Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, May 18, 1997

Large hail, up to one inch in diameter, fell in several locations. In Marion (Marion County), hail was reported up to two inches deep on some roads. Thunderstorm winds downed trees, large branches, and power lines, and several buildings were damaged or destroyed. In Bowling Green (Wood), several barn roofs were blown off with some of the pieces landing on a nearby house. Also, in Bowling Green, a 60 foot tree fell on a house and at least one tree fell on a car The tops were blown off several trees, a camping trailer was blown 100 feet and an awning was ripped off a house in Kirkpatrick (Marion). In Richland County, trees were downed on a house in Bellville, and in Mansfield, a barn considered to be in good shape was blown down. A 67 mile per hour wind gust was reported in Ridgeville Corners in Henry County. In Liberty Center, also in Henry County, an enclosed porch was blown off a house, a garage collapsed, a barn roof was blown off and vehicles were damaged by falling trees and limbs. A construction trailer was blown across a road in Fremont (Sandusky). In Fostoria (Seneca), a barn roof was blown 2000 feet into a field and pieces of wood were pushed into the side of a barn by the force of the wind. In Bettsville, also in Seneca County, two garages were blown away, with one landing on railroad tracks and one in a field. In Sandusky County, a 65 mile per hour wind was reported in Erie.