EF1 Tornado Confirmed in Mercer and Auglaize Counties

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
1127 AM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024

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

..EF1 Confirmed in Mercer/Auglaize County...

Start Location...Celina in Mercer County OH
End Location.....4 S Buckland in Auglaize County OH
Date...........................03/14/2024
Estimated Time.................7:00 PM EDT
Estimated Time.................7:24 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating........EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...105 mph
Maximum Path Width.............1050 yards
Path Length....................16.1 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon..............40.5518 / -84.5684
Ending Lat/Lon.................40.5675 / -84.2681
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries.....0

...Summary...
The tornado initially began a couple of blocks east of
North Main Street along East Anthony Street within the city of
Celina. A few houses received light damage to roofs and a few
trees were knocked down. Additional light tree debris was noted
along East Anthony Street toward College Avenue. The tornado
continued eastward, causing tree and minor roofing damage to
houses on Devonshire and Cumberland Drive. One house on Devonshire
Drive had more roof damage. The tornado is believed to have moved
east from there, causing damage to the Menards and Eastview Park
before crossing State Route 29. Sporadic tree damage was found
between State Route 703 and State Route 29 as the tornado
continued east. A few homes on Long Pine Drive and surrounding
courts were damaged.

As the tornado neared Riley Road, it took on a more northeast
motion, damaging several buildings south of State Route 29 before
crossing from south to north. Damaged outbuildings, homes, and
snapped/uprooted trees were then observed along Four Turkey Road
north of State Route 29. After the tornado crossed State Route 29,
the width of observed damage grew quite significantly suggesting
the circulation of the tornado grew. The observed damage, mostly
consisting of damaged out-buildings, a few houses, and numerous
trees, indicated an intensification of the tornado as well, with a
swath of EF-1 damage stretching from Four Turkey Road to State
Route 116 east of US Route 33. This period of the tornado is where
the tornado was at its widest, approximately 1050 yards, and
strongest with winds estimated around 105 mph.

To the east of State Route 116, the tornado began to slowly
contract in size as it continued eastward. Radar data shows a
steady eastward motion for the tornado with the circulation
remaining intact for seven additional miles. The observed damage
was mostly tree related due to the tornado`s slow state of
weakening. The final observed damage was found along Bay Road
north of US Route 33, therefore it is believed that the tornado
dissipated between Bay Road and Kettlersville Road. This matches
up well with radar data.

The NWS in Wilmington would like to thank Emergency Management
officials from Mercer and Auglaize County for their assistance in
the damage 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.

$$