April 15, 2026 Severe Weather

Wind & Hail:

Wind

Sporadic wind damage was reported across portions of Northwest Ohio, with a 70 MPH wind gust measured near Martin in Ottawa County. The most organized wind damage occurred in portions of Summit, Portage, Trumbull, and Mahoning Counties during the evening as storms grew into a line. Straight-line winds of as strong as 90 MPH occurred in southeastern Trumbull County with these storms, leading to significant tree damage. 

Damage survey summary from intense straight-line winds in southeastern Trumbull County.	Dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped in Brookfield Township in southeastern Trumbull County. Image Credit: NWS Storm Survey.	Radar loop (reflectivity left, base velocity right) from when storms moved across Northwest Ohio and produced sporadic wind damage. Note how portions of the line bow and surge, indicating locally enhanced winds.	Radar loop (reflectivity left, base velocity right) from when storms moved across Northeast Ohio and produced scattered wind damage. Note how storms gradually congealed into a surging line segment, especially across portions of northern Summit, Portage, and Trumbull Counties.

Hail

A long tracked supercell thunderstorm produced a swath of golf ball-sized or larger hail from the southern Cleveland suburbs points east across portions of Geauga County and Trumbull County. In some locations, hail of 2" in diameter or larger was observed which caused significant damage to cars, homes and businesses. This supercell also produced strong to damaging winds at times, leading to wind driven hail that caused damage to exterior walls/siding and broke windows on the sides of homes and businesses. A few other storms produced hail larger than quarter-sized across the area.

MRMS radar estimated hail swaths. Oranges tend to correspond to potential for quarter sized or larger hail, with reds and purples corresponding to potential for golf ball sized or larger. Note the swath across portions of Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Trumbull Counties.	Radar cross section of the long tracked supercell as it was over Bedford, Bedford Heights and Solon in southeast Cuyahoga County. Note the "tilted" updraft, characteristic of supercells. Also note the larger area of very high returns lofted over 30,000 feet high, an indicator of very large hail.	Hail near 2 inches in diameter in Solon. Photo Credit: AJ Brilla/X.	Hail near 2 inches in diameter in Bristolville. Photo Credit: Valerie Lord/Facebook.

Storm Reports

Storm Prediction Center Reports (Interactive Map)

0400 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 SE Mcclure            41.32N 83.88W
04/15/2026                   Wood               OH   Emergency Mngr

            Barn collapse.

0403 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Milton Center           41.30N 83.83W
04/15/2026                   Wood               OH   911 Call Center

            Tree and power-lines downed. Time estimated
            via radar.

0403 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SSE Milton Center     41.28N 83.81W
04/15/2026                   Wood               OH   Public

            Tree downed partially onto a moving car on
            OH 281 between Milton Road and Weston Road
            outside of Custar.

0408 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Custar                  41.29N 83.84W
04/15/2026                   Wood               OH   Public

            Collapsed barn. Time estimated via radar.

0412 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bowling Green           41.37N 83.65W
04/15/2026                   Wood               OH   911 Call Center

            Tree and power-lines downed in Bowling
            Green.

0430 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 N Martin              41.55N 83.34W
04/15/2026  M70 MPH          Ottawa             OH   Trained Spotter

            70mph wind gusts measured on home weather
            station.

0434 PM     Hail             3 E Tiffin              41.11N 83.11W
04/15/2026  M1.00 Inch       Seneca             OH   Trained Spotter

0440 PM     Hail             Solon                   41.37N 81.42W
04/15/2026  E1.75 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

            Corrects previous hail report from Solon.
            Images shared via social media of large
            hail.

0441 PM     Hail             2 NE Middleburg Heights 41.39N 81.80W
04/15/2026  E0.75 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

0446 PM     Hail             Parma Heights           41.39N 81.76W
04/15/2026  E0.88 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Amateur Radio

0447 PM     Hail             1 NE Parma              41.40N 81.71W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

0448 PM     Hail             1 ESE Parma Heights     41.38N 81.75W
04/15/2026  M1.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   NWS Employee

0455 PM     Hail             1 N Seven Hills         41.40N 81.68W
04/15/2026  M1.50 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   NWS Employee

            .

0455 PM     Hail             1 N Seven Hills         41.40N 81.68W
04/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   NWS Employee

            Updated previous hail report from 1 N Seven
            Hills to 2 inch diameter hail.

0458 PM     Hail             1 NNE Seven Hills       41.39N 81.66W
04/15/2026  E1.50 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Broadcast Media

0500 PM     Hail             Bedford                 41.39N 81.53W
04/15/2026  M1.25 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Law Enforcement

0502 PM     Hail             Bedford                 41.39N 81.54W
04/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

            Picture of hail slightly over 2 inch in
            diameter received from Bedford.

0502 PM     Hail             Bedford                 41.39N 81.51W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

            Significant accumulation of hail on I271
            creating a slush and slowing traffic.

