A line of thunderstorms swept across Lake Erie during the afternoon and evening of Monday, May 18, 2026. Several severe thunderstorms within this line generated thunderstorm wind damage and wind gusts across Northern Ohio.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
A line of thunderstorms swept across Lake Erie during the afternoon and evening of Monday, May 18, 2026. Several severe thunderstorms within this line generated thunderstorm wind damage and wind gusts across Northern Ohio.
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 18, 2:19 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cleveland OH 319 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... The Slight Risk for Tuesday has been expanded to include nearly the entire forecast area. Otherwise, no significant changes were made with this forecast package. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) The hottest temperatures of the year thus far will continue through Tuesday. The heat will break behind a cold front on Wednesday with below normal temperatures continuing into Thursday. 2) A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in Northwest Ohio and possibly close to the lakeshore this afternoon into early this evening. Another round of strong to severe storms is possible on Tuesday afternoon and evening. 3) Unsettled weather with periods of rain expected and thunderstorms possible over the holiday weekend. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1... Deep warm air advection will remain in place across the area over the next couple of days, resulting in above normal to near record temperatures across the area through Tuesday. Temperatures will remain in the 80s to around 90 degrees through the remainder of this afternoon with temps into the upper 60s and lower 70s tonight. Temperatures will decrease a bit faster in locations that receive rain (most likely NW OH) this afternoon. Temperatures will once again rise into the 80s and possibly touch 90 degrees Tuesday afternoon, although confidence in temps reaching the upper 80s and lower 90s (and possibly touching record values) is slightly lower than today due to low- end chances of morning showers, afternoon convection, and increased cloud cover. Dew points will likely be a bit higher on Tuesday afternoon so it will definitely feel muggy. Those spending time outside this afternoon and during the day Tuesday should wear light/loose-fitting clothing and hydrate and sensitive groups should consider limiting time outdoors during peak heating. Temperatures will cool down for mid to late week with highs in the 60s expected Wednesday and Thursday. KEY MESSAGE 2... As of 230 PM EDT, a line of severe thunderstorms was moving east across Indiana. There is a very tight instability gradient that ends just within the western fringe of the local area so anticipate storms to quickly weaken as they encounter less instability later this afternoon and early this evening. Nonetheless, isolated to scattered strong to severe storms are possible, especially in the Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) area that's in place across the Toledo area as the storms move in over the next couple of hours. Isolated stronger storms are possible in the northern portion of the area where there is a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) of severe weather. Damaging wind gusts will be the main threat, however large hail is possible and a quick spin-up can't be ruled out in the Slight Risk area. Once convection weakens this evening, scattered showers may persist across NW OH through the overnight hours with low-end PoPs expanding east across the local area Tuesday morning. The moist, unstable air mass will remain in place over the area on Tuesday, especially if the forecast trends drier and sunnier than currently forecast. MLCAPE values will likely exceed 2000 J/kg by peak heating Tuesday with effective bulk shear values likely increasing to 30+ knots as a cold front advances east towards the area Tuesday afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening, although there's some uncertainty in the placement of convective initiation and exact timing of thunderstorms. Thunderstorm development will likely rely on early day cloud cover and any showers that develop Tuesday morning. Given the instability and shear profile, storms may be strong to severe and there is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe weather across nearly the entire area. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary concern, but some storms may produce large hail. A few tornadoes cannot be ruled out. KEY MESSAGE 3... A period of dry weather is expected Wednesday through Thursday before precipitation chances increase Friday through the holiday weekend as weak low pressure and a frontal boundary slowly drift north across the Ohio Valley. There's still quite a bit of uncertainty in the timing and coverage of showers (and possibly a few thunderstorms) over Memorial Day Weekend, but at the moment it looks like the best chances of precipitation will occur Friday night and Sunday into Monday. Confidence in the likelihood of hazardous weather is low this far out, but will continue to monitor trends in guidance and adjust the forecast/key messages as necessary. && .AVIATION /18Z Monday THROUGH Saturday/... All eyes will be on the line of convection currently marching through Indiana as of 1730Z. Expect this to move into northwest