Temperatures on May 26th climbed into the upper 80s. An upper level disturbance then moved over the area causing showers and thunderstorms to develop.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS CLE wrote it up.
Temperatures on May 26th climbed into the upper 80s. An upper level disturbance then moved over the area causing showers and thunderstorms to develop. A few of the thunderstorms became severe with gusts over 60 mph.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 2:53 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY 353 PM EDT TUE MAY 26 2015 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN CENTERED OFF THE EAST COAST AND LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES THROUGH TONIGHT. A WEAKENING COLD FRONT WILL REACH NORTHWEST OHIO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL REGAIN CONTROL ACROSS THE REGION FOR THURSDAY AND THE FIRST PART OF FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACROSS WESTERN OHIO FROM LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWING A ROBUST SHORTWAVE OVER THE MIDWEST WHICH WILL MOVE INTO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES EARLY TONIGHT. INSTABILITY...ALBEIT NOT OVERLY IMPRESSIVE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WHERE CLOUD COVER HAS ERODED OVER WESTERN OHIO THIS AFTERNOON. COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN THIS AREA AS THE LEADING EDGE OF MOISTURE GRADIENT WORKS INTO THE AREA. SHEAR PROFILES SHOWING A DEEP AND WELL-MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER WITHIN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHICH MAY SUPPORT A MARGINAL SEVERE WIND THREAT THROUGH ABOUT MID EVENING BUT ONLY WITH SOME BETTER ORGANIZATION...POSSIBILITY WITH ANY DEVELOPING BOWING SEGMENTS. CONVECTIVE THREAT WILL LIKELY DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT ACROSS EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE AREA AS INSTABILITY WANES BUT THERE STILL COULD BE SOME LINGERING CONVECTION THROUGH THE NIGHT...AS IT APPEARS THE UPPER SYSTEM WILL TRY TO PULL ANOTHER WEAKER LOBE OF VORTICITY THROUGH THE REGION WHILE THE MID LEVEL COOL POOL SLIDES THROUGH SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES/OHIO VALLEY. TEMPERATURES WILL STAY MILD IN THE LOWER TO MID 60S AS A SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES AHEAD OF THE UPSTREAM COLD FRONT. THE REGION WILL REMAIN WELL WITHIN THE WARM SECTOR WEDNESDAY AHEAD OF APPROACHING COLD FRONT. CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL WILL LIKELY BE TIED TO THE DIURNAL CYCLE WITH WITH GREATEST COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON. PERSISTENCE IN THE THERMODYNAMIC PROFILES SUGGESTS SIMILAR INSTABILITY PARAMETERS AS TODAY WITH MLCAPE VALUES GENERALLY 1000-1500 J/KG. THE SURFACE BOUNDARY/WEAK COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO WORK THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON WHICH WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FORCING. SHEAR PROFILES LOOK A BIT WEAKER THAN TODAY THEREFORE SEVERE THREAT WILL BE RATHER LIMITED. IT WILL BE ANOTHER WARM DAY WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 80S. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... A POTENT SHORTWAVE WILL LIFT FROM NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN ACROSS EASTERN ONTARIO WEDNESDAY NIGHT...FORCING A SURFACE COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTHERN OHIO. EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO TRACK FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA ALONG/JUST AHEAD OF THE SURFACE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. WHILE INSTABILITY IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY DEEP WITH SFC-BASED CAPES RUNNING AROUND 1000J/KG...BULK SHEAR WILL BE AROUND 30KTS AND THERE WILL BE GOOD SFC CONVERGENCE/UPPER LEVEL FORCING TO FOCUS CONVECTION...SO EXPECT A MARGINAL SEVERE WIND THREAT ACROSS THE AREA. CONVECTION WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST WED NIGHT AS THE FRONT CROSSES THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE FRONT...PROVIDING WHAT SHOULD BE A MOSTLY SUNNY AND RAIN-FREE THE AREA ON THURSDAY. THE FAIR WEATHER SHOULD PERSIST THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE SURFACE HIGH SETTLES ACROSS THE NORTHEASTERN U.S. AND MID-ATLANTIC STATES. AS HIGH PRESSURE CONSOLIDATES OFF THE EAST COAST ON FRIDAY...RETURN FLOW WILL ONCE AGAIN TAKE HOLD ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND OHIO VALLEY. THIS WILL PUSH HIGHS BACK INTO THE MID 80S WITH SURFACE DEWPOINTS SURGING BACK INTO THE MID-60S. AS SUCH...WE MAY SEE ENOUGH INSTABILITY DEVELOP TO OVERCOME A FAIRLY WEAK CAP AND FIRE OFF A FEW SHOWERS AND PERHAPS A RUMBLE OF THUNDER OR TWO IN THE AFTERNOON...MAINLY WEST OF I-71 WHERE DEEPER MOISTURE/INSTABILITY WILL BE FOUND. THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA SHOULD REMAIN CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE DEPARTING RIDGE TO REMAIN DRY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. ANY CONVECTION SHOULD QUICKLY DISSIPATE AFTER SUNSET WITH THE LOSS OF DIURNAL INSTABILITY. