Alert archive / Ohio / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Wilmington, OH

May 27, 2026Fairfield County, Ohio

NWS Wilmington, OH issued this tornado warning at May 27, 2026, 11:51 AM EDT for Fairfield County, Ohio. It was in force for 24 min. 1 report 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, 11:51 AM EDT (15:51 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, OH
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

County Fairfield County, OH

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:51 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 27, 12:02 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 W Pleasantville, OH5-6 inch branches down on Pleasantville Road. Time estimated from RADAR.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 19, 8:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC38 days

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 120 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 2026-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 543 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 2026-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

044 
WFUS51 KILN 271551
TORILN
OHC045-271615-
/O.NEW.KILN.TO.W.0009.260527T1551Z-260527T1615Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1151 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Fairfield County in central Ohio...

* Until 1215 PM EDT.

* At 1150 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a 
  tornado was located over Pleasantville, moving southeast at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Lancaster, Baltimore, Bremen, Millersport, Pleasantville, Thurston,
  Rushville, West Rushville, North Berne, and Dumontville.

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.

To report severe weather, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and
submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3967 8248 3979 8265 3990 8257 3988 8247
      3984 8247 3983 8240 3975 8240 3974 8238
TIME...MOT...LOC 1550Z 298DEG 17KT 3982 8257 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Aiena

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 27, 6:55 AM EDT, 4 hours 56 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, 4 hours 56 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, 9 hours 15 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, 10:55 AM EDT, 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1055 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1049 AM     Flash Flood      3 ESE Urbancrest        39.89N 83.03W
05/27/2026                   Franklin           OH   911 Call Center

            Jackson Pike closed from Dyer to Stringtown.

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 11:24 AM EDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1124 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1115 AM     Flash Flood      1 SSE Downtown Columbus 39.95N 82.99W
05/27/2026                   Franklin           OH   Broadcast Media

            Video of moving water at Third and Willow.

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 11:30 AM EDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1130 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 AM     Flood            1 ESE Brookville        39.83N 84.39W
05/27/2026                   Montgomery         OH   Trained Spotter

            High water on Brooke Woode Drive.

&&
Special weather statement, May 27, 11:31 AM EDT, 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1131 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

OHZ056-065-271600-
Licking OH-Fairfield OH-
1131 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTHERN FAIRFIELD
AND SOUTHWESTERN LICKING COUNTIES THROUGH NOON EDT...

At 1131 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Baltimore,
moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph and very heavy rain.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Visibility will be poor and hydroplaning
         is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Lancaster, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Pataskala, Canal Winchester,
Baltimore, Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Millersport, Pleasantville,
Fairfield Beach, Harbor Hills, Etna, Thurston, Kirkersville, Carroll,
Fairfield County Airport, State Route 158 at State Route 204,
Interstate 70 at State Route 37, and Dumontville.

This includes I-70 in Ohio between mile markers 114 and 130.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a sturdy building.

Motorists should slow down and use extra caution.

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 3993 8245 3993 8246 3984 8247 3971 8248
      3978 8278 3998 8276 3996 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 1531Z 278DEG 14KT 3988 8267

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...45 MPH
Local storm report, May 27, 11:38 AM EDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1138 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1104 AM     Flash Flood      3 S Bexley              39.93N 82.93W
05/27/2026                   Franklin           OH   Public

            Video shows rushing water at Creeksedge
            Apartments.

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 11:51 AM EDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1151 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1110 AM     Flash Flood      2 S Lincoln Village     39.93N 83.13W
05/27/2026                   Franklin           OH   Public

            High water at Emerald Glen apartments
            breaching apartments.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 27, 4:05 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILNFranklin, Madison18 hr
May 27, 7:41 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILNFairfield, Franklin, Licking17 hr
May 27, 8:21 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILNClark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble6 hr
May 27, 9:19 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILNChampaign, Clark, Greene5 hr
May 27, 10:12 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningILNFairfield, Franklin, Licking3 hr
May 27, 10:41 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningILNFairfield, Licking28 hr
May 27, 11:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILNFairfield29 min
May 27, 11:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNFairfield, Hocking41 min
May 27, 12:09 PM EDTTornado WarningILNFairfield18 min
May 27, 12:14 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningILNClark13 hr
May 27, 12:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILNFairfield26 min
May 27, 1:16 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILNFairfield, Franklin, Hocking, Pickaway9 hr
May 27, 1:54 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningILNClark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble7 hr
May 27, 2:08 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningILNChampaign, Clark, Greene7 hr
May 27, 2:36 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningILNPickaway53 hr
May 27, 3:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILNButler, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Warren6 hr
May 27, 3:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILNHamilton29 min
May 27, 4:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILNClermont33 min

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.