March 14, 2024 Tornadoes & Large Hail

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Southwest of Jenera Hancock County  Date March 14, 2024 Time (Local) 7:30 - 7:36 PM EDT EF Rating EF1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 3.35 miles Max Width 100 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: A tornado began in Orange Township near the intersection of Township Road 29 and Township Road 56. The tornado tracked just over three miles eastward before ending near Township Road 60 just south of Township Road 32. The tornado damaged several homes and outbuildings along the path. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - New Washington-Plymouth Crawford/Richland Counties Date March 14, 2024 Time (Local) 7:54 -8:13 PM EDT EF Rating EF2 Est. Peak Winds 120 mph Path Length 10.34 miles Max Width 250 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: The tornado began along Marsh Road just northeast of New Washington in Crawford County. The tornado caused damage to trees and homes as it moved eastward across Auburn Township. The tornado increased in intensity as it tracked eastward along Kenestrick Road, damaging multiple residences and outbuildings. The tornado destroyed a single wide manufactured home and an outbuilding before moving east into Richland County. The tornado tracked east southeast along West Road and Opdyke Road, crossing Ohio State Routes 98, 61, and 191 before ending near Willet Road between Opdyke Road and Richards Road. The tornado caused extensive damage to homes, outbuildings, trees, and power poles along the path. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Southeast of Biglick Township Hancock/Seneca Counties Date March 14, 2024 Time (Local) 7:09 - 7:13 PM EDT EF Rating EFU Est. Peak Winds Unknown Path Length 1.29 miles Max Width Unknown Injuries/Deaths None Summary: Based on several social media photos and videos, eyewitness reports, and law enforcement reports, a brief and intermittent tornado occurred from the extreme eastern part of Hancock County to the western part of Seneca County. A survey team was unable to access fields to observe any damage. Tornado remained over farmland and did not impact any structures. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Hail:

Several instances of large hail were reported across parts of Northwest and North Central Ohio from these thunderstorms. Particularly large hail occurred across parts of southern Seneca and Huron Counties. Hail up to 3" in diameter was reported in Seneca County! 

Very large hail in Bloomville, OH. Courtesy Christal McCoy.	Huge hail (measured larger than 3") in Bloomville, OH. Courtesy Melody Schirack.

Flooding

Repeated thunderstorms tracked across parts of northern Ohio during the evening hours of March 14th, leading to locally heavy rainfall. At least some localized flooding was observed across parts of Seneca, Huron, Medina, Richland and Ashland Counties. The most impactful flooding occurred across southern Huron County. 

Radar/Photos

Rainfall totals from CoCoRaHS observers. Click here for a more detailed report.	Radar-estimated rainfall amounts from Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor System (MRMS). More details on MRMS.

Photos & Video

New Washington-Plymouth Tornado Damage

Damage to a garage in Plymouth Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)	Damage to roofing of a house and outbuilding in Auburn Township, OH with debris littering the yard. (NWS Storm Survey)	Complete destruction of a farm structure in Auburn Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)	Remnants of a manufactured home in Auburn Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)

Collapsed outbuilding in Auburn Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)	Extensive damage to numerous farm buildings in Auburn Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)	Entire roof destroyed on structure in Plymouth Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)	Entire structure collapsed in Plymouth Township, OH.  (NWS Storm Survey)

Significant damage occurred to a home in Plymouth Township, OH. (NWS Storm Survey)	Significant damage occurred to a home in Plymouth Township, OH, including a flipped vehicle. (NWS Storm Survey)	Significant damage occurred to a home in Plymouth Township, OH, including a displaced trailer.  (NWS Storm Survey)

Southwest of Jenera Tornado Damage

A brick barn was heavily damaged. (NWS Storm Survey)	A roof was mostly torn off of an outbuilding. (NWS Storm Survey)	A piece of metal siding or roof wrapped around a wooden post. (NWS Storm Survey)	Grain bin collapsed. (NWS Storm Survey)

