Flash Flood Threat Hits Nelsonville, Chauncey, and Buchtel Areas
Three southeastern Ohio communities face dangerous flooding after a late-night NWS warning — here’s what residents need to know before getting on the road.
NELSONVILLE, OHIO — The National Weather Service office in Charleston, West Virginia, issued a Special Weather Statement late Saturday evening warning residents in parts of southeastern Ohio of dangerous flooding conditions, with heavy rain expected to cause water ponding on roads and flooding in low-lying areas.
The alert, issued at 9:42 p.m. EDT on June 27, 2026, identified three communities as directly impacted: Nelsonville, Chauncey, and Buchtel.
Flooded Roads Pose Serious Risk
The NWS warned that heavy rainfall could lead to ponding on roadways and flooding in low-elevation areas throughout the region. Forecasters stressed that residents should not attempt to drive across flooded roads under any circumstances.
“It takes only a few inches of swiftly flowing water to carry vehicles away,” according to the statement issued by NWS Charleston. Officials urged drivers to find alternate routes rather than risk crossing water-covered roads.
Hilly Terrain Makes Conditions More Dangerous
The warning highlighted a particular hazard specific to the geography of southeastern Ohio. According to the NWS, hilly terrain in the area contains hundreds of low water crossings, each of which can become dangerous during heavy rain events.
Low water crossings, which are road sections designed to allow water to flow over the roadway during high-water events, can become impassable and deadly even when water levels appear shallow. The swiftly moving water at such crossings can overpower vehicles and sweep them off the road.
Safety Guidance for Residents
The National Weather Service urged all area residents and travelers to remain alert and take the flooding threat seriously. Officials recommended planning ahead and identifying alternate travel routes before heading out.
Nelsonville, the largest of the three affected communities, sits in Athens County along the Hocking River, a waterway prone to rising quickly during heavy rain events. Chauncey and Buchtel are small villages also located in Athens County in the hilly Appalachian foothills region of Ohio.
Residents were encouraged to monitor updated forecasts from the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies as conditions continued to develop overnight into Sunday, June 28, 2026.