0503 PM     Hail             1 SE North Randall      41.42N 81.52W
04/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Trained Spotter

            Hail lasted 10 to 15 minutes ranging in size
            from 1.00 to 2.00 inches in diameter.

0503 PM     Hail             1 SW Maple Heights      41.39N 81.57W
04/15/2026  E1.75 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

0503 PM     Hail             1 NNE Bedford           41.40N 81.53W
04/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Law Enforcement

0503 PM     Hail             5 SSW Norwalk           41.17N 82.64W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Huron              OH   Emergency Mngr

0505 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Tiffin                  41.12N 83.18W
04/15/2026                   Seneca             OH   Public

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from
            Tiffin. Straight line wind damage, several
            power poles (6-8) knocked down.

0509 PM     Hail             2 SSW Moreland Hills    41.42N 81.44W
04/15/2026  E1.50 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

            Delayed report. Time estimated via radar.

0509 PM     Hail             Solon                   41.39N 81.44W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Trained Spotter

0509 PM     Hail             4 WSW Republic          41.11N 83.09W
04/15/2026  E1.25 Inch       Seneca             OH   Public

0510 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Solon             41.40N 81.45W
04/15/2026                   Cuyahoga           OH   Emergency Mngr

            Significant storm damage in Solon from a
            combination of wind and hail. Numerous trees
            were downed with some falling onto houses.
            Damage to siding and windows due to wind
            driven hail.

0510 PM     Hail             Solon                   41.37N 81.42W
04/15/2026  E1.75 Inch       Cuyahoga           OH   Public

            Images shared via social media of large
            hail.

0515 PM     Hail             2 NW Bainbridge         41.41N 81.36W
04/15/2026  E1.75 Inch       Geauga             OH   Public

            Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

0516 PM     Hail             Bainbridge              41.39N 81.34W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Geauga             OH   Public

            Corrects previous hail report from
            Bainbridge. Public report of significant
            accumulation of one inch and greater hail.

0518 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 N Hiram               41.39N 81.13W
04/15/2026                   Geauga             OH   Dept of Highways

            Several trees down. Time estimated via
            radar.

0520 PM     Hail             2 NE Bainbridge         41.41N 81.31W
04/15/2026  E1.75 Inch       Geauga             OH   Public

            Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

0521 PM     Hail             5 E Bainbridge          41.39N 81.25W
04/15/2026  E2.00 Inch       Geauga             OH   Broadcast Media

            Time estimated via radar.

0527 PM     Hail             Kipton                  41.27N 82.30W
04/15/2026  E1.75 Inch       Lorain             OH   Trained Spotter

0543 PM     Hail             2 W Grafton             41.27N 82.07W
04/15/2026  M1.25 Inch       Lorain             OH   Public

            Time estimated via radar.

0546 PM     Hail             5 E West Farmington     41.39N 80.87W
04/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Trumbull           OH   Trained Spotter

            Time estimated via radar.

0548 PM     Hail             Intersection SR10 and S 41.34N 82.06W
04/15/2026  M0.25 Inch       Lorain             OH   Trained Spotter

0548 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bristolville            41.39N 80.87W
04/15/2026                   Trumbull           OH   Public

            Significant damage from a combination of
            wind and hail in Bristolville, including
            downed trees and power polls along with
            damage to siding, roofs and windows.

0548 PM     Hail             Bristolville            41.39N 80.87W
04/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Trumbull           OH   Public

            Corrects previous hail report from
            Bristolville. Social media images of large
            hail and damaged vehicles.

0553 PM     Hail             Grafton                 41.28N 82.05W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Lorain             OH   Public

0600 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSW Cortland          41.31N 80.73W
04/15/2026                   Trumbull           OH   Trained Spotter

            Tree down.

0606 PM     Hail             Mecca                   41.39N 80.72W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Trumbull           OH   Public

            Intersection of SR 88 and Phillips Rice Rd.

0608 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Cortland           41.34N 80.71W
04/15/2026                   Trumbull           OH   Public

            Numerous branches broken.

0610 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hartford                41.31N 80.57W
04/15/2026                   Trumbull           OH   911 Call Center

            Several trees downed in Hartford Twp.

0613 PM     Hail             3 N Orangeville         41.39N 80.52W
04/15/2026  M1.50 Inch       Trumbull           OH   Public

            Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50
            in.).

0619 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Boston Heights          41.25N 81.51W
04/15/2026                   Summit             OH   Law Enforcement

            -Delayed Report- Several trees downed in
            Boston Heights, with a few roads closed into
            the following day for cleanup.

0630 PM     Hail             Wadsworth               41.02N 81.73W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Medina             OH   Public

            Mainly dime to penny-sized but some as large
            as quarters.

0633 PM     Hail             Wadsworth               41.03N 81.73W
04/15/2026  M0.70 Inch       Medina             OH   911 Call Center

0636 PM     Hail             Doylestown              40.99N 81.71W
04/15/2026  E0.25 Inch       Medina             OH   Trained Spotter

            Pea size hail reported between Wadsworth and
            Doylestown.

