Ohio, 2002

Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, April 19 to 20, 2002

April 19 to 20, 2002 · NWS CLE · 37 events in 12 counties and zones

27 hail, 4 flash flood, 4 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$585,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
37

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 19, 1:28 PM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 19, 1:28 PM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
228 PM EDT FRI APR 19 2002

A SERIES OF WEAK SURFACE SYSTEMS WILL MOVE ALONG THE
FRONT OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS.  THE AVN AND ETA MODELS
ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS. BOTH
MODELS SHOW AN IMPULSE PUSHING MOISTURE OVER THE CWA
LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY.  THEIR IS LACK OF
SUPPORT WITH THE SURFACE FEATURE.  IT APPEARS TO BE
WEAK...THEREFORE I WILL KEEP CHC POPS AS CURRENT
FORECAST.

A MORE SIGNIFICANT SURFACE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP ON
SUNDAY.  MODELS SHOW SIGNIFICANT LOW LEVEL FORCING
ASSOCIATED WITH AN 850MB JET.  I WILL BRING LIKELY
POPS INTO NW OHIO AND KEEP CHC POPS OVER THE REST
OF THE CWA.

WILL MENTION MIX OF RW/SW ON MONDAY AS 850 TEMPS DIP
BELOW -6.

.CLE...
OH...NONE.
PA...NONE.

GARNET

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 hail, 4 flash flood, 4 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lorain

When
April 19, 2:45 PM EST to 2:50 PM EST
Where
Lorain County, Vermilion on the Lk
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.417, -82.333

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Lorain

When
April 19, 2:45 PM EST
Where
Lorain County, Henrietta
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
41.333, -82.300

Dime size hail was reported.

Flash Flood, Lorain

When
April 19, 3:10 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Lorain County, Oberlin
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
41.453, -82.151 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused widespread street flooding in Oberlin. Water on some roads was over two feet in depth forcing several motorists to abandon their vehicles.

Hail, Lorain

When
April 19, 3:25 PM EST
Where
Lorain County, Penfield
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.167, -82.117

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Medina

When
April 19, 3:25 PM EST
Where
Medina County, Chatham
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.100, -82.017

Dime size hail was reported north of Chatham near Litchfield.

Hail, Morrow

When
April 19, 3:35 PM EST
Where
Morrow County, Mt Gilead
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.550, -82.833

Quarter size hail was reported.

Hail, Medina

When
April 19, 3:40 PM EST to 3:48 PM EST
Where
Medina County, Medina
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
41.133, -81.867

Dime to quarter size hail was reported.

Hail, Knox

When
April 19, 3:41 PM EST to 4:05 PM EST
Where
Knox County, Fredericktown
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.483, -82.550

Dime to quarter size hail was reported.

Hail, Medina

When
April 19, 3:48 PM EST
Where
Medina County, Chippewa on the Lake
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
41.083, -81.917

Hail two inches in diameter was reported.

Hail, Knox

When
April 19, 3:49 PM EST
Where
Knox County, Ankenytown
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.533, -82.500

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Medina

When
April 19, 3:50 PM EST to 4:06 PM EST
Where
Medina County, Wadsworth
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.033, -81.750

Dime to quarter size hail was reported.

Hail, Morrow

When
April 19, 3:55 PM EST
Where
Morrow County, Johnsville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.617, -82.667

Golf ball size hail was reported just northeast of Johnsville.

Hail, Wayne

When
April 19, 4:00 PM EST to 4:06 PM EST
Where
Wayne County, Rittman
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.967, -81.783

Dime to nearly golf ball size hail was reported. Several vehicles were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When
April 19, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Wayne County, Sterling
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.829, -81.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Golf ball size hail was reported. Several trees also downed.

Tornado, Stark

When
April 19, 4:16 PM EST
Where
Stark County, Canal Fulton
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.883, -81.600

A small and very weak tornado crossed into Stark County from Wayne County near the intersection of State Route 21 and Deerfield Avenue. This location is in Lawrence Township approximately three miles west of Canal Fulton. The tornado path was only a few dozen yards in length and no damage occurred.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stark

When
April 19, 4:16 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Stark County, Countywide
Property damage
$150,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.817, -81.367

Thunderstorm winds downed at least seven trees and several power poles across the county. Most of the damage was in Lawrence Township where a barn was also destroyed. A second barn lost a large section of roof. A garage was significantly damaged in Canton Township.

