A passing shortwave generated showers and thunderstorms across the upper Ohio Valley in the evening of the 24th. Some training of the storms resulted in higher amounts approaching 3 inches, which resulted in some isolated flash flooding in Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania.
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 PBZ wrote it up.
A passing shortwave generated showers and thunderstorms across the upper Ohio Valley in the evening of the 24th. Some training of the storms resulted in higher amounts approaching 3 inches, which resulted in some isolated flash flooding in Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania.
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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 12:39 PM EST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 139 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Rain showers and isolated thunderstorms expected today into early tomorrow morning. An additional half inch to inch of rain expected across the region through tomorrow morning. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Passing shortwave trough increases rain/isolated storm coverage today into tomorrow morning 2) Rain chances and isolated storms expected south of Pittsburgh Monday into Wednesday 3) Cooler and drier conditions expected late week && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1... Light to moderate rain is expected to spread into the area this afternoon and evening as a shortwave trough moves across the Great Lakes and shifts eastward. Over the past 12hrs, high- resolution guidance has consistently indicated the potential for heavier rainfall rates north of Pittsburgh between 8pm tonight through midnight. Given that this area only received an inch of rain in 48 hours, the overall flood threat is considered low. Creeks and streams will likely rise with additional precip, but confidence remains low that water will reach or exceed bankfull levels. As a result, no Flood Watch will be issued with this forecast package. With saturated temperature profiles for a bulk of the time period, the probability of lightning with passing thunderstorms is also considered low but not zero. If a thunderstorm does evolve, it would most likely be between 6pm and 11pm south of I-80. Rain intensity is expected to decrease after 2am Monday as the shortwave exits and mid-lvl dry air advances from the west. KEY MESSAGE 2... In the wake of a departing shortwave early Monday, the ridge axis that has remained over the Northeast in recent days is expected to weaken, allowing more zonal flow to develop. As a result, precipitation chances through Wednesday will generally remain confided to areas south of Pittsburgh. At this time, the flood threat across the region remains very low during this time period. KEY MESSAGE 3... By midweek, long-range guidance suggests a closed low pressure system will persist along the West Coast while a ridge strengthens over the Northern Plains. This pattern is expected to promote deep northwest flow across promotes of Great Lakes and Northeast. As a result, cooler and drier conditions are anticipated late in the week and continuing into the weekend. The threat for hazardous weather is considered low. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... General VFR is expected this afternoon with light showers before heavier rainfall moves in this evening around 00z. Removed mention of thunder for the afternoon with this package as thunder probs have dropped significantly. Although a few rumbles may be possible, expect mainly rain through the afternoon and overnight. IFR ceilings and visibilities are likely late tonight into early Monday before eventual improvement to VFR Monday afternoon. Wind remains light and south/southeasterly today, becoming northerly with cold frontal passage early Monday. Outlook... Improvement to VFR is expected Monday afternoon with building high pressure. The cold front will stall south of the area, keeping daily rain and restriction chances mainly south of PIT through Wednesday. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...Hefferan AVIATION...Rackley
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 524 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 OHZ039>041-048-PAZ013-252130- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Lawrence- 524 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Showers and a few thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into tonight, with locally heavy rainfall possible. With the ground saturated in some locations due to the recent rainfall and renewed higher rain rates, localized flooding will be possible especially in areas that see multiple rounds of heavy rain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ007>009-015-016-WVZ512>514-252130- Mercer-Venango-Forest-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Eastern Preston- Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 524 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. OHZ049-050-057>059-068-069-PAZ014-020>022-029-031-073>078-WVZ001>004- 012-021-509>511-252130- Harrison-Jefferson OH-Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Butler- Beaver-Allegheny-Armstrong-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Indiana-Higher Elevations of Indiana- Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- 524 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. .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. Showers and a few thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into tonight, with locally heavy rainfall possible. With the ground saturated in some locations due to the recent rainfall and renewed higher rain rates, localized flooding will be possible especially in areas that see multiple rounds of heavy rain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. Kramar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 164 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement and the public reported that Rockville Road and Old River Road closed due to flooding.
The public reported that Irish Ridge Rd was closed due to flooding.
Sheriffs Office reported Cadiz-Jewett Road was closed due to high water.
The public reported that Goose Run/Brush Creek was overflowing banks and causing deep water over Goosecreek Rd. Also a neighborhood at Columbus St and North Main St was also flooding.
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: 1333567, 1333568, 1333569, 1333570.