Radar

Radar imagery from the Cleveland WSR-88D of the tornado that occurred near Jenera, OH. Top left: reflectivity, top right: base velocity, bottom left: storm relative velocity, bottom right: correlation coefficient. At this distance, the radar beam is sampling at 10 kft above ground level, and only observed weak rotation in velocity.	Radar imagery from the Cleveland WSR-88D of the tornado that occurred near Plymouth, OH. Top left: reflectivity, top right: base velocity, bottom left: storm relative velocity, bottom right: correlation coefficient. Notable features include a defined "hook" in reflectivity, strong rotation in velocity, and tornado debris signature (TDS; indicative of debris being lofted by a tornado), which is when low correlation coefficient is colocated with strong rotation in velocity.	Radar imagery from the Cleveland WSR-88D of significant hail that fell in Bloomville, OH. Top left: reflectivity, top right: correlation coefficient, bottom left: storm relative velocity, bottom right: differential reflectivity. For large hail, typically there is high reflectivity of > 60 dBZ, low correlation coefficient (often times 0.9 or lower), and near zero or even negative differential reflectivity. For very large hail, there is also usually a strong mesocyclone, indicated by the strong rotation in velocity.	Radar imagery from the Cleveland WSR-88D following the main supercell that produced an EF-2 and large hail up to 3". Top left: reflectivity, top right: base velocity, bottom left: storm relative velocity, bottom right: normalized rotation. Time of radar loop: 6:43-8:38 PM EST

Storm Reports

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0653 PM     Funnel Cloud     2 W Findlay             41.04N 83.67W
03/14/2024                   Hancock            OH   Trained Spotter  

            Funnel cloud observed by trained spotter at 
            OH-12 and I-75 before it became 
            rain-wrapped. 

0703 PM     Tornado          4 NNW Mount Blanchard   40.95N 83.58W
03/14/2024                   Hancock            OH   Law Enforcement  

            Law enforcement observed a tornado looking
            north from OH-37 and Township Road 168. 

0722 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 SE New Riegel         40.99N 83.26W
03/14/2024                   Wyandot            OH   Public           

            Utility pole down and hit a vehicle. 

0725 PM     Funnel Cloud     4 ESE New Riegel        41.02N 83.24W
03/14/2024                   Seneca             OH   Public           

            Numerous observations of lowering funnel 
            cloud. 

0725 PM     Hail             1 WSW Tiffin            41.11N 83.19W
03/14/2024  E1.00 inch       Seneca             OH   Trained Spotter  

             

0730 PM     Tornado          4 SSE Mount Cory        40.88N 83.81W
03/14/2024                   Hancock            OH   NWS Storm Survey 

            An EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated winds 
            of 100 MPH developed in Orange Township in 
            southwestern Hancock County. The tornado 
            tracked 3.3 miles towards the east, lifting 
            in Van Buren Township. The tornado damaged 5 
            homes and damaged or destroyed several farm 
            buildings. The maximum width was about 100 
            yards. 

0730 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SW Jenera             40.88N 83.77W
03/14/2024                   Hancock            OH   Emergency Mngr   

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 
            SW Jenera. Emergency management reported 
            several structures with significant damage, 
            including roofs blown off of homes and 
            partial collapse of barns along Township 
            Road 29. Several large trees down as well. 
            Report corrected for time based on radar. 

0730 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WSW Jenera            40.88N 83.79W
03/14/2024                   Hancock            OH   Emergency Mngr   

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 
            WSW Jenera. Report of damage to houses near 
            Township Road 29 and Township Road 12. 
            Report corrected for time based on radar. 

0731 PM     Hail             Rawson                  40.96N 83.78W
03/14/2024  E1.00 inch       Hancock            OH   Public           

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). 

0732 PM     Hail             Bloomville              41.05N 83.02W
03/14/2024  E2.50 inch       Seneca             OH   Public           

            Corrects previous hail report from 
            Bloomville. Two to two and a half inch size 
            hail. Report corrected for time based on 
            radar. 

0732 PM     Hail             Bloomville              41.05N 83.02W
03/14/2024  E3.00 inch       Seneca             OH   Amateur Radio    

            Corrects previous hail report from 
            Bloomville. Two and a half to three inch 
            size hail. Report corrected for time based 
            on radar. 

