Ohio, 2026

Strong Wind in Ohio, February 20, 2026

February 20, 2026 · NWS RLX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Strong winds were observed across multiple locations in southeast Ohio on February 20th as they accompanied a cold front. The initial burst of winds arrived in the late morning timeframe with the frontal passage, and continued to be breezy to strong through the day as stronger winds from aloft mixed down to the surface.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.

Strong winds were observed across multiple locations in southeast Ohio on February 20th as they accompanied a cold front. The initial burst of winds arrived in the late morning timeframe with the frontal passage, and continued to be breezy to strong through the day as stronger winds from aloft mixed down to the surface. The strongest winds in the area measured that day was reported from an AWOS observation site in the town of Jackson with a 47 mile per hour gust noted around the time of the front's passage. Several trees were blown down in the midst of these stronger winds as a result. High pressure building in from the west helped to ease the stronger winds just before midnight that evening.

What forecasters said that day

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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 20, 6:31 AM EST, 4 hours 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Strong thunderstorms remain possible through the early morning hours, with locally heavy rainfall also leading to flood concerns across portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and West Virginia.
  • 2) Gusty winds develop across the area today.
  • 3) A system brings colder weather and an opportunity for accumulating snow late Saturday night into Monday.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 20, 6:31 AM EST, 4 hours 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
631 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Increasing potential of accumulating snow with a system late
this weekend into early next week.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Strong thunderstorms remain possible through the early
  morning hours, with locally heavy rainfall also leading to
  flood concerns across portions of northeast Kentucky,
  southeast Ohio, and West Virginia.

- 2) Gusty winds develop across the area today.

- 3) A system brings colder weather and an opportunity for
  accumulating snow late Saturday night into Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Rain showers and thunderstorms are currently progressing through the
area, with additional activity approaching from the south and west
in advance of a cold front. In addition to the ongoing potential for
scattered strong to severe storms, locally heavy rainfall raises
concerns over flooding. Areas at greatest risk of flooding are those
that already received heavy rain yesterday, and portions of the
northeast mountains where additional moisture may be contributed by
snow melt. Therefore, a Flood Watch remains in effect for portions
of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and West Virginia this
morning.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to taper off from west to
east as a cold front sweeps through the area later this morning,
bringing an end to both the severe and flood threats.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

Gusty winds are expected to accompany a cold front across the area
this morning, with breezy conditions then anticipated to continue as
stronger winds aloft mix down to the surface during the day. The
majority of the area is projected to see gusts of 25 to 40 mph,
though locally stronger gusts may be possible along the higher
ridges of the northeast mountains. Confidence in reaching Wind
Advisory criteria is low enough to forego issuance, though an SPS
may be needed later this morning.

KEY MESSAGE 3...

This weekend, one area of low pressure will be present over the
Great Lakes while another low tracks across the southeast US towards
the Atlantic. This second system is then projected to intensify as
it rides north along the Mid-Atlantic Coast early next week.

Moisture is projected to increase late Saturday night into Sunday,
with an initial mix of rain and snow expected to turn to all snow as
an upper trough ushers colder air into the area Sunday morning.
Although the system begins to pull away from the area late Sunday
night, a feed of moisture from the Great Lakes sustains potential
for light snow showers through Monday.

Highest confidence in receiving four or more inches of snow exists
in and near the WV mountains, with lesser amounts expected to the
south and west. Confidence is also increasing in the need for a
Winter Storm Watch for the northeast mountains and adjacent
foothills.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...

MVFR to IFR restrictions will improve as precipitation exits to
the east, and skies clear behind a cold front this morning. Area
wide VFR is then expected for the rest of the day.

West to southwest winds should strengthen during the day, with
25 to 35 kt gusts possible across the area this afternoon.
Winds will ease overnight, becoming light early Saturday
morning.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY...

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of improvement to VFR may vary from
the forecast. Gusty winds may fluctuate.

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       11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22
EST 1HRLY       06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17
CRW CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    L    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 12Z SATURDAY...
IFR conditions possible in snow and low ceilings, particularly
across the mountains from Saturday night through Sunday, possibly
Monday too.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch until 7 AM EST this morning for WVZ005>008-013>020-
     026>032-039-040-517>526.
OH...Flood Watch until 7 AM EST this morning for OHZ086-087.
KY...Flood Watch until 7 AM EST this morning for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...20

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 20, 7:56 AM EST, 3 hours 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
756 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

1220 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 ENE Kenna             38.72N 81.56W
02/20/2026                   Jackson            WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down with power lines involved blocking
            Stone Lick Rd. Time estimated by radar.

&&

ABE
Local storm report, Feb 20, 7:58 AM EST, 3 hours 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
758 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

0540 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SSW Clintwood         37.10N 82.48W
02/20/2026                   Dickenson          VA   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking Rockhouse Rd.

&&

ABE
Local storm report, Feb 20, 8:34 AM EST, 2 hours 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
834 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

0800 AM     Flood            3 E Chapmanville        37.97N 81.96W
02/20/2026                   Logan              WV   Dept of Highways

            Garretts Fork Rd closed due to high water.

&&

ABE
Local storm report, Feb 20, 8:53 AM EST, 2 hours 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
853 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

0623 PM     Hail             5 S Kenna               38.60N 81.64W
02/19/2026  E1.25 Inch       Jackson            WV   Broadcast Media

&&

ABE
Local storm report, Feb 20, 9:10 AM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
910 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

0655 PM     Hail             3 ESE Spencer           38.79N 81.29W
02/19/2026  E1.75 Inch       Roane              WV   Dept of Highways

&&

ABE
Local storm report, Feb 20, 9:16 AM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
916 AM EST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

0720 PM     Hail             Grantsville             38.92N 81.09W
02/19/2026  E1.75 Inch       Calhoun            WV   Dept of Highways

&&

ABE

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Athens

When
February 20, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Athens forecast zone
Measured
40 kt (46 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
39.334, -82.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Jackson

When
February 20, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Measured
41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
39.020, -82.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Lawrence

When
February 20, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
38.599, -82.537 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Ohio in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, February 2026

Sources

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: 1318535, 1318536, 1318537.