Ohio breaks tornado record: A look back at the 6 months of severe weather

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Just six months into 2024, a tornado record has been set for Ohio.

An EF-0 tornado touched down in Willard, in Huron County, on Saturday, with estimated wind speed reaching 80 mph. Though the tornado only lasted one minute, it was the 63rd recorded tornado this year, besting the record set of 62 tornadoes in 1992.

The historic run of tornadoes, including 23 in May and several tornado-producing storms in central Ohio, is linked to an unusually warm winter, mild ground temperatures, virtually no ice on the Great Lakes (record low extent in the satellite era) and abnormally warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Ben Gelber.

All of these ingredients supported unstable air and storm energy farther north, aided by low-level southerly winds, coupled with a strong jet stream carrying El Niño-fueled Pacific storm systems eastward, which amplified the early-starting severe weather season in Ohio and Midwest.

The 63 tornadoes through June dwarfs the average number Ohio sees in a year – 22 – and surpassed last year’s mark of 60, which now ranks third overall.

June 3

Included in the 63 were several storm cells that broke out over central Ohio counties. Most recent was on June 3 when four tornadoes were confirmed in Delaware, Licking, Knox and Muskingum counties, the last of which produced one with an EF-2 rating and winds up to 130 mph.

An outbreak in severe weather also occurred one month prior, on May 7 and 8, when 19 tornadoes were confirmed throughout Ohio. Those included one each in Licking, Muskingum and Coshocton counties. Bucyrus was also the sight for an EF-1 tornado on April 17.

April 2

On April 2, eight tornadoes were confirmed, including three EF-0 tornadoes in Muskingum County, an EF-1 in Guernsey County, and an EF-0 in Licking County.

The early April storm cell also produced a double-rainbow seen throughout central Ohio. Chief Meteorologist Dave Mazza of Storm Team 4 said the timing was perfect and is more common than a single rainbow when the conditions are right just before sunset.

March 14

A series of deadly storms and tornadoes ripped through the Indian Lake region on March 14. Three people were confirmed dead after an EF-3 tornado was confirmed near Orchard Island in Logan County.

Neal Longfellow, 69, Darla Williams, 70, and Marily Snapp, 81 lost their lives during the storms, which caused Gov. Mike DeWine to declare a state of emergency for 11 counties.

Other tornadoes associated with those storms included those in two in Mercer County, and one each in Licking, Delaware, Crawford, Richland and Hancock counties. Delaware County’s twister damaged parts of the Olentangy Berlin athletic facility, in particular the baseball field, which lost its scoreboard. It also caused extensive damage to nearby homes and businesses along Berlin Station Road.

February 28

Central Ohioans were awoken to sirens in the early hours of Feb. 28, when a strong line of thunderstorms produced five tornadoes. At 4:45 a.m., Franklin, Fairfield, Licking, Knox, Madison, Morgan and Perry counties went under tornado warnings, with strong winds creating tornadic conditions. 

By 6:50 p.m. that evening, the National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes in central and southwestern Ohio:

• An EF-1 in Hilliard, Franklin County
• An EF-2 in Blacklick, Franklin County, which then downgraded to an EF-1 as it traveled into Jersey, Licking County
• An EF-1 in London, Madison County
• An EF-2 near Springfield, Clark County
• An EF1 in Riverside, Montgomery County

According to the NWS, the EF-2 tornado that hit Blacklick was estimated to produce wind speeds up to 120 mph, the strongest February tornado recorded in Franklin County since 1971. The last EF-2 tornado recorded in the Columbus area occurred on Oct. 6, 2006.

As with all severe weather events, the Red Cross accepts donations to help people affected by recent storms and associated damage. To make a donation call 1-800-RED CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or follow this link.