Tornado near Leesburg, Ohio

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
918 PM EST Thu Mar 2 2017

...Tornado Confirmed Near Leesburg in Highland County Ohio...

Location...South of Leesburg in Highland County Ohio
Date...March 1 2017
Estimated Start Time...231 AM
Estimated End Time...239 AM
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF0
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 MPH
Maximum Path Width...250 Yards
Path Length...7.0 Miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...39.2991N / 83.5968W
Ending lat/Lon...39.3209N / 83.4714W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Wilmington OH has confirmed a
tornado near Leesburg in Highland County Ohio on March 1 2017.

Damage was first observed at a farm residence on the north side 
of Larkin Road, where one tree was downed, and a barn was
destroyed. Northeast of there, some minor tree damage was seen on
State Route 72, and along tree lines in adjacent fields.

Structural damage occurred at a property on US Route 62 near the
intersection with Old US 62, with several outbuildings destroyed 
or heavily damaged. The house at this location had minor damage, 
mainly to roofing materials, with shingles removed on multiple
sides. One large evergreen tree was uprooted, and other trees were
snapped. At another property slightly northeast on US Route 62, a
garage was destroyed, and numerous trees behind the garage were 
snapped.

On Leaverton Road, a barn was partially collapsed. Two evergreen
trees were snapped, and other tree damage was observed both at 
this location and across the field to the east. Slightly south of 
this location, also on Leaverton Road, several trees were downed 
along a low spot on the road, and a fence was blown flat. Minor 
tree damage was also observed where the tornado crossed Smith 
Road, and a garage door was blown in at a residence on State Route
771, with some trees snapped in the vicinity. A few trees were 
also damaged where the tornado crossed Monroe Road.

Tree damage was observed to be significant in several locations 
along Milner Road, which was still due to cleanup efforts just 
east of Monroe Road. A house on Milner Road sustained siding 
damage to both the east and west sides of the structure, and tree 
damage was extensive at this property. An adjacent modular home 
had its roof removed, and other outbuildings were damaged, with 
debris thrown northeast across an adjacent field. A few buildings 
at this property also exhibited signs of mud splatter.

A hay barn on Bridges Road had most of its top half removed, with
the top also removed from another adjacent outbuilding. A home on
Big Oak Road had part of its roof removed, with debris observed in
an adjacent field, likely a result of damage further to the west.

The last observed damage from this tornado occurred along Cope
Road, where an outbuilding was mostly destroyed, and a garage had
part of its roof removed. Debris was thrown across Cope Road into
a field to the east and southeast. There was no tree damage 
observed along the tree line to the east of Cope Road, so it is 
believed that the tornado caused no further damage beyond this 
point.

We extend our appreciation to Highland County Emergency Management
and Ohio Emergency Management for their assistance with this
survey.

For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes
into the following categories:

EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph.
EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph.
EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph.
EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph.
EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph.
EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph.

$$

HATZOS/BPP