Strong Storms Bring Wind Gusts, Hail to Ohio-West Virginia Region
Multiple National Weather Service offices issued warnings as a line of thunderstorms pushed through the Ohio-West Virginia border and northwest Ohio, packing 40 mph gusts and hail.
PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Strong thunderstorms and gusty showers moved through parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Michigan on June 25 and into the early hours of June 26, 2026. The National Weather Service issued Special Weather Statements warning of damaging wind gusts and hail.
Early Morning Storms Hit the Ohio-West Virginia Border
At 12:30 a.m. EDT on June 26, the National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia, issued a Special Weather Statement after Doppler radar detected gusty showers near Belpre, Ohio, moving east at 30 mph. The NWS warned of wind gusts up to 40 mph that could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
The affected area included communities on both sides of the Ohio River. Locations under the statement included Parkersburg, Marietta, Belpre, St. Marys, Vienna, Williamstown, Belmont, Boaz, Newport, North Hills, Willow Island, Nutter Farm, Petroleum, Schultz, Waverly, Fleming, and Blennerhassett.
Motorists along Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 175 and 186, and along Route 50 in West Virginia between mile markers 5 and 27, were also affected by the storm system, according to the NWS Charleston statement.
Afternoon Storms Bring Hail to Northwest Ohio
Earlier, at 3:17 p.m. EDT on June 25, the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana issued a Special Weather Statement tracking a strong thunderstorm located 7 miles west of Ohio City, Ohio — or approximately 9 miles east of Decatur — moving east at 30 mph. That storm carried hazards including wind gusts up to 40 mph and half-inch hail, with the NWS noting that minor hail damage to vegetation was possible.
Communities in northwest Ohio listed under that statement included Van Wert, Ohio City, Middlebury, Middle Point, Willshire, Wren, Venedocia, Wetzel, Glenmore, Dull, Abanaka, Jonestown, Rivare, Schumm, and Pleasant Mills.
Michigan Storms Round Out Busy Evening
At 6:03 p.m. EDT on June 25, the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac issued a separate Special Weather Statement for a cluster of strong thunderstorms detected near Emmett, Michigan, approximately 9 miles north of Richmond, moving east at 20 mph. That system posed a hazard of winds exceeding 40 mph and half-inch hail, with the potential for minor damage to outdoor objects, according to the NWS.
The Michigan statement covered a wide swath of communities in the St. Clair County area, including Port Huron, Richmond, St. Clair, Capac, Marysville, Armada, Memphis, Emmett, Columbus, North Street, Adair, Rattle Run, Goodells, Smiths Creek, Wadhams, Riley Center, Fort Gratiot, Allenton, Avoca, and Berville.
Residents across all affected areas were advised to secure loose outdoor items and stay alert for falling tree limbs during the storm activity. All three statements were based on radar-indicated data from the respective National Weather Service offices.
