Alert archive / Ohio / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Charleston, WV

May 24, 2026Athens County, Meigs County, Ohio

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at May 24, 2026, 5:03 PM EDT for Athens County, Meigs County, Ohio. It was in force for 4 hr. 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 24, 2026, 5:03 PM EDT (21:03 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2026, 8:48 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Athens County, OH, Meigs County, OH

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:06 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 24, 6:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD6 Ene Wilkesville, OHHigh water reported on several roads across the western portion of the county. Time is estimated by radar.

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 one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 57 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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 139 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 2026-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 152 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 2026-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 66 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
152 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
582 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
93 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

876 
WGUS51 KRLX 242103
FFWRLX
OHC009-105-250100-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0007.260524T2103Z-260525T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
503 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern Athens County in southeastern Ohio...
  Northwestern Meigs County in southeastern Ohio...

* Until 900 PM EDT.

* At 503 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or
  expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  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 will experience flash flooding include...
  Athens, Albany, Carpenter, Harrisonville, Dyesville, Dexter and
  Salem Center.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3919 8227 3931 8219 3930 8199 3902 8219
      3903 8231 3920 8230

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

11
1 follow-up statement
843 
WGUS71 KRLX 250048
FFSRLX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
848 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026

OHC009-105-250058-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260525T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Athens OH-Meigs OH-
848 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN ATHENS AND
NORTHWESTERN MEIGS COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining
road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for portions of
northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and West
Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3919 8227 3931 8219 3930 8199 3902 8219
      3903 8231 3920 8230

$$

11

What 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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 24, 3:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) A waffling front in / near the area and mid-level waves will keep clouds, showers, and the chance for mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms, around through the balance of the Memorial Day weekend, as well as the first half of the upcoming work week. Rainfall could be locally heavy at times leading to flooding concerns, especially in areas that have recently received heavy rainfall. A Flood Watch for Flash Flooding has been issued for all but far northeast portions of the area through tonight to handle the current series of mid- level waves incoming.
  • 2) The chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms shifts southward Thursday through Friday, only to then possibly return northward again next weekend.
  • 3) Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the Memorial Day weekend and most of the upcoming short work week, before returning to near or slightly below normal on Friday into next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 3:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
335 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
With low Flash Flood Guidance west and heating east, issued a
Flood Watch for Flash Flooding for all but far northeast
portions of the area through tonight.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- 1) A waffling front in / near the area and mid-level waves
  will keep clouds, showers, and the chance for mainly afternoon
  and evening thunderstorms, around through the balance of the
  Memorial Day weekend, as well as the first half of the
  upcoming work week. Rainfall could be locally heavy at times
  leading to flooding concerns, especially in areas that have
  recently received heavy rainfall. A Flood Watch for Flash
  Flooding has been issued for all but far northeast portions of
  the area through tonight to handle the current series of mid-
  level waves incoming.

- 2) The chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening
  thunderstorms shifts southward Thursday through Friday, only
  to then possibly return northward again next weekend.

- 3) Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the
  Memorial Day weekend and most of the upcoming short work week,
  before returning to near or slightly below normal on Friday
  into next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Mid-level flat waves cross the area through tonight, ahead of a
mid/upper-level short wave trough axis, which crosses first
thing Monday morning. A weak surface boundary oozes into the
area from the west, sort of occluding a warm front over the
area, both boundaries oriented roughly north-south.

As for parameters integrated vertically through the column,
saturation through the column and limited daytime heating per
widespread cloud cover yield PW values in excess of 1.7 inches
and modest CAPE maximizing at around 500 to perhaps 1000 J/kg.
0-6/0-8 km bulk shear values range in the modest 30-40 kt range
with low level shear 20-30 kts can support stronger storms and,
at the very least, updrafts strong enough to leverage the high
moisture content into heavy downpours.

Rainfall has so far today been more closely tied to the mid-level
flat waves, but modest heating may also focus convective
initiation along the boundaries this afternoon and evening. The
Storm Prediction Center has the County Warning area in a general
thunderstorm outlook for today and tonight, while the Weather
Prediction Center has expanded their existing Slight Risk for
Excessive Rainfall over the middle Ohio Valley eastward into the
mountains, based on breaks in the cloud cover that have allowed
more heating there.

