All three tornadoes were determined to be weak EF0 tornadoes, which means wind speeds peaked at 85 mph.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The National Weather Service confirmed that at least four tornadoes touched down in Ohio, including an EF1 tornado in Fayette County, during storms Sunday evening.
A tornado touched down around 9:30 p.m. in Fayette County, near Jeffersonville, measuring about 250 yards across and traveling nearly 4 miles in four minutes, NWS said.
According to NWS, the tornado appeared to form along state Route 734, east of West Lancaster Road NW, where minor tree damage occurred. The tornado strengthened to the low end of category EF1 as it crossed Jeffersonville-West Lancaster Road. Wind speeds peaked at around 90 mph at this location, NWS said.
NWS said one building was destroyed and roof coverings on two other buildings were removed by the tornado. Several hardwood trees were also snapped. Debris was found more than half a mile east of Jeffersonville-West Lancaster Road.
Power poles were damaged and metal roof panels were removed from a service station near the Jefferson Industrial Park. Several RVs were flipped over in Jefferson Crossing.
The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing Interstate 71, NWS said.
Fayette County Emergency Management Agency assisted with the survey.
Three additional tornadoes were determined to be weak EF0 tornadoes, which means wind speeds peaked at 85 mph.
NWS said one tornado hit Butler County north of New Miami. A second tornado touched down in Warren County near Corwin, and the third tornado hit Butler County near West Chester and continued east across Warren County to just west of Morrow.
The storm survey team is still assessing the length of the tornadoes' path, NWS said. More information about the path length of each tornado will be available later.
Ohio had a record-setting year for tornadoes in 2024, with the 74th and final tornado of the year taking place on Dec. 29 near Marysville. The state's previous record was 62 and was set in 1992.
Tornadoes form due to wind shear — differences in either wind speed or direction as you go up higher into the atmosphere. These differences in speed and direction impart spin into the air that, when combined with strong thunderstorm updrafts, can be tilted vertically. When the conditions are just right, air can reach down toward ground level to form a tornado.
It is only classified as a tornado when it touches the ground. If it stays in the sky, it is called a funnel cloud; if it comes down on water, it is called a water spout. Dynamically speaking though, these are all the same type of process.
When a tornado has been detected, either by radar or human spotters, the goal is to get that information out as soon as possible with a warning so people can take the proper action.
Three main types of tornado alerts issued for the public are the following:
The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
The damage caused by tornadoes can range from minor roof and tree damage to complete destruction of a home. Therefore, the first step should be to enact an action plan for home, work or on the road.