OH over the next few hours with strong storms expected and gusts at the TOL/FDY terminals, but then should weaken fairly rapidly as it continues eastward. Will include TSRA at CLE and MFD as this line of convection deteriorates, but not any further eastward. Winds southwesterly will gust to 30kts. May ease a bit overnight, and at TOL/FDY where the low level jet is more pronounced, LLWS possible tonight. Southwesterly winds gusting to 30kts continues again Tuesday, and expect another round of convection to develop, but affects for our area will lie just beyond the forecast period/18Z Tuesday. Outlook...Non-VFR likely at times in showers/thunderstorms Tuesday into Wednesday. Non-VFR possible in showers on Friday. && .MARINE... Southwest/offshore winds 15-25kts through Tuesday and wave heights increasing rapidly away from shore with 1-3ft in the nearshore zones and 2-4ft in the open water zones. A cold front comes through Tuesday night with northerly winds 10-15kts through Wednesday, increasing to 15-20kts out of the northeast Thursday and 2-4ft waves for the central and western basins. Winds become light and variable into the weekend. && .CLIMATE... High temperatures today and Tuesday will approach record values. The following are the records for May 18 and 19 at local climate sites. Date Toledo Mansfield Cleveland Akron Youngstown Erie 05-18 95(1962) 92(1962) 91(1962) 92(1962) 92(1962) 89(1889) 05-19 92(1996) 88(1964) 88(1998) 91(1911) 89(1934) 90(1996) && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...None. PA...None. MARINE...None. && DISCUSSION...15 AVIATION...26 MARINE...Sullivan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cleveland OH 333 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026 LEZ061-144>149-164>169-OHZ009>014-019>023-027>033-036>038-047-089- PAZ001>003-191945- Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US- Canadian border-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- Conneaut OH to Ripley NY- The Islands to Vermilion OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- Vermilion to Avon Point OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- Avon Point to Willowick OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the- Lake OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-Canadian border-Geneva-on-the- Lake to Conneaut OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-Canadian border- Conneaut OH to Ripley NY beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-Geauga-Ashtabula Inland- Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull-Wyandot-Crawford-Richland- Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow-Holmes-Knox- Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-Southern Erie- 333 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie, north central Ohio, northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move into NW Ohio late this afternoon, and may continue east across northern Ohio and Lake Erie, into Northwest Pennsylvania. A few thunderstorms may produce damaging wind gusts along with hail to quarter size. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Coverage of showers and thunderstorms increases on Tuesday. Some thunderstorms may be severe Tuesday afternoon and evening with damaging winds, hail to quarter size, and an isolated tornado possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LEZ142-143-162-163-OHZ003-006>008-017-018-191945- Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-Reno Beach to The Islands OH- Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay OH to Reno Beach OH beyond 5NM offshoreline to US-Canadian border- Reno Beach to The Islands OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Hancock-Seneca- 333 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 223 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move into NW Ohio late this afternoon. A few thunderstorms may produce damaging wind gusts along with hail to quarter size. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Coverage of showers and thunderstorms increases on Tuesday. Some thunderstorms may be severe Tuesday afternoon and evening with damaging winds, hail to quarter size, and an isolated tornado possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
355 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026
OHZ003-182015-
Lucas OH-
355 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN LUCAS COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM EDT...
At 354 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Delta, or near Swanton, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Sylvania and Berkey.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cleveland.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
northwestern Ohio.
&&
LAT...LON 4172 8387 4173 8372 4172 8368 4159 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 232DEG 33KT 4166 8397
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
SefcovicThe Detroit radar (KDTX), 131 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:39 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm wind gust down power lines down near Reed Road and South Berkey Southern Road.
Thunderstorm wind gust down power lines near South Centennial Road and CR 30 in the Holland area.
Thunderstorm wind gust down a tree limb on a transformer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, May 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: 1341534, 1341533, 1341535.