A mainly stationary front sprawled across southeast Ohio and West Virginia on the 26th and 27th of May, then a cold front arrived and sank down through the middle Ohio Valley and central Appalachians. This second front exited to the south by mid-day on the 28th.
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 RLX wrote it up.
A mainly stationary front sprawled across southeast Ohio and West Virginia on the 26th and 27th of May, then a cold front arrived and sank down through the middle Ohio Valley and central Appalachians. This second front exited to the south by mid-day on the 28th. Precipitation spread north across the area on the 26th, then additional rounds of rain and storms continued to traverse the area through the 27th.
With soils already saturated from previous rainfall, the additional one to three inches of rain that fell over southeast Ohio prompted more flooded roads in Gallia and minor flooding on portions of Duck Creek, the Muskingum River and Little Muskingum River.
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 May 27, 4:03 AM EST, 7 hours 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
503 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) A Flash Flood Watch through 2 AM Thursday morning.
2.) Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening.
Tree damage is likely even in sub-severe winds given saturated
soils.
3.) A cold front will sweep through Wednesday night, bringing a
return to mainly dry weather and near normal temperatures for
Thursday into next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A cold front was located just north of our region this morning.
A disturbance moving across the region was providing some
showers and thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms remain
possible this morning, becoming more likely this afternoon and
evening. The cold front will then push southward late today and
tonight.
Meso models showing plenty of 2 to 3 inch rainfall bullseyes,
with a couple over 4 inches. Models showing effective layer
CAPE values of 1000 to 1500 developing over central West
Virginia and extreme southern Ohio. With the ground being saturated
at many locations, the flash flood threat remains high. Will
continue the Flood Watch for flash flooding through tonight over
northern and central portions of the region.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
Models showing effective layer CAPE values of 1000 to 1500
developing over central West Virginia and extreme southern Ohio
southward this afternoon. In addition, models also show some mid
level dry air. Therefore damaging wind gusts, and possibly large
hail, are possible will stronger thunderstorms this afternoon
and evening. Even outside of severe thunderstorms, the wet
ground could allow sub-severe winds to uproot trees.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
A cold front will push south of the area Wednesday night. This
will bring drier air behind the front Thursday, continuing for
Friday, with a break from the precipitation.
A moisture starved reinforcing front will push through on
Saturday. Once again most of the area will remain dry, with the
dry weather continuing on Sunday and most likely into the next
work week.
With the drier air behind these fronts, nighttime temperatures
will be considerably cooler, with readings generally in the 50s,
with some cooler locations dipping into the 40s.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Some patchy fog will lift early this morning. Scattered showers
and thunderstorms will continue across the area, becoming more
numerous this afternoon and evening. A cold front will sink
southward across the area late today and tonight, providing more
showers and thunderstorms.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of fog lifting could vary this
morning. Timing and intensity of showers and thunderstorms could
vary.
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.
DATE WED 05/27/26
UTC 1HRLY 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
EDT 1HRLY 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
CRW CONSISTENCY L H H H H H H M H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M M H H M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M M M M
EKN CONSISTENCY M L L M M L L M H H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY L L L L L L M L H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M L H H H H H L H H H H
AFTER 06Z THURSDAY...
Periodic IFR restrictions are possible in any heavier
showers and thunderstorms through early Thursday morning. IFR
in fog/stratus is possible Thursday morning, and in fog
Saturday/Sunday mornings.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ006>011-014>020-
027>032-039-040-521-522-525-526.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103.
VA...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...RPY
AVIATION...RPYPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1044 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1033 AM Flash Flood Philippi 39.15N 80.05W
05/27/2026 Barbour WV Public
Flooded roadway observed along Pea Ridge
Road and Nestorville Road in Philippi. Water
is approximately 3 inches deep.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1045 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1034 AM Flash Flood 4 NNW Audra State Park 39.09N 80.10W
05/27/2026 Barbour WV 911 Call Center
Approximately 3 inches of water reported in
front of a residence along Buckhannon River
Road in Volga.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1050 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1035 AM Flash Flood 7 NW Glenville 39.01N 80.93W
05/27/2026 Gilmer WV Public
Flooding observed at the intersection of
Newberne Road and Jessie Run Road.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1100 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1034 AM Flash Flood 6 SE Auburn 39.03N 80.78W
05/27/2026 Gilmer WV Broadcast Media
High water observed along Linn Cox S Mills
in Troy.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1120 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 AM Flash Flood 2 NE Montrose 39.09N 79.79W
05/27/2026 Randolph WV Emergency Mngr
Parsons Road is closed in spots due to high
water issues.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1125 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1125 AM Flash Flood 2 S Philippi 39.12N 80.04W
05/27/2026 Barbour WV Amateur Radio
High water reported along Union Road.
&&The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:09 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A downed tree was observed along Ridenour Road in the Oakthrope community.
A tree was blown down onto Zion Road Northwest near Somerset.
A downed tree along Big Inch Road Northwest in Somerset resulted in localized power outages.
Localized power outages occurred along Town Highway 45 in the Wesley community due to tree and power line damage.
Centenary Road flooded.
West Fork Duck Creek at Macksburg rose above a bankfull level of 13 feet the afternoon of May 27th. After reaching a crest around 13.5 feet overnight, the creek receded back below bankfull the next morning. Impacts include flooding of Main Street and agricultural areas near the creek.
State Route 218 was briefly closed by high water near Lovers Lane.
State Route 141 was briefly closed by high water near Cadmus Road.
The Muskingum River at Beverly rose above a flood stage of 29 feet the evening of May 27. After cresting around 29.2 feet, the river receded below flood stage overnight. At 29 feet, low areas, farmland, camps, and a few homes begin to flood.
The Little Muskingum at Bloomfield rose above a bankfull level of 16 feet the night of May 27th. After cresting around 16.1 feet, the river quickly receded back below bankfull the same night. Impacts include flooding of Route 26 near the intersection with Route 260, as well as flooding of fields between Route 26 and the river.
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: 1332166, 1332167, 1332181, 1332193, 1335216, 1335609, 1335218, 1335219, 1335611, 1335610.