EF1 Tornado Confirmed in Delaware and Licking Counties

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
706 PM EDT Tue Mar 19 2024

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 03/14/2024 TORNADO EVENT...

...EF1 tornado confirmed in Delaware County and Licking County OH...

Start Location..........3 S Delaware in Delaware County OH
End Location............1 SSE St. Louisville in Licking County OH
Date...........................03/14/2024
Estimated Start Time...........9:01 PM EDT
Estimated End Time.............9:50 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating........EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...110 mph
Maximum Path Width.............600 yards
Path Length....................35.6 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon..............40.2599 / -83.0678
Ending Lat/Lon.................40.1575 / -82.4108
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries.....0

...Summary...
The tornado developed across central Delaware County near U.S. 
Highway 23. As the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 23, the tornado 
strengthened and widened, and began causing more structural damage
as it crossed the Olentangy River, and then especially so as it 
moved along Berlin Station Road and other areas of Berlin 
Township. Along this portion of the track, a number of homes 
sustained siding and roof damage, and numerous tree snaps and 
uproots were seen. Several barns were also destroyed. In vicinity 
of Olentangy Berlin High School, parts of the school campus and 
athletic fields were damaged, signs were bent over, and several 
free-standing transmission towers were felled. Among all of the 
damage indicators in this area, wind speeds around 110 mph were 
estimated as the maximum wind speed. 

The tornado crossed Alum Creek Reservoir and moved into 
neighborhoods southwest of Sunbury and west of Galena, continuing 
to cause widespread and significant tree damage, along with a 
large number of homes having windows blown out, partial roof 
removal, and power poles snapped. Damage in these areas was 
consistent with wind speeds from 95 to 105 mph. 

As the tornado moved through the Galena area, there was a complex
mix of straight-line wind damage through southern parts of the 
town of Galena, with tornadic damage embedded across the north 
side of Galena. The damage field through this area is notably 
wide.

As the tornado crossed into Licking County, the damage path 
remains quite wide and likely a complex mix of straight-line winds
on the immediate southern flank of the tornadic circulation. 
However, the damage is very consistent with wind speeds ranging 
from 90-100 mph across most of Licking County. Along this entire 
stretch of the damage path, the damage is a combination of partial
roof removal on some homes, barns being completely destroyed or 
heavily damaged, widespread tree uproots and snapped trunks, and 
power poles snapped. 

The tornado dissipated between Highway 13 and Horns Hills Road 
south of St. Louisville.

The National Weather Service would like to thank the Delaware and
Licking County Emergency Management Agencies for all of the 
coordination and assistance in completing this survey, as well as 
the Delaware County Sheriffs Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol 
Aviation Section. 

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.

$$

Binau/Zwier