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE A DRY...BUT STICKY SUMMER NIGHT ACROSS NORTHERN OHIO AS DEWPOINTS WILL REMAIN LOCKED IN THE MID-60S...KEEPING LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... CURRENT GUIDANCE IS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THAT THE COMING WEEKEND WILL BE UNSETTLED ACROSS MUCH OF THE BUCKEYE STATE AS A COLD FRONT DROPPING OUT OF THE UPPER GREAT LAKES ADVANCES ACROSS OHIO SATURDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. PREVIOUS GUIDANCE STALLED THE FRONT OUT ACROSS OHIO...HOWEVER 12Z RUNS HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN PUSHING THE FRONT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. FOR NOW...WILL STICK CLOSE TO CONTINUITY AND AT LEAST MAINTAIN CHANCE POPS ON SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. REGARDING TEMPERATURES...READINGS IN THE LOWER 80S SATURDAY WILL GIVE WAY TO COOLER READINGS IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S THROUGH THE REST OF THE PERIOD AS THE FRONT EITHER STALLS OUT...LEADING TO CLOUDY AND HENCE COOLER CONDITIONS...OR PUSHES COMPLETELY THROUGH...ALLOWING COOLER AND DRIER AIR TO ADVECT ACROSS THE REGION. LOWS SHOULD RUN IN THE UPPER 50S...NEAR TO OR JUST ABOVE CLIMATOLOGY. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AN ORGANIZED AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO WESTERN OHIO AFTER 20Z...SOME OF WHICH COULD PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOST LIKELY AT KTOL...WITH COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS DECREASING AS THIS AREA MOVES EAST THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE SOUTH TODAY AND WILL BE BREEZY WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 KNOTS AT SOME LOCATIONS INTO THE EARLY EVENING. SOME AREAS OF IFR CEILINGS COULD DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AS THE DEEPER MOISTURE STRIPS AWAY. .OUTLOOK...NON VFR POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY IN SCT SHRA AND TSRA...THEN RETURNING AGAIN ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. && .MARINE... SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE ON LAKE ERIE INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 KNOTS OVERNIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING IN THE OHIO WATERS OF LAKE ERIE...SOME OF WHICH COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST AND EAST ON THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND A WEAK COLD FRONT. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP AGAIN ON FRIDAY...SHIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST BEHIND A STRONGER COLD FRONT LATE SATURDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED FOR THE ONSHORE FLOW DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...NONE. NY...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...WFO BUF NEAR TERM...WFO BUF SHORT TERM...WFO BUF LONG TERM...WFO BUF AVIATION...WFO BUF MARINE...WFO BUF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH 501 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2015 LEZ142>148-162>168-OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-089- 270915- MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH- THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH- AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE LAKE OH-GENEVA- ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT-LUCAS-WOOD- OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-ERIE OH-LORAIN-CUYAHOGA-LAKE-GEAUGA-ASHTABULA INLAND- HANCOCK-SENECA-HURON-MEDINA-SUMMIT-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-WYANDOT-CRAWFORD- RICHLAND-ASHLAND-WAYNE-STARK-MAHONING-MARION-MORROW-HOLMES-KNOX- ASHTABULA LAKESHORE- 501 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE...NORTH CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST OHIO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY BE LOCALLY STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. LEZ061-149-169-PAZ001>003-270915- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO BUFFALO NY- CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-NORTHERN ERIE- SOUTHERN ERIE-CRAWFORD PA- 501 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:39 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by an automated sensor at the Findlay Airport.
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to be at least 60 mph. At least one large tree limb was downed.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Bowling Green.
Thunderstorm wind gusts snapped twelve utility poles southeast of Gibsonburg along Shade Road.
Thunderstorm wind gusts snapped twelve utility poles southeast of Gibsonburg along Shade Road.
Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees west of Gibsonburg along County Road 55.
Thunderstorm winds overturned a semi truck. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm winds overturned a semi truck on U.S. Highway 30 near Knauss Road just went of Bucyrus. A few trees and a couple utility poles were also toppled in the area. A couple parked vehicles sustained damage from flying debris. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm winds tore a section of roofing off of a auto parts store in Port Clinton. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
A trained spotter measured a 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust on Eastwood Avenue. Several large trees were reported downed in the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, May 2015
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 580549, 580553, 580552, 580554, 580555, 580556, 580550, 580551, 580558, 580562, 580576, 580566.