Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, May 14 to 31, 1997

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, May 14 to 31, 1997
Start: 1997-05-14T16:21
End: 1997-05-31T23:59
Location: Ohio

May 14 to 31, 1997 · NWS ILN · 41 events in 24 counties and zones

18 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 9 flash flood, 3 tornado, 1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $601,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 41

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 9 flash flood, 3 tornado, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Greene

When: May 14, 4:21 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where: Greene County, Spring Vly to 2 mi of Spring Vly
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 39.570, -84.020

Hail, Warren

When: May 14, 4:21 PM EST
Where: Warren County, Waynesville
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 39.530, -84.080

Hail, Clinton

When: May 14, 4:50 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, 2 mi NE of Sabina
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Coordinates: 39.500, -83.620

Tornado, Clinton

When: May 14, 5:05 PM EST to 5:10 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, 4 mi NE of Sabina
Rating: F1
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 39.520, -83.600

A mini supercell spawned a tornado along a warm frontal boundary. Roofs were blown off a grain bin, hog harrowing house, and several farm buildings.

Tornado, Fayette

When: May 14, 5:10 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where: Fayette County, Jasper Mills to 2 mi SW of Washington Court Hou
Rating: F1
Path length: 3 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 39.520, -83.550

A mini supercell spawned a tornado that moved out of Clinton county into Fayette county. A shed was destroyed, a barn and 2 houses were damaged, and 8 trees were downed.

Hail, Fayette

When: May 14, 5:20 PM EST to 5:25 PM EST
Where: Fayette County, Washington Court Hou
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 39.530, -83.430

Hail, Franklin

When: May 14, 5:32 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Grove City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.880, -83.080

Tornado, Ross

When: May 14, 6:00 PM EST to 6:25 PM EST
Where: Ross County, Greenland to 2 mi of Adelphi
Rating: F1
Path length: 25 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 39.470, -83.120

A second tornado formed from a mini-supercell which tracked across much of northern Ross county. Much of the county is open fields so very little structural damage occurred. However, a barn roof was ripped off and power lines were downed near Kingston.

Hail, Pickaway

When: May 14, 6:03 PM EST
Where: Pickaway County, 2 mi SW of Whisler
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.470, -82.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: May 14, 6:20 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Canal Winchester
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.850, -82.820

Numerous trees downed.

Hail, Hocking

When: May 14, 6:47 PM EST
Where: Hocking County, Laurelville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Coordinates: 39.450, -82.770

Hail, Delaware

When: May 18, 4:15 AM EST
Where: Delaware County, Lewis Center
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 40.200, -83.020

Hail, Hardin

When: May 18, 1:50 PM EST to 1:55 PM EST
Where: Hardin County, Roundhead
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 40.550, -83.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Allen

When: May 18, 3:27 PM EST
Where: Allen County, Lafayette
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 40.750, -83.950

Several barns were damaged or destroyed and numerous trees and power lines were downed.

Hail, Clark

When: May 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Clark County, New Carlisle
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 39.930, -84.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When: May 18, 4:15 PM EST to 4:20 PM EST
Where: Clark County, North Hampton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.980, -83.930

Numerous trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Champaign

When: May 18, 4:20 PM EST to 4:25 PM EST
Where: Champaign County, Mechanicsburg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 40.070, -83.550

Numerous trees downed and a roof blown off a barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: May 18, 4:40 PM EST to 4:50 PM EST
Where: Madison County, London to Rosedale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 39.880, -83.450

Numerous trees downed with a few falling on homes and a barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: May 18, 4:50 PM EST to 4:55 PM EST
Where: Union County, Marysville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.230, -83.370

Numerous trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Delaware

When: May 18, 4:50 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, Delaware
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 40.300, -83.070

Numerous trees downed. Six homes were damaged when trees fell on them.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: May 18, 5:20 PM EST to 5:25 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Columbus
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 40.030, -83.000

Several trees and large limbs downed. Barn destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Paulding

