Damaging Winds in Ohio, December 6, 1998

Name: Damaging Winds in Ohio, December 6, 1998
Start: 1998-12-06T22:45
End: 1998-12-06T23:20
Location: Ohio

December 6, 1998 · NWS IWX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong upper level disturbance ejecting out of the desert southwest early on the 6th combined with 130 knot jet stream, induced surface low pressure across western Kansas which rapidly deepened throughout the day as it moved northeastward into the southern great lakes that evening. Mid level winds were in excess of 100 knots at 500 millibars.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS IWX wrote it up.

Synoptic and mesoscale conditions for December 6th...A strong upper level disturbance ejecting out of the desert southwest early on the 6th combined with 130 knot jet stream, induced surface low pressure across western Kansas which rapidly deepened throughout the day as it moved northeastward into the southern great lakes that evening. Mid level winds were in excess of 100 knots at 500 millibars. Instability was quite limited with surface based lifted indicies only around zero. However an impressive dry punch accompanied the cold front where convergence was quite strong and combined with dewpoints near 60 degrees... a line of low topped storms developed by mid evening across northern Indiana and southern Michigan and marched eastward into Ohio later in the evening. Wind gusts associated with this line of storms were estimated to be as much as 100 mph which caused extensive damage to trees, power lines and structures across many counties.

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Paulding

When: December 6, 10:45 PM EST
Where: Paulding County, Paulding
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.130, -84.570

NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN. ONE HOUSE HAD ITS ROOF BLOWN OFF.

Thunderstorm Wind, Williams

When: December 6, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Williams County, Bryan
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.470, -84.550

MANY TREES AND LIMBS BLOWN DOWN.

Thunderstorm Wind, Defiance

When: December 6, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Defiance County, 3 mi E of Defiance
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.280, -84.300

BARN ROOF BLOWN OFF AND BOAT WAS KNOCKED OVER BY THE STRONG WINDS.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fulton

When: December 6, 11:15 PM EST
Where: Fulton County, Wauseon
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.550, -84.130

TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: December 6, 11:20 PM EST
Where: Putnam County, Ottawa
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.020, -84.050

TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN ACROSS THE TOWN.

What these are

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Ohio in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, December 1998

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: 5673570, 5673571, 5673572, 5673573, 5673574.