0754 PM     Tornado          2 NE New Washington     40.98N 82.84W
03/14/2024                   Crawford           OH   NWS Storm Survey 

            Tornado began along Marsh Road just 
            northeast of New Washington in Crawford 
            County and continued east into northern 
            Richland County, lifting along Willet Road 
            east of Plymouth Township. The peak 
            intensity was EF-2 with winds estimated at 
            120 MPH in Auburn Township and Plymouth 
            Township. The max width was 250 yards. The 
            tornado was on the ground for slightly over 
            10 miles. 

0802 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSW Willard           41.03N 82.73W
03/14/2024                   Huron              OH   Emergency Mngr   

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 
            SSW Willard. Utility poles down on State 
            Route 103. Report corrected for time based 
            on radar. 

0803 PM     Hail             3 S Willard             41.00N 82.73W
03/14/2024  E2.00 inch       Huron              OH   Fire Dept/Rescue 

             

0803 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WSW Plymouth          40.97N 82.71W
03/14/2024                   Richland           OH   Emergency Mngr   

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 
            WSW Plymouth. Trailer in roadway on West 
            Road in Plymouth. Emergency management also 
            relayed several reports of significant 
            damage southwest of Plymouth. Report 
            corrected for time based on radar. 

0803 PM     Tornado          4 W Plymouth            41.00N 82.74W
03/14/2024                   Huron              OH   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            Fire department reported half-mile wide 
            tornado crossing State Route 103 near the 
            Crawford County OH and Huron County line. 
            Report relayed by emergency management. 

0803 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW Plymouth          40.99N 82.71W
03/14/2024                   Richland           OH   Public           

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 
            WSW Plymouth. Multiple utility poles down. 
            Metal siding or roof also wrapped around 
            trees on State Route 598 southwest of 
            Plymouth. Report corrected for time based on 
            radar. 

0804 PM     Hail             1 ENE Attica            41.07N 82.86W
03/14/2024  E2.00 inch       Seneca             OH   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            At least 2 inch hail reported in Attica 
            area. Report relayed by emergency 
            management. 

Environment

Synoptic Scale Environment

Figure 1: 850mb analysis for 00Z on March 15, 2024. Note the strong west-southwest flow and tongue of deeper moisture advecting into the area out of the Ohio Valley.	Figure 2: 500mb analysis for 00Z on March 15, 2024. Note the belt of strong, nearly west winds aloft, on top of more south-southwesterly surface winds. This led to strong wind shear.	Figure 3: Surface analysis loop. The severe weather occurred ahead of an approaching cold front and surface low. South-southwest surface winds contributed to strong wind shear.

Mesoscale Analysis Data

Figure 4: Loop of Mixed-Layer CAPE and Effective Bulk Shear. MLCAPE values quickly increased to 1000-1500 J/KG across Northwest OH during the early evening hours with effective shear values of about 70 knots. Both parameters supported severe supercell thunderstorms.	Figure 5: Loop of effective Storm Relative Helicity, a measure of low-level wind shear. Values of 300-400+ were in place across Northwest OH as the tornadoes occurred. These values are very supportive of supercells and tornadoes.	Figure 6: Loop of Lifting Condensation Level Heights. Note values near or under 750m across Northwest OH as the tornadoes occurred. Values under 1000m are considered favorable for tornadoes, with values over 1500m unfavorable.

Mesoscale Analysis & Observed Sounding Data

Figure 7: Loop of mid-level (500-700mb) lapse rates, showing lapse rates of 6.5-7.5C/km in place during the severe weather. These elevated values depict the presence of an "elevated mixed layer" or EML, a common ingredient during some of our higher end severe outbreaks. An EML also increases potential for very large hail.	Figure 8: Loop of effective Significant Tornado Parameter values. Values of 2-3 were briefly observed across Northwest OH as the severe weather and tornadoes occurred. Values higher than 1 are associated with increased potential for tornadoes, potentially strong, with supercells.	Figure 9: Observed environmental sounding from Wilmington, OH from 8 PM on March 14th. Note a moderate amount of instability and a strong amount of wind shear. This forecast sounding is highly favorable for strong tornadoes, and likely represents the environment that encroached on Northwest and North Central OH during the severe weather and tornadoes on March 14th.