Ohio, 2002

Damaging Winds and High Wind in Ohio, March 9, 2002

March 9, 2002 · NWS PBZ · 22 events in 11 counties and zones

A deepening area of low pressure moving eastward across the northern Great Lakes swept a strong cold front across east central Ohio during the late afternoon hours of the 9th. This intensifying low produced a large area of strong low-level winds, both ahead of and behind the cold front.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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
$260,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
22

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 PBZ wrote it up.

A deepening area of low pressure moving eastward across the northern Great Lakes swept a strong cold front across east central Ohio during the late afternoon hours of the 9th. This intensifying low produced a large area of strong low-level winds, both ahead of and behind the cold front. Winds between 70 - 80 MPH were present just a few thousand feet off the surface across the area by the mid-afternoon hours. As showers formed during the day, these strong winds were occasionally brought down to the surface. To further complicate matters, by the late afternoon hours enough instability was present to produce a line of severe thunderstorms along the main cold front as it entered east central Ohio. This combination of strong gradient winds and severe thunderstorm winds produced widespread damage across the area, mostly in the form of downed trees and power lines. These high winds continued after the cold frontal passage, downing trees and power lines, until the early morning hours of the 10th. At that time, the surface low moved off into Quebec and the strong gradient winds finally diminished. It is estimated that around 15,000 people were left without electricity in east central Ohio in the wake of this wind event.

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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 9, 2:37 PM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 9, 2:37 PM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
235 PM AM EST SAT MAR 9 2002

AFTER CONFERRING WITH CTP DECIDED TO GO WITH HIGH WIND WARNING
TONIGHT UNTIL 4 AM FOR ALL CWA. LATEST RUC AND ETA CONTINUE TO SHOW
70KT 850 MB WINDS PLUS PRESSURE RISES OVER 8 MB MOVING THROUGH THE
HEAD OF THE OHIO REGION TONIGHT. SOME SURFACE GUSTS OVER 60 KTS NOW
REPORTED IN INDIANA.
NEW ZONES ALSO INCLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 7 PM FOR SOME
EAST CENTRAL OHIO COUNTIES. SPC DISCUSSIONS INDICATE BEST POTENTIAL
FOR THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS OVER 50 KTS IS OUR CWA SO WOULD NOT BE
SURPRISED IF WATCHES ARE EXTENDED EASTWARD THIS EVENING. FORECAST
WORDING CONTINUES TO INDICATE THIS.

LONGTERM...LONG WAVE TROUGH REMAINS IN PLAINS STATES THIS WEEK. SO
INITIAL COLD SHOT SUNDAY WILL GIVE WAY TO TEMPERATURES NEAR OR ABOVE
NORMAL FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. FOR THE TIMING OF PRECIPITATION
WENT MAINLY WITH MRF ENSEMBLE GRAPHICS AND MOS...ALTHOUGH NEW AVN
DID BRING SOME SHOWERS WEDNESDAY. GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES GENERALLY
OKAY. ...GIORDANO

.PBZ...
MD...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4AM SUNDAY
          MDZ001.
OH...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4AM SUNDAY
          OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069.
     SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 7 PM SUNDAY
          5 COUNTIES SO FAR.
PA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4AM SUNDAY
          PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029>032.
WV...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4AM SUNDAY
          WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 9, 2:46 PM EST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
100000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
246 PM EST SAT MAR 9 2002

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EST SATURDAY EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

COSHOCTON...MUSKINGUM...TUSCARAWAS...GUERNSEY...NOBLE.

DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS WINDS OF OVER 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
WHEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind, 11 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coshocton

When
March 9, 5:00 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where
Coshocton County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.300, -81.917

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskingum

When
March 9, 5:00 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where
Muskingum County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.967, -81.950

High Wind, Coshocton

When
March 9, 5:15 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Coshocton forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.302, -81.920 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Muskingum

When
March 9, 5:15 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Muskingum forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.965, -81.944 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Guernsey

When
March 9, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Guernsey County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.033, -81.467

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscarawas

When
March 9, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Tuscarawas County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.450, -81.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When
March 9, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Carroll County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.600, -81.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Harrison

When
March 9, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Harrison County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.300, -81.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Noble

When
March 9, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Noble County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.783, -81.467

High Wind, Guernsey

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Guernsey forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.052, -81.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Tuscarawas

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Tuscarawas forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.441, -81.474 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Carroll

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.580, -81.090 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Harrison

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Harrison forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.294, -81.091 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Noble

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Noble forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.766, -81.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Belmont

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where
Belmont County, Countywide
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.017, -81.033

Numerous trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds. A few trees fell on parked cars.

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbiana

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where
Columbiana County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.783, -80.783

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where
Jefferson County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.383, -80.767

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
March 9, 6:00 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, Countywide
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.717, -81.083

High Wind, Belmont

When
March 9, 6:15 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Belmont forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.016, -80.988 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Columbiana

When
March 9, 6:15 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Columbiana forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.768, -80.777 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jefferson

When
March 9, 6:15 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.385, -80.761 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Monroe

When
March 9, 6:15 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Monroe forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.727, -81.083 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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 historyWarnings in Ohio, March 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: 5287038, 5287040, 5287039, 5287119, 5287120, 5287122, 5287124, 5287126, 5287128, 5287121, 5287123, 5287125, 5287127, 5287129, 5287130, 5287132, 5287134, 5287136, 5287131, 5287133, 5287135, 5287137.