Tornado near Laurelville, OH - May 27, 2019

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
838 AM EDT Wed May 29 2019

...EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED NORTHEAST OF LAURELVILLE OHIO...

Location...northeast of Laurelville in Hocking County, Ohio
Date...........................May 28, 2019
Start Time.....................117 AM EDT
End Time.......................128 AM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating........EF2
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...125 MPH
Maximum Path Width.............400 yards
Path Length....................5.6 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...39.512773N / 82.727056W
Ending Lat/Lon......39.522948N / 82.623731W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries.....0

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Wilmington Ohio has confirmed an EF2
tornado just northeast of Laurelville in Hocking County, Ohio.

Extensive and somewhat severe tree damage was observed at multiple
points along a tornado track in extreme western Hocking County. The
tornado is believed to have initially touched down about 50 yards
west of Union Road/Township Highway 145. More significant structural
damage was observed at a home on Wolfe Road, with the second level
completely destroyed/removed from the structure. Windows were blown
out of cars on the property with a garage also completely destroyed.

Other homes in the vicinity received minor structural damage,
including partial roofs removed from several homes. However, nearby
trees were debarked with significant and severe tree damage
extending a bit further east. This continuation of severe and
widespread tree damage, including large swaths where trees appeared
to be mowed down, was observed via video from an earlier helicopter
aerial survey conducted by the Laurelville Fire Department. Sheared
off and flattened tree swaths had widths extending at least several
hundred feet. It is because of the aerial footage, as well as on-
ground survey efforts, that it was determined that the tornado width
grew up to one quarter mile in width east of Union Road leading up
to Middle Fork Road. Here, several homes were impacted, with one of
the homes severely damaged. A large propane tank had been thrown
20-30 feet from its original resting position. Moreover, a 7000-lb
truck was thrown into the house. Widespread significant and severe
tree damage was observed in this vicinity as well, with several
instances of debarking.

The tornado continued on an eastward progression east of Middle Fork
Road to Long Run Road. Extensive and widespread significant tree
damage was observed in this highly forested area. Several more
structures along Long Run Road were damaged, either by the tornado
itself or the large trees downed throughout the area. One mobile
home had a tree sever the structure in half. Downed trees in this
area were several yards in diameter. Here, it is believed that the
tornado maintained a width of up to one quarter of a mile.

A bit further to the east, additional but more minor tree damage was
observed along Clapper Hollow Road. Tree damage in this area was
less severe and less widespread than points further east. Little to
no additional tree or structural damage was observed further east of
Clapper Hollow Road. Therefore, it is believed that the tornado
lifted shortly after passing east of Clapper Hollow Road.

The National Weather Service would like to thank Emergency
Management officials from Hocking County, as well as the Laurelville
Fire Department, for their assistance in the storm 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.

$$