Alert archive / Ohio / Tornado Warnings in 1997

Tornado Warning 24, NWS Wilmington, OH

August 17, 1997Adams County, Ohio

NWS Wilmington, OH issued this tornado warning at Aug 17, 1997, 3:14 PM EDT for Adams County, Ohio. It was in force for 61 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 17, 1997, 3:14 PM EDT (19:14 UTC)
Expired
Aug 17, 1997, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, OH
Area
Whole counties

County Adams County, OH

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 17, 3:15 PM EDTTornado F0West Union, OHThis thunderstorm had a long line of downbursts which caused damage to numerous trees, some of which fell on a house and a mobile home. Embedded within this path of damage was evidence that a tornado made brief touchdowns. In two different areas, tree damage

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 17, 2:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 71 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 1997-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 39 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 1997-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 51 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
39 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-211 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
934 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KILN 171914 RRA
TORILN
OHC001-172015-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
314 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON OH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 415 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO

   ...ADAMS COUNTY
 
AT 310 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO OVER WEST CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY NORTHWEST OF WEST UNION.
THE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING THE TORNADO WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30
MPH. TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE DUNKINSVILLE...CEDAR
MILLS AND JACKSONVILLE. 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME OR
BUSINESS IS AN INT@ERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID
WINDOWS.

KELLS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Aug 17, 3:00 PM EDT, 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 3:00 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
FORECAST COORDINATION MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
300 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

SEVERE WEATHER ONGOING AND TIME IS SHORT. BRIEFLY...STRONG TO SEVERE
TSTMS MOVG THRU CWA AT THIS TIME. STRONGEST ACTIVITY WL PUSH E OF
CWA BY THIS EVE...BUT SHRA/ISOLD TSRA WL LINGER THRU EVE AT THRU AT
LEAST FIRST HALF OF NITE N AND UNTIL AFTER MIDNITE S. IN GENERAL...
SFC FRNT WL GRADUALLY SETTLE THRU AND S OF REGION OVERNITE.

CONTINUE FLASH FLOOD WATCHES AS CURRNTLY IN PLACE...CAN LIKELY
DISCONTINUE EARLY EVE SE IN AND BY LATE EVE UPDATE PKG FOR OH AREAS.

STILL LOTS OF POST-FRNTL LO CLDS...SO MAY TAKE UNTIL LATER MON AM
UNTIL CLDS BEGIN TO BREAK UP ACRS REGION...POERHAPS NOT UNTIL AFTN S.

MOS TMPS IN AGREEMNT AND WL STAY CLOSE.

CVG 66/80/61/80 8000
DAY 59/77/56/78 8000
CMH 62/77/58/79 9000

ROWLEY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 17, 12:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OHIO
1220 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1130 AM    GEORGETOWN                OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BROWN                          TREES DOWN NEAR ROUTE 223

1145 AM    SEAMAN                    OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   ADAMS                          TREES DOWN FROM SEAMAN TO
                                          LAWSHE

SHARTRAN
Local storm report, Aug 17, 12:24 PM EDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OHIO
1220 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1130 AM    GEORGETOWN                OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BROWN                          TREES DOWN NEAR ROUTE 223

1145 AM    SEAMAN                    OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   ADAMS                          TREES DOWN FROM SEAMAN TO
     T                                     LAWSHE

SHARTRAN
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 1:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
KYZ100-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
110 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

THE STORM PREDIDTCION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR LEWIS COUNTY KENTUCKY UNTIL 8 PM EDT.

AT 105 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS INTENSIFYING
AND PUSHING INTO LEWIS COUNTY FROM THE WEST...AND ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP WITHIN OR MOVE INTO THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME
SEVERE AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND PERHAPS EVEN LARGE HAIL.

YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO MONITOR COMMERCIAL RADIO...LOCAL OR CABLE
TELEVISION THIS AFTERNOON FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. IF A WARNING IS ISSUED
FOR YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ROWLEY
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 1:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
KYZ100-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
110 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

THE STORM PREDIDTCION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR LEWIS COUNTY KENTUCKY UNTIL 8 PM EDT.

AT 105 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS INTENSIFYING
AND PUSHING INTO LEWIS COUNTY FROM THE WEST...AND ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP WITHIN OR MOVE INTO THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME
SEVERE AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND PERHAPS EVEN LARGE HAIL.

YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO MONITOR COMMERCIAL RADIO...LOCAL OR CABLE
TELEVISION THIS AFTERNOON FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. IF A WARNING IS ISSUED
FOR YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ROWLEY
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:15 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
KYZ090>099-OHZ070>073-077>082-088-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
215 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN OHIO AND
MOST OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHERN OHIO AND MOST OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY
UNTIL 8 PM EDT. CITIES IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDE CINCINNATI...
MIDDLETOWN...CHILLICOTHE...PORTSMOUTH...COVINGTON AND MAYSVILLE.

AT 210 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST OHIO.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTH AND EAST ACROSS
SOUTHERN OHIO AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME
SEVERE AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING.

ALSO...SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS CAPABLE
OF FLOODING CREEKS AND ROADS.

YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL
RADIO...LOCAL OR CABLE TELEVISION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR
POSSIBLE WARNINGS. IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION...SEEK
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ROWLEY
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:17 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
KYZ090>099-OHZ070>073-077>082-088-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
215 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN OHIO AND
MOST OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHERN OHIO AND MOST OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY
UNTIL 8 PM EDT. CITIES IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDE CINCINNATI...
MIDDLETOWN...CHILLICOTHE...PORTSMOUTH...COVINGTON AND MAYSVILLE.

AT 210 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST OHIO.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTH AND EAST ACROSS
SOUTHERN OHIO AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME
SEVERE AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING.

ALSO...SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS CAPABLE
OF FLOODING CREEKS AND ROADS.

YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL
RADIO...LOCAL OR CABLE TELEVISION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR
POSSIBLE WARNINGS. IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION...SEEK
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ROWLEY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wilmington, OH issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 8:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningILNPutnam3 hr
Aug 16, 10:53 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningILNPaulding, Putnam3 hr
Aug 16, 11:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNAllen, Auglaize48 min
Aug 17, 11:13 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNBrown42 min
Aug 17, 11:29 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNAdams41 min
Aug 17, 11:47 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNPike, Scioto38 min
Aug 17, 12:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNPike, Scioto45 min
Aug 17, 2:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNHamilton58 min
Aug 17, 2:23 PM EDTTornado WarningILNLicking47 min
Aug 17, 2:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNBrown, Clermont64 min
Aug 17, 3:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNAdams62 min
Aug 17, 3:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNPike, Scioto61 min
Aug 17, 7:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNHamilton48 min
Aug 17, 7:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNButler64 min
Aug 17, 7:31 PM EDTTornado WarningILNHamilton64 min
Aug 17, 7:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILNClermont, Warren66 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Ohio, 1997Every tornado warning in 1997Tornadoes in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.