Scattered thunderstorms persisted during the evening hours along a cold front draped across northwest Ohio. These produced locally heavy rainfall.
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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 ILN wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms persisted during the evening hours along a cold front draped across northwest Ohio. These produced locally heavy rainfall.
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 Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 18, 9:12 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington OH 1012 PM EDT Thu May 18 2017 .SYNOPSIS... With an upper level ridge over the southeastern states, generally warm conditions are expected through the weekend, with occasional chances for showers and storms. A cold front will move into the region Sunday, providing a greater chance for precipitation, before drier and cooler conditions move into the area on Monday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... Scattered thunderstorms may linger overnight especially near a cold front draped across Northwest Ohio. Some of the storms may persist through tonight as the front sags southward, since models show CAPE decreasing but not disappearing in this humid airmass. Lows are forecast to remain well above normal, in the upper 50s north to upper 60s south. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... On Friday morning, a southward-moving cold front will be moving into the ILN CWA, with some level of model disagreement regarding the extent of its progression. This boundary will undercut the overall dome of higher theta-e through the low and mid levels, at least temporarily limiting the chances for precipitation in the northern half of the forecast area. Attention will turn to a weak 700mb shortwave moving into central Kentucky by morning, which should help to take advantage of whatever weak surface-based instability (and perhaps some elevated instability) remains in place early on Friday. Precipitation chances are thus expected to gradually increase from SW to NE over the course of the day, though mainly focusing on the southern two-thirds of the forecast area by afternoon, with the slightly cooler and more stable air to the north. There will certainly be a gradient in temperatures across the ILN CWA, which could help focus the convection, which (at its most in the south) will be in an environment with 1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE. With generally weak wind shear -- especially in the low levels) -- the severe threat will again be limited to isolated situations in the stronger storm cores. With the axis of the mid-level ridge ending up positioned over the forecast area by late evening into the overnight, chances for precipitation will again decrease, roughly coincident with the usual diurnal cycle as well. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Active weather pattern through the long term forecast period. Mid level shortwave and associated surface wave of low pressure to eject northeast into the Great Lakes Saturday. Surface frontal boundary which was stalled across the south will lift north as a warm front Saturday. This will keep a continued threat of showers and thunderstorms with the best chance west. In the warm sector expect Saturdays highs to range from 80 to 85. Surface wave tracks across the Great Lakes with associated cold front pushing east across the region Sunday. Model solutions generally a little quicker with the frontal passage. This will bring an enhanced chance for thunderstorms. Have continued likely pops with a period of categorical during the afternoon. With clouds and precipitation, temperatures will be a little cooler, with Sundays highs ranging from the mid 70s west to 80 east. A lingering chance of a post frontal rain shower Sunday night and then drying out Monday as surface high pressure providing a temporary dry period early next week. Cooler temperatures expected Monday with highs a little below normal, ranging from the upper 60s northwest to the lower 70s southeast. Jet energy to carve out mid/upr level low over the Mid MS Vly next week. ECMWF is deeper and further east, so pcpn onset a little delayed and lingers longer. GFS solution is less amplified and more progressive. Uncertainty increases with model solutions diverging on timing and amplitude of this system. Have chance pops developing Tuesday afternoon and across the region Wednesday. Have lingered chance pops into early Thursday and then diminish pops as the upper low is expected to shift east. Highs Tuesday will be close to normal with and generally 70 to 75, and then cooler Wednesday from the lower 60s nw to upper 60s se. Cool readings expected to continue next Thursday with highs in the mid and upper 60s. && .AVIATION /02Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Aviation will be affected by scattered thunderstorms developing in a persistently unstable airmass. TAF sites may not be directly impacted due to the low areal coverage of the thunderstorms, so went with VCTS. The bulk of the convective activity is expected to occur during daylight hours, with thunderstorms forecast to dissipate this evening within a couple hours of sunset. Thunderstorms will probably reform Friday afternoon, aided by forcing along a cold front dropping south into the unstable regime. Once again, the scattered nature of the storms, and model uncertainty, do not allow for precise timing of occurrence at any particular TAF site, so kept conditions VFR for this issuance. Later forecasts may be able to pinpoint convective elements and possible MVFR conditions based on latest radar and model data. Wind speeds will drop below 10 knots outside of thunderstorms, while direction will vary from southwest this evening, to southeast and east as the front works southward on Friday. OUTLOOK...Thunderstorms are possible Saturday through Sunday. MVFR ceilings are possible again on Sunday. && .ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...None. KY...None. IN...None. && SYNOPSIS...Hatzos NEAR TERM...Coniglio/Hatzos SHORT TERM...Hatzos LONG TERM...AR AVIATION...Coniglio
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington OH 831 PM EDT Thu May 18 2017 INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046- 051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-200045- Wayne-Fayette IN-Union IN-Franklin IN-Ripley-Dearborn-Ohio- Switzerland-Carroll-Gallatin-Boone-Kenton-Campbell-Owen-Grant- Pendleton-Bracken-Robertson-Mason-Lewis-Hardin-Mercer-Auglaize-Darke- Shelby-Logan-Union OH-Delaware-Miami-Champaign-Clark-Madison- Franklin OH-Licking-Preble-Montgomery-Greene-Fayette OH-Pickaway- Fairfield-Butler-Warren-Clinton-Ross-Hocking-Hamilton-Clermont-Brown- Highland-Adams-Pike-Scioto- 831 PM EDT Thu May 18 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for East Central Indiana, Southeast Indiana, Northeast Kentucky, Northern Kentucky, Central Ohio, Southwest Ohio and West Central Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
655 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
OHZ056-182330-
Licking OH-
655 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN LICKING COUNTY
UNTIL 730 PM EDT...
