Tornado in Clark County, Ohio - February 7, 2019

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
600 PM EST Fri Feb 8 2019

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR FEBRUARY 7TH 2019 TORNADO EVENT...

...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN CLARK COUNTY...

Start Location...5 miles northwest of Selma in Clark County Ohio
End Location...5 miles northwest of South Charleston in Clark County Ohio
Date...February 7th 2019
Estimated Time...317 PM to 323 PM EST
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF0
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...80-85 mph
Maximum Path Width...150 yards
Path Length...7.5 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...39.8280/-83.7941
Ending Lat/Lon...39.8898/-83.6732
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, with assistance from
the Clark County Ohio Emergency Management Agency, conducted a
storm damage survey in rural Clark County in the Pitchin area
northwest of the town of Selma. Damage from severe thunderstorms
during the afternoon of February 7th 2019 was determined to have
been caused by a weak tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 80-85
mph.

The first instance of damage was found along East Jackson Road,
where one tree was snapped. Damage continued along East Jackson
Road with an awning lifted off a house and lifted into a tree
behind the house. In addition, the gutter was pulled off the house
and was found lying over the roof. Approximately 200 yards to the
northeast of this damage, a barn was destroyed, with metal
roofing blown in multiple directions. Another larger barn lost a
wall due to wind damage.

Damage was also found to the northeast on Selma Pike where the
Pitchin Fire Department experienced minor roof damage exhibited by
numerous roof shingles blown off to the southeast of the
structure. An eyewitness at an adjacent residence stated he saw a
tornado cross over Selma Pike. Further northeast, damage was also
found along Old Springfield Road where two uprooted evergreen
trees were noted, and several large limbs had been tossed in
multiple directions.

On Limerick Road, one uprooted deciduous tree was observed. Then,
on East Pitchin Road between Ridge Road and Craig Road, a large
tree was snapped off.

Along Craig Road, a two story home lost multiple shingles, which
were found scattered across an adjacent field. In addition,
multiple second story soffit boards had been blown off. Further
down Craig Road, another residence had siding removed from the
storm, and a large tree was blown down. Near where Craig Road
intersects with Old 70 Road, a barn was blown over, and metal
roofing was found scattered into neighboring property, including
one six foot piece found impaled into the siding of a house.

On Old 70 Road, multiple trees were blown down, and multiple roofing
shingles from a house were blown off. One of the these shingles
was wedged into the window framing on the northeast-facing side of
the house. Along Fletcher Pike, a few trees were also observed to
be blown down.

The last damage seen along the track was on Newlove Road. Here, a
metal barn roof was lifted and thrown into an adjacent field. This
was the apparent end of the tornado.

Damage at all of these locations followed a convergent path, and
was typical of a weak tornado, with a maximum estimated wind
speed of 80-85 mph. This places the tornado in the EFO range of
the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington would like to thank the
Clark County Ohio Emergency Management Agency for their
assistance and collaboration in the execution of this survey.

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

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

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

$$

Peloquin/Hogue/Binau