Columbus and Southeast Ohio Recover from Derecho as More Rain Forecasted
Central and southeastern Ohio are recovering from a series of severe storms, including a confirmed derecho that caused widespread damage on August 11, 2026. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther declared a state of emergency on August 12 to expedite recovery efforts. The storms caused significant destruction, including toppled trees, damaged homes and businesses, and power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents. Emergency crews are working to restore power, with Franklin County reporting over 53,600 outages as of 5 p.m. on August 12. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Licking County, with potential flooding near Interstate 70 and Buckeye Lake. More thunderstorms are expected on August 13, with a 70% chance of precipitation throughout the day and night.