Tornado, Wayne

When
April 19, 4:16 PM EST
Where
Wayne County, Doylestown
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.967, -81.683

A small tornado briefly touched down in a field near the intersection of State Route 21 and Deerfield Avenue. The initial touchdown occurred in Chippewa Township approximately four miles southeast of Doylestown. The tornado was only on the ground a few dozen yards but managed to cross into Stark County before quickly dissipating. No damage occurred.

Hail, Summit

When
April 19, 4:18 PM EST
Where
Summit County, Clinton
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.917, -81.617

Nickel size hail was reported.

Hail, Stark

When
April 19, 4:20 PM EST
Where
Stark County, Canal Fulton
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.883, -81.600

Dime to quarter size hail fell just west of Canal Fulton.

Hail, Knox

When
April 19, 4:30 PM EST to 4:31 PM EST
Where
Knox County, Mt Vernon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.400, -82.483

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Stark

When
April 19, 4:40 PM EST
Where
Stark County, Massillon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.783, -81.550

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Holmes

When
April 19, 4:50 PM EST
Where
Holmes County, Mt Hope
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.617, -81.783

Dime size hail covered the ground one mile north of Mount Hope.

Hail, Stark

When
April 19, 4:55 PM EST
Where
Stark County, Canton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.800, -81.383

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Stark

When
April 19, 4:57 PM EST
Where
Stark County, Canton
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.800, -81.383

Quarter size hail was reported.

Flash Flood, Knox

When
April 19, 5:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Knox County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.399, -82.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused several small streams to leave their banks. The resulting flooding washed out culverts and forced the closure of several roads. A few homes were completely surrounded by flood waters forcing the evacuation of several people. Street flooding also occurred in Mount Vernon.

Thunderstorm Wind, Knox

When
April 19, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Knox County, Mt Vernon
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.400, -82.483

Thunderstorm winds downed two trees.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When
April 19, 6:00 PM EST to 7:10 PM EST
Where
Holmes County, Countywide
Reported by
GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates
40.561, -81.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused many small streams and creeks to leave their banks. A road was washed out north of Mount Hope.

Hail, Crawford

When
April 19, 6:15 PM EST
Where
Crawford County, Galion
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.733, -82.783

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Richland

When
April 19, 6:21 PM EST
Where
Richland County, Lexington
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.667, -82.583

Dime size hail was reported one mile north of Lexington.

Flash Flood, Knox

When
April 19, 6:30 PM EST to April 20, 12:30 AM EST
Where
Knox County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.399, -82.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Runoff from severe thunderstorms earlier in the day continued to cause widespread flooding. A mobile home park near Fredericktown had to be evacuated due to flooding. Dozens of roads were closed because of flooding. Several of these roads were washed out.

Hail, Crawford

When
April 19, 6:30 PM EST to 6:34 PM EST
Where
Crawford County, Crestline
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.783, -82.733

Dime to quarter size hail was reported.

Hail, Marion

When
April 19, 6:55 PM EST
Where
Marion County, Marion
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
40.583, -83.133

Quarter size hail was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richland

When
April 19, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Richland County, Mansfield
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.767, -82.517

Thunderstorm winds tore sections of roofing off of two large buildings and downed many trees on the northwest side of Mansfield. A windshield was also blown out of a car.

Hail, Morrow

When
April 19, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Morrow County, Mt Gilead
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.550, -82.833

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Richland

When
April 19, 7:02 PM EST
Where
Richland County, Mansfield
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.767, -82.517

Dime size hail was reported.

Hail, Ashland

When
April 19, 7:18 PM EST to 7:26 PM EST
Where
Ashland County, Ashland
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.867, -82.300

Dime to quarter size hail was reported just west of Ashland.

Hail, Ashland

When
April 19, 7:31 PM EST
Where
Ashland County, Nankin
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.917, -82.283

Dime size hail was reported.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Ohio in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Ohio, 2002Warnings in Ohio, April 2002

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: 5287548, 5288948, 5287615, 5287616, 5288950, 5288949, 5288951, 5288952, 5287617, 5287619, 5287618, 5287620, 5288953, 5288954, 5287545, 5287631, 5288963, 5288955, 5287621, 5288956, 5287622, 5287546, 5288957, 5287623, 5287624, 5287626, 5287629, 5287627, 5288962, 5287630, 5288958, 5287547, 5287625, 5288961, 5288959, 5288960, 5287628.