All in all, saturated ground and air, somewhat slow storm
motion, more than scattered precipitation coverage, and
increasing HREF/REFS probabilities of 3-hour Flash Flood
Guidance exceedance will contribute to the Flash Flood threat.
Flash Flood Guidance is lowest in the middle Ohio Valley,
particularly along and just west of the Ohio River, where 1 and
even 3 hour values are under an inch.

The short wave trough exiting Monday morning shifts the offshore
turns the mid/upper-level flow to the west to southwest, but
with the confluence zone between the northern and southern
streams over northern to central portions of the forecast area.
This allows another series of flat waves coming out of a
southern stream trough to move northeastward into the
confluence zone Monday, and then turn eastward through it
Monday night. With it and and lingering surface boundaries, the
potential for showers and mainly diurnally-driven thunderstorms
continues across mainly southern and central portions of the
area. All the rainfall will continue to need monitored for
possible excessive runoff through the end of the Holiday
weekend.

For Tuesday into Wednesday, the northern stream long wave trough
over eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. lifts
out, allowing the confluence zone to shift north. This allows
the moistere-laden air mass to shift northward, and what is
left of the southern stream short wave trough to traverse the
area. This, in turn, brings th heavy rainfall threat back
northward as well.

With relatively light flow associated with the southern stream,
the severe threat is low, and the Storm Prediction Center
carries a southward-shifting general thunderstorm outlook.

The Weather Prediction Center limits the Marginal Risk for Excessive
Rainfall to far southern portions of the area on Monday, before
shifting it northward again Tuesday through Wednesday.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

A northern stream short wave trough and then a northern stream
low amplify the east-coast long-wave trough again, in tandem
with long-wave ridging building northwest of the forecast area
late Wednesday through Friday. This drives a west to east
oriented surface cold front southward into, if not through, the
area Thursday into Friday, shunting the moisture-laden air
mass, and hence the chance for mainly diurnal showers and
thunderstorms southward and, by Friday, perhaps south of the
forecast area entirely.

There is uncertainty as to whether the northern stream lifts out
or stays in place next weekend. The current forecast brings the
chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening
thunderstorms back northward into the forecast area.

KEY MESSAGE 3...

Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend and into the upcoming short work week,
especially on lows, with highs somewhat muffled amid the active
weather pattern. Temperatures then trend at least back down to
normal at the end of the work week and into next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As showers become more widespread, ceilings lower to IFR and
visibility to IFR through this evening, already beginning in
portions of the middle Ohio Valley and in the mountains, and
then points in between. Thunderstorms are also possible through
this evening, but are not expected to be especially strong. IFR
conditions are likely under any thunderstorm.

In addition to IFR ceilings overnight, IFR visibility is
possible at times in heavier rain or fog. Monday will bring
improvement to VFR visibility, but only slow improvement on
ceilings, with IFR possibly improving to low MVFR by 18Z at
CKB, PKB and HTS.

Light south surface flow this afternoon will become light and
variable to calm tonight and Monday, amid multiple weak surface
boundaries in the area. Light to moderate southwest flow aloft
through tonight will become light northwest on Monday.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: CIGs and/or VSBY may oscillate from the
forecast depending on rainfall.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

UTC 1HRLY       18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05
EDT 1HRLY       14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    L    H    H    H    M    M    M
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    L    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    L
BKW CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    M    M    M    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    M
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z MONDAY...
IFR remains possible at times from Monday afternoon into at
least Wednesday, with mainly afternoon and evening showers
and/or thunderstorms, as well as overnight fog and/or low
stratus.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ005>011-013>020-
     024>031-033-034-039-515>522.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
     083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ003-004.

&&

DISCUSSION...TRM
AVIATION...TRM

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 24, 4:52 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
452 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026

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

0451 PM     Rain             1 NW Jackson            39.05N 82.64W
05/24/2026  M1.58 Inch       Jackson            OH   Trained Spotter

            Observed since 3 PM.

&&
Local storm report, May 24, 5:00 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
500 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026

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

0459 PM     Flood            1 SSE Junction City     39.71N 82.29W
05/24/2026                   Perry              OH   911 Call Center

            SR 668 is closed due to flooding.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 12:52 PM EDTFlood WatchRLXAthens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan and 3 more13 hr
May 24, 4:53 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXAthens, Morgan, Perry4 hr
May 24, 5:17 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton4 hr
May 24, 5:32 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGallia, Lawrence3 hr
May 24, 6:11 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGallia, Lawrence3 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.