin-Mercer-Auglaize-Darke-Shelby-Logan- Delaware-Miami-Champaign-Clark-Madison-Franklin-Licking-Preble- Montgomery-Greene-Pickaway-Fairfield-Hocking- 238 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Indiana, central 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. INZ066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ070>073-077>082-088-210645- Franklin-Ripley-Dearborn-Ohio-Switzerland-Carroll-Gallatin-Boone- Kenton-Campbell-Owen-Grant-Pendleton-Bracken-Robertson-Mason-Lewis- Butler-Warren-Clinton-Ross-Hamilton-Clermont-Brown-Highland-Adams- Pike-Scioto- 238 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Indiana, northeast Kentucky, northern Kentucky, south central Ohio and southwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Showers and embedded thunderstorms may produce locally heavy rainfall that could lead to isolated flooding early this morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 20, 2:16 AM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
216 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 AM Flash Flood 3 E Kettering 39.70N 84.11W
08/20/2026 Montgomery OH 911 Call Center
Unoccupied car floating down Gracemore
Avenue.
0140 AM Flash Flood Camden 39.63N 84.65W
08/20/2026 Preble OH Emergency Mngr
Multiple water rescues ongoing in Camden.
0135 AM Flood 3 E Kettering 39.69N 84.12W
08/20/2026 Montgomery OH Broadcast Media
One foot of water covering all of Pobst
Drive.
&&Local storm report, Aug 20, 2:19 AM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
219 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 AM Flash Flood 1 ESE Kettering 39.69N 84.15W
08/20/2026 Montgomery OH 911 Call Center
Unoccupied car stuck on Ackerman Blvd near
East Stroop Road.
&&
nmLocal storm report, Aug 20, 2:24 AM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Corrected
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
224 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 AM Flash Flood Camden 39.63N 84.65W
08/20/2026 Preble OH Emergency Mngr
Multiple water rescues occurring on Terry
Court in Camden.
&&
nmLocal storm report, Aug 20, 2:42 AM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
242 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 AM Flash Flood Camden 39.63N 84.64W
08/20/2026 Preble OH Public
Water rescues occurring on North Shawnee
Plains Court near Sevenmile Creek.
&&
nmLocal storm report, Aug 20, 3:34 AM EDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
334 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 AM Flash Flood 3 ENE Kettering 39.70N 84.12W
08/20/2026 Montgomery OH 911 Call Center
A few evacuations occurred on Sudbury Drive
due to high water along Little Beaver Creek.
&&
nmSpecial weather statement, Aug 20, 3:41 AM EDT, 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
341 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
INZ066-073-074-200830-
Ripley IN-Franklin IN-Dearborn IN-
341 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN FRANKLIN...
RIPLEY AND DEARBORN COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM EDT...
At 341 AM EDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Greensburg to 8 miles east of Vernon, moving east
at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Batesville, Lawrenceburg, Greendale, Aurora, Bright, Hidden Valley,
Versailles, Milan, Osgood, Oldenburg, Moores Hill, Guilford,
Wilmington, Logan, Manchester, Sunman, St. Leon, Holton, West
Harrison, and Napoleon.
This includes the following Interstates...
I-74 in Indiana between mile markers 145 and 171.
I-74 in Ohio near mile marker 0.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a sturdy building.
To report hazardous weather conditions, go to our website at
weather.gov/iln and submit your report via social media, when you can
do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3920 8544 3927 8530 3939 8529 3939 8482
3911 8482 3908 8486 3906 8489 3899 8544
TIME...MOT...LOC 0741Z 277DEG 35KT 3932 8546 3902 8545
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
McGinnisThe office that day
Everything else NWS Wilmington, OH issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 8:22 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Shelby | 18 hr |
| Aug 19, 8:49 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Auglaize, Logan, Shelby | 18 hr |
| Aug 19, 10:38 PM EDT | River Flood Advisory | ILN | Delaware, Franklin | 11 hr |
| Aug 19, 11:05 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Preble | 3 hr |
| Aug 19, 11:50 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILN | Preble | 4 hr |
| Aug 20, 12:16 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Greene, Montgomery | 69 min |
| Aug 20, 1:14 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Butler, Warren | 5 hr |
| Aug 20, 1:24 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILN | Greene, Montgomery | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 1:50 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Clark, Fayette, Greene, Madison | 2 hr |
| Aug 20, 2:29 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Licking, Madison and 1 more | 113 min |
| Aug 20, 3:54 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Greene, Montgomery | 14 hr |
| Aug 20, 4:11 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Clark, Fayette, Greene, Madison | 9 hr |
| Aug 20, 4:13 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Preble | 10 hr |
| Aug 20, 4:22 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Madison, Pickaway | 14 hr |
| Aug 20, 4:24 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ILN | Hamilton | 36 min |
| Aug 20, 4:37 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Greene, Warren | 19 hr |
| Aug 20, 5:27 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Licking | 14 hr |
| Aug 20, 5:32 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILN | Auglaize, Hardin, Logan, Shelby, Union | 4 hr |
| Aug 20, 5:47 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Pickaway | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 5:54 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Butler | 6 hr |
| Aug 20, 6:06 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Licking | 54 hr |
| Aug 20, 6:09 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ILN | Licking | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 6:19 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Butler, Greene, Montgomery, Preble, Warren | 4 hr |
| Aug 20, 6:51 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Licking | 57 hr |
| Aug 20, 7:14 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Franklin | 4 hr |
| Aug 20, 7:29 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking | 11 hr |
| Aug 20, 7:46 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Licking | 8 hr |
| Aug 20, 8:25 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Licking, Pickaway | 11 hr |
| Aug 20, 9:04 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Licking | 11 hr |
| Aug 20, 9:12 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Auglaize, Hardin, Logan | 6 hr |
| Aug 20, 9:27 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Pickaway | 61 hr |
| Aug 20, 9:59 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Hocking | 14 hr |
| Aug 20, 10:45 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Licking | 13 hr |
| Aug 20, 11:15 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ILN | Hamilton | 9 hr |
| Aug 20, 6:12 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ILN | Fairfield, Licking | 43 hr |
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.