Thunderstorms developed during the evening hours and continued into the overnight hours as a low pressure system moved through the Ohio Valley.
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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.
Thunderstorms developed during the evening hours and continued into the overnight hours as a low pressure system moved through the Ohio Valley.
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 Jun 17, 8:50 PM EST, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
950 PM EDT Wed Jun 17 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Expanded flood watch.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) A deep low pressure system brings the chance for severe
thunderstorms, flash flooding, and gusty winds overnight.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1)
Showers and embedded thunderstorms continue to move across the area.
Severe thunderstorms are expected to move across the area overnight.
There is quite a bit of shear in addition to strong winds with this
system and therefore damaging winds and tornadoes will be a threat.
In addition, given a somewhat west to east orientation there will be
the potential for flash flooding as well and did some expansion of
the flood watch for flash flooding as well. Gusty winds will be
possible outside of thunderstorms and also during the day on Thursday
as well.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Rain showers with some embedded thunderstorms will continue to move
across the region this evening. During the overnight hours a broken
line of storms is expected to move through the TAF sites. Have tempo
IFR conditions along with thunderstorms and gusty winds. Went with
wind gusts around 35 to 40 knots as the storms move through, however
there is the potential for some higher gusts. Wind gusts are also
expected at times overnight outside of thunderstorms as well. LLWS is
expected too overnight.
Thunderstorms will move out of the TAF sites by morning and there
will be a brief decrease in winds although not expecting them to go
calm. Winds will pick up during the day on Thursday with additional
wind gusts. Cu are expected in addition to some mid and high clouds
on Thursday. Some scattered shower activity during the afternoon is
also possible.
OUTLOOK...Thunderstorms possible Sunday and Monday.
&&
.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for OHZ042-051-053-060>062-070-
071-077>079-081.
KY...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for KYZ089>099.
IN...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-
080.
&&
DISCUSSION...08/04
AVIATION...08Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington OH 929 PM EDT Wed Jun 17 2026 KYZ100-OHZ026-034-035-043>046-052-054>056-063>065-072>074-080-082- 088-190130- Lewis-Hardin-Mercer-Auglaize-Shelby-Logan-Union-Delaware-Champaign- Madison-Franklin-Licking-Fayette-Pickaway-Fairfield-Clinton-Ross- Hocking-Highland-Pike-Scioto- 929 PM EDT Wed Jun 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, central Ohio, south central Ohio, southwest Ohio and west central Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Severe thunderstorms will be possible overnight. Damaging wind is the primary threat. However, localized flash flooding and isolated tornadoes are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely overnight. INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>099-OHZ042-051-053-060>062-070- 071-077>079-081-190130- Wayne-Fayette-Union-Franklin-Ripley-Dearborn-Ohio-Switzerland- Carroll-Gallatin-Boone-Kenton-Campbell-Owen-Grant-Pendleton-Bracken- Robertson-Mason-Darke-Miami-Clark-Preble-Montgomery-Greene-Butler- Warren-Hamilton-Clermont-Brown-Adams- 929 PM EDT Wed Jun 17 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Indiana, southeast Indiana, northern Kentucky, south central Ohio, southwest Ohio and west central Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Severe thunderstorms will be possible overnight. Damaging wind is the primary threat along with the possibility for a few tornadoes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely overnight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1138 PM EDT Wed Jun 17 2026
INZ073-180415-
Ripley IN-
1138 PM EDT Wed Jun 17 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF RIPLEY COUNTY
THROUGH 1215 AM EDT...
At 1138 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles northeast
of Vernon, moving east at 35 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...
Versailles, Milan, Osgood, Holton, Friendship, Versailles Lake, Cross
Plains, Rexville, Otter Village, Benham, Olean, and New Marion.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a sturdy building.
Motorists should slow down and use extra caution.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 500 AM EDT for southeastern
Indiana.
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 3916 8544 3919 8509 3893 8514 3893 8520
3892 8520 3893 8545
TIME...MOT...LOC 0338Z 279DEG 32KT 3905 8544
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...45 MPH
HatzosThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:58 UTC.