0639 PM     Hail             1 NW Barberton          41.02N 81.62W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Summit             OH   Public

            -Delayed Report- Brief quarter-sized hail in
            western Barberton.

0640 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Mantua                  41.28N 81.22W
04/15/2026                   Portage            OH   Public

            -Delayed Report- Several trees downed in
            Mantua, including one on a car and another
            on a house.

0645 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hiram                   41.31N 81.14W
04/15/2026                   Portage            OH   911 Call Center

            Two downed trees in Hiram.

0645 PM     Hail             Barberton               41.02N 81.61W
04/15/2026  E0.25 Inch       Summit             OH   Trained Spotter

0646 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Lakemore           41.04N 81.44W
04/15/2026                   Summit             OH   Public

            A few trees downed in Sawyerwood/Springfield
            Twp.

0648 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Garrettsville       41.27N 81.10W
04/15/2026                   Portage            OH   Public

            -Delayed Report- Numerous large limbs and
            trees downed.

0652 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 5 NE Fairview           42.08N 80.18W
04/15/2026  M46 MPH          Erie               PA   ASOS

            ASOS station KERI Erie.

0657 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SE Mogadore           41.02N 81.35W
04/15/2026                   Portage            OH   911 Call Center

            Several trees downed in Suffield Township.

0704 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Craig Beach        41.13N 80.97W
04/15/2026                   Mahoning           OH   911 Call Center

            A couple of trees downed in Milton Twp near
            the Trumbull Co line.

0705 PM     Hail             5 ESE Brimfield         41.05N 81.27W
04/15/2026  M1.00 Inch       Portage            OH   Public

            Quarter sized hail reported by the public.

0710 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 SSE Harborcreek       42.08N 79.90W
04/15/2026                   Erie               PA   Broadcast Media

            Tree downed and blocking road. Time
            estimated via radar.

0715 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SSW Mckean            41.95N 80.16W
04/15/2026                   Erie               PA   911 Call Center

            A few trees downed across central Erie
            County.

0719 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NW Edinboro           41.90N 80.16W
04/15/2026                   Erie               PA   Trained Spotter

            Pine tree snapped.

0725 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 S Craig Beach         41.04N 80.99W
04/15/2026                   Mahoning           OH   911 Call Center

            Tree downed. Time estimated via radar.

0725 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Brookfield              41.23N 80.57W
04/15/2026                   Trumbull           OH   911 Call Center

            Trees downed in Brookfield.

0725 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SW Brookfield Center  41.20N 80.60W
04/15/2026  E90 MPH          Trumbull           OH   NWS Storm Survey

            -Delayed Report- Storm survey found damage
            consistent with 90 MPH straight line winds
            along Everett East Road in Brookfield
            Township. Dozens of trees were uprooted or
            snapped. Two homes sustained damage from
            falling limbs.

0726 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Hubbard                 41.16N 80.57W
04/15/2026                   Trumbull           OH   911 Call Center

            Trees downed in and around Hubbard.
 

Environment

Thunderstorms were not forced by a strong front of disturbance, but a weaker form of lift called a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) leftover from thunderstorms the night before to our west. This weaker form of lift, combined with strong deep-layer shear (analyzed at 40-50 knots per both SPC mesoanalysis and regional upper air soundings), favored a mix of supercells (thunderstorms with rotating updrafts) and short squall lines and bow echoes. Supercell thunderstorms are favorable hail producers, especially in the presence of steeper 700-500mb lapse rates. This combination helped result in a swath of significant hail with a long-tracked supercell thunderstorm from the southern Cleveland suburbs across Geauga and Trumbull Counties and into western Pennsylvania. Strong winds aloft also helped bowing line segments produce swaths of damaging winds across portions of the area. 

Figure 1: Weather Prediction Center surface maps valid from 8 AM to 11 PM April 15, 2026. Note the frontal boundaries are well to the west and northwest of the area.	Figure 2: Observed sounding from Pittsburgh, PA valid 8 PM April 15, 2026. Note the moderately steep 700-500mb lapse rates and strong deep-layer shear, both of which can favor rotating thunderstorms and hail. The low-levels were a bit dry, which helped limit the overall tornado risk.	Figure 3: Analyzed 300mb heights, winds, and divergence, courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.

Figure 4: Analyzed 500mb heights, vorticity, and vorticity advection, courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.	Figure 5: Analyzed MLCAPE, MLCIN, and 10m winds, courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.	Figure 6: Analyzed effective bulk shear, courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.

Figure 7: Analyzed 500-700mb lapse rates, courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.	Figure 8: Analyzed Supercell Composite Parameter, courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.	Figure 9: Analyzed "hail parameters" (CAPE between -10C and -30C, freezing level, and 0-6km shear) courtesy SPC Mesoanalysis.