Severe Weather Watches Expire After Threatening Southeast Ohio
Southeast Ohio counties faced severe thunderstorm watches and flood warnings from May 26-28 as heavy rainfall threatened the region.
ATHENS, OHIO — Severe thunderstorm watches and flood warnings that threatened southeast Ohio counties earlier this week have expired after meteorologists tracked dangerous weather patterns through the region from May 26 through May 28.
The National Weather Service Charleston office issued multiple alerts covering eight southeast Ohio counties, including Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Vinton, and Washington. Severe Thunderstorm Watch 247 remained active until 9:00 PM EDT on May 27, warning residents of potential damaging winds and hail.
Flash flooding concerns persisted longer, with flood watches extending until 2:00 AM EDT on May 28. The weather service warned that excessive rainfall could cause flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying areas across the affected counties.
Multi-Day Weather Event
The weather pattern began developing on May 26, when meteorologists first issued flood watches for the region. Officials cited concerns about heavy showers and thunderstorms expected to move through the area over a 48-hour period.
Conditions were particularly concerning due to saturated soil from previous rainfall events. “Given the wet soil from previous rainfall, flash flooding could occur,” according to National Weather Service advisories issued throughout the event.
A flood warning was issued for specific areas in North Central Athens County and Southeastern Perry County on May 25, lasting until 8:00 PM EDT that day. The warning covered communities including Glouster, Shawnee, New Straitsville, Corning, Jacksonville, Trimble, Hemlock, and Rendville.
Regional Impact Beyond Ohio
The weather system affected a broader area extending into West Virginia and northeast Kentucky. In West Virginia, 34 counties were included in severe thunderstorm watches, while flood watches covered 25 counties in that state.
Northeast Kentucky counties Boyd, Carter, and Greenup were also included in the flood watch areas as the storm system moved through the tri-state region.
Weather service officials tracked the storms as they shifted from north to south through the coverage area. The heaviest rainfall was expected to begin late on May 26 across northern sections of the watch area before moving southward through May 27.
Safety Precautions
During active flood watches, the National Weather Service advised residents that excessive runoff could result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other flood-prone locations. Officials recommended avoiding travel through flooded roadways and staying informed about rapidly changing conditions.
The weather service issued updates throughout the multi-day event, with the initial flood watch beginning at 1:25 PM EDT on May 26 and extending through 2:00 AM EDT on May 28. Multiple updates were issued as meteorologists tracked the storm system’s progression through the region.
All severe weather watches and warnings for southeast Ohio have now expired, though residents in flood-prone areas remain advised to monitor local conditions as soil saturation could contribute to ongoing drainage concerns.