4 tornado, 3 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several utility poles were snapped and wires were downed.
A large outdoor pool and wooden deck sustained significant damage.
The first damage produced by the tornado occurred on Texas Gas Road, where a large tree was uprooted and other smaller trees were downed. Farther east along Cole Lane, an attached garage was destroyed and a large tree was downed onto a house. In addition, a roof was lifted from another garage and several trees were snapped at their trunks.
The tornado strengthened and proceeded east near East Laughery Creek Road, where it completely destroyed a house and two outbuildings. Debris from these buildings was strewn east along the path of the tornado across a large field. Based on this damage, estimated wind speeds were around 130 mph in this area, and the damage also resulted in a Tornadic Debris Signature on the Wilmington, Ohio radar at this time.
The tornado continued toward Alta Vista Ave, where a large number of hardwood trees were snapped. The tornado then moved across Laughery Creek and into Switzerland County at 2317EST, about 2.8 miles southeast of Dillsboro. The tornado continued east across Ohio County, eventually moving into Boone County, Kentucky, before dissipating at 2326EST, just across the Ohio River near Belleview Road.
The tornado developed in Dearborn County at 2314EST on Texas Gas Road, about 4 miles east of Dillsboro. It moved east and crossed Laughery Creek as it entered Ohio County at 2317EST, about 2.8 miles southeast of Dillsboro. The tornado then moved across Laughery Creek, producing significant tree damage along and near Laughery Creek and in wooded areas along Hartford Pike, where numerous trees were snapped. Along Holmes Hill Road, more tree damage was observed along with the roof being lifted off an outbuilding. On Thuermer Hollow Road, more trees were damaged and a roof was lifted off a barn. Along State Route 56, additional roof damage to a barn and damage to large healthy trees were noted. Farther east on the Indiana side of the Ohio River, numerous trees were knocked down at a campground. The tornado crossed the Ohio River and entered into Boone County, Kentucky at 2325EST before it dissipated at at 2326EST, just across the Ohio River along Belleview Road.
High water was rushing near Hillforest House Museum.
The first evidence of tornado damage occurred along Gobblers Knob Road, where some trees were damaged. Additional damage was found on Seeley Road, where large tree limbs were knocked down. The tornado moved east, producing more tree damage along Johnson Fork Road. The tornado strengthened as it moved into Drewersburg, producing more significant tree damage along Welsh Drive and Drewersburg Road. One single family home along Welsh Road had its roof completely lifted off with collapse of some exterior walls.
Winds that produced this damage were estimated to be around 125 mph, which corresponds to an EF-2 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornado continued east, where a roof was lifted off of a home on Drewersburg Road.
The tornado curved southeast as it moved onto State Line Road, blowing some large tree limbs down. The tornado weakened to EF-0 intensity as it moved into Butler County, Ohio, at 0030EST, about a half mile north of Drewersburg. The tornado continued southeast into Butler County, Ohio, before dissipating at 0033EST near Schradin Road, five miles northeast of Harrison, Ohio.
Several roads in the Friendship area were impassible due to high water.
Bullfork Road was closed due to rushing water from Bull Fork Creek.
The first sign of tornadic damage was just east of Patton Hollow Road where numerous trees were damaged. The tornado continued southeast, with notable damage at two properties located off of East State Route 56. Several large, hardwood trees were uprooted and/or snapped at the base. Additionally, both of these homes observed a substantial loss of roofing materials, as well as damage to their wooden porches.
The tornado crossed the Ohio River, moving into Carroll County, Kentucky at 0246EST, about 2.2 miles east-northeast of Lamb. The tornado moved southeast and eventually ended at 0256EST, along Ghent Eagle S., Briar Fork, and Indian Creek Roads, about two miles west of Sanders.
Numerous roads were closed due to high water, with high water rushing along South County Road 400 East, just south of U.S. Route 50.
Road flooding was reported along South Cave Hill Road near South County Road 350 East along Laughery Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Indiana, 2026Warnings in Indiana, June 2026
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: 1339282, 1339283, 1339290, 1339298, 1343143, 1340872, 1343148, 1343145, 1340874, 1343146, 1343147.