At 655 PM EDT, radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Hebron,
moving northeast at 40 mph.
STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Winds to 45 mph...
Locations impacted include...
Newark, Heath, Granville, Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Hanover, Granville
South, Marne, Harbor Hills, Toboso, Interstate 70 at State Route 13
and Fallsburg.
This includes I-70 in Ohio between mile markers 127 and 136.
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 3999 8220 3992 8240 3993 8242 3993 8251
4002 8262 4024 8221 4024 8218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 235DEG 33KT 3998 8250Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
709 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
OHZ055-065-182345-
Fairfield OH-Franklin OH-
709 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN AND
NORTHERN FAIRFIELD COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM EDT...
At 709 PM EDT, radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Pickerington, moving northeast at 55 mph.
STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Winds to 45 mph...
Very heavy rain...
Locations impacted include...
Columbus, Pickerington, Canal Winchester, Groveport, Baltimore,
Buckeye Lake, Millersport, Fairfield Beach, Royalton, Lithopolis,
Thurston, Carroll, Brice, Blacklick Estates and State Route 158 at
State Route 204.
Water will pond on roads and may quickly fill roadside ditches and
small streams.
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 3984 8247 3971 8281 3976 8283 3979 8282
3980 8284 3991 8289 3994 8271 3993 8251
3993 8246
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 235DEG 49KT 3985 8274Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
730 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
OHZ056-065-190000-
Licking OH-Fairfield OH-
730 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN FAIRFIELD AND
SOUTHEASTERN LICKING COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM EDT...
At 730 PM EDT, radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Millersport, moving east at 40 mph.
STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Winds to 45 mph...
Very heavy rain...
Locations impacted include...
Newark, Heath, Baltimore, Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Millersport,
Pleasantville, Hanover, Fairfield Beach, Harbor Hills, Marne,
Thornport, Thurston, Kirkersville, Gratiot, Fairfield County Airport,
Toboso, Brownsville, State Route 158 at State Route 204 and
Interstate 70 at State Route 37.
This includes I-70 in Ohio between mile markers 119 and 142, and near
mile marker 144.
Water will pond on roads and may quickly fill roadside ditches and
small streams.
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 3995 8220 3995 8223 3991 8223 3993 8246
3984 8247 3983 8240 3982 8242 3975 8267
3993 8272 4016 8219
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 251DEG 36KT 3989 8259Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
756 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
OHZ056-190015-
Licking OH-
756 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN LICKING COUNTY
UNTIL 815 PM EDT...
At 755 PM EDT, radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near Harbor
Hills, moving northeast at 35 mph.
STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Winds to 45 mph...
Very heavy rain...
Locations impacted include...
Heath, Hanover, Marne, Harbor Hills, Thornport, Gratiot, Toboso,
Interstate 70 at State Route 13 and Brownsville.
This includes I-70 in Ohio between mile markers 131 and 142, and near
mile marker 144.
Water will pond on roads and may quickly fill roadside ditches and
small streams.
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 3995 8220 3995 8223 3991 8223 3992 8240
3993 8245 4001 8248 4012 8219
TIME...MOT...LOC 2355Z 246DEG 30KT 3995 8237Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1016 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
OHZ034-035-044-190300-
Auglaize OH-Logan OH-Mercer OH-
1016 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN LOGAN...AUGLAIZE
AND CENTRAL MERCER COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...
At 1015 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms near Coldwater,
moving east at 45 mph.
STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Winds to 40 mph...
Very heavy rain...
Locations impacted include...
Celina, Wapakoneta, St. Marys, Coldwater, Fort Shawnee, Cridersville,
New Knoxville, Waynesfield, Chippewa Park, Moulton, Wabash, Buckland,
Uniopolis, Montezuma, Fryburg, St. Johns, Neptune, Bulkhead and New
Hampshire.
This includes I-75 in Ohio between mile markers 106 and 118.
Water will pond on roads and may quickly fill roadside ditches and
small streams.
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 4064 8411 4064 8388 4053 8388 4053 8386
4051 8386 4048 8423 4048 8434 4047 8434
4043 8480 4061 8480 4066 8415 4066 8411
TIME...MOT...LOC 0215Z 272DEG 41KT 4052 8469
ConiglioSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1036 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
OHZ026-190315-
Hardin OH-
1036 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN HARDIN COUNTY UNTIL
1115 PM EDT...
At 1035 PM EDT, radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near Belle
Center, moving east at 45 mph.
STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Winds to 40 mph...
Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning...
Very heavy rain...
Locations impacted include...
Kenton, Roundhead, Mount Victory, Ridgeway, Hepburn, Silver Creek,
Mentzer, Jumbo, Pfeiffer, Walton and State Route 195 at State Route
235.
Do not stay in the open or seek shelter under trees when lightning
threatens. Move indoors when a thunderstorm approaches.
Water will pond on roads and may quickly fill roadside ditches and
small streams.
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 4050 8342 4050 8352 4051 8356 4053 8388
4065 8388 4066 8342
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 272DEG 49KT 4056 8368
ConiglioThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor street flooding was reported on some county roads southeast of Kenton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, May 2017
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: 690940.