When: May 18, 10:45 PM EST to 10:50 PM EST
Where: Paulding County, Paulding
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.130, -84.570

Numerous trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: May 18, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Putnam County, Ottawa
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 41.020, -84.050

Numerous trees down including one that fell on a car causing a fatality.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allen

When: May 18, 11:25 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
Where: Allen County, Beaverdam
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 40.830, -83.970

Several barns damaged or destroyed. Two silos were damaged and trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clermont

When: May 19, 3:50 PM EST to 3:55 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, Bethel
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 38.970, -84.080

Numerous trees downed with some falling on residences and a church.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: May 19, 4:04 PM EST to 4:10 PM EST
Where: Brown County, Mt Orab to Georgetown
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.050, -83.920

Numerous trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ross

When: May 19, 4:25 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where: Ross County, Londonderry
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.270, -82.800

Numerous trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: May 19, 4:30 PM EST to 4:35 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Cherry Fork
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 38.880, -83.600

Numerous trees and power lines downed. Several roofs blown off.

Thunderstorm Wind, Highland

When: May 19, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Highland County, East Monroe
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 39.350, -83.500

Several power lines downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pike

When: May 19, 4:45 PM EST to 4:50 PM EST
Where: Pike County, Cynthiana
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.170, -83.350

Numerous trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Scioto

When: May 19, 5:00 PM EST to 5:05 PM EST
Where: Scioto County, Mt Joy
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 38.950, -83.170

Several trees downed.

Flash Flood, Adams

When: May 19, 5:43 PM EST to 8:40 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 38.846, -83.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over 6 inches of rainfall occurred in only a few hours causing numerous roads to be flooded and creeks to rise out of their banks. A few people had to be rescued from cars and area bridges.

Flash Flood, Scioto

When: May 19, 7:30 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Scioto County, Rarden
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 38.804, -82.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several streets flooded by over 6 inches of rainfall in only a few hours.

Flash Flood, Paulding

When: May 25, 8:30 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where: Paulding County, Payne
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 41.117, -84.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads closed due to persistent heavy rainfall.

Flash Flood, Putnam

When: May 25, 8:30 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where: Putnam County, Ottawa
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 41.022, -84.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads closed due to persistent heavy rainfall.

Flash Flood, Allen

When: May 25, 12:10 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Allen County, Lima
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 40.772, -84.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Riley creek in Bluffton rose out of its banks causing 6 residents to be evacuated. Several roads flooded across the county.

Flood, Putnam

When: May 26, 5:00 AM EST to May 28, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.022, -84.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Blanchard River at Ottawa rose to 26.5 feet on the 27th around 200 am est causing extensive flooding of the town. Flood stage is 23.0 feet.

Flash Flood, Darke

When: May 31, 5:15 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Darke County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 40.133, -84.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many roads were closed due to flooding from persistent heavy rainfall.

Flash Flood, Brown

When: May 31, 8:38 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Brown County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 38.934, -83.867 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads flooded from heavy rainfall.

Flash Flood, Adams

When: May 31, 8:55 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Countywide
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 38.846, -83.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many roads closed due to flooding from persistent heavy rainfall.

Flash Flood, Highland

When: May 31, 9:30 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Highland County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 39.185, -83.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Persistent heavy rainfall caused many roads to be closed.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam	1997-05-18	42	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Ohio in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Ohio, 1997 Warnings in Ohio, May 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5603548, 5603549, 5603547, 5603550, 5601738, 5603551, 5603554, 5603553, 5603552, 5603555, 5601617, 5601618, 5601619, 5601620, 5601621, 5601622, 5601623, 5601624, 5601625, 5601626, 5601627, 5601628, 5601629, 5601630, 5601631, 5601632, 5601635, 5601634, 5601633, 5601636, 5601637, 5601638, 5601639, 5601640, 5601641, 5601732, 5601737, 5601733, 5601735, 5601734, and more.