Severe Storms Spawn Tornado Warnings Across Northwestern Ohio
Tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm alerts swept across northwestern Ohio Tuesday evening as dangerous storms brought 70 mph winds and ping pong ball-sized hail to dozens of communities.
TOLEDO, OHIO — Multiple tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm alerts covered northwestern Ohio on Tuesday evening as a dangerous line of storms moved through the region, prompting the National Weather Service to issue numerous warnings affecting millions of residents across more than a dozen counties.
The most serious threat emerged at 4:22 PM EDT when the National Weather Service in Cleveland issued a tornado warning for northwestern Seneca County, southwestern Sandusky County, southern Wood County, and northeastern Hancock County. The warning, which remained in effect until 5:00 PM EDT, tracked a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado located near North Baltimore, approximately 12 miles northwest of Findlay, moving east at 50 mph.
“Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely,” the National Weather Service warned in its tornado alert.
Storm System Produces Multiple Warnings
The severe weather outbreak generated a series of warnings beginning at 4:04 PM EDT and continuing past 5:00 PM EDT. A separate tornado warning was issued at 4:17 PM EDT for areas near Bowling Green, where radar indicated rotation in a severe squall line capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight-line wind damage.
The most widespread threat came from severe thunderstorm warnings affecting Ottawa County, Sandusky County, Cuyahoga County, Summit County, Lorain County, Huron County, Erie County, Wyandot County, and Crawford County. Wind gusts up to 70 mph were recorded in some areas, with the National Weather Service warning of considerable tree damage and likely damage to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.
Hail and Wind Damage Reported
The storm system produced significant hail, with reports ranging from penny-size to ping pong ball-size hail across the affected areas. Half dollar-size hail was specifically reported in several counties, according to radar indicators from the National Weather Service.
Major population centers impacted by the severe thunderstorm warnings included Cleveland, Parma, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Strongsville, Westlake, North Royalton, North Ridgeville, Grafton, North Olmsted, Garfield Heights, Shaker Heights, Maple Heights, Parma Heights, Rocky River, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, Berea, Fairview Park, and Middleburg Heights.
Communities in the storm’s path included Toledo, Perrysburg, Oregon, Rossford, Waterville, Northwood, Maumee, Ottawa Hills, Fremont, Port Clinton, Kelleys Island, Put-In-Bay, Bellevue, Clyde, Oak Harbor, Gibsonburg, Genoa, Woodville, Elmore, Green Springs, Tiffin, Willard, Bloomville, Fostoria, North Baltimore, McComb, Van Buren, Bradner, Wayne, Bloomdale, Bettsville, Risingsun, Cygnet, Portage, Jerry City, Hoytville, Helena, West Millgrove, Burgoon, Bairdstown, and Kansas.
Warnings Expire as Storms Move East
By 4:39 PM EDT, some warnings began to expire as storms moved out of certain areas. The National Weather Service reported that “the storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area” for some locations, allowing those warnings to expire.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remained in effect until 9:00 PM EDT for northwestern Ohio, according to the National Weather Service. The watch indicated that conditions remained favorable for additional severe weather development throughout the evening hours.
The tornado warning issued at 4:22 PM EDT specifically tracked the dangerous storm as it approached North Baltimore around 4:25 PM EDT, Fostoria around 4:35 PM EDT, and Gibsonburg around 4:45 PM EDT. Other locations impacted by the tornadic thunderstorm included Bradner, Cygnet, Hoytville, Bairdstown, and Bloomdale.
