A cold front trailing an area of low pressure over the central Great Lakes moved into western Ohio during the late evening hours of May 30th. Showers and thunderstorms developed in advance of this front and moved across northern Ohio during the early morning hours of May 31st.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS CLE wrote it up.
A cold front trailing an area of low pressure over the central Great Lakes moved into western Ohio during the late evening hours of May 30th. Showers and thunderstorms developed in advance of this front and moved across northern Ohio during the early morning hours of May 31st. A few of these thunderstorms became severe with one producing a tornado.
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 May 30, 8:10 PM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH 910 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A STORM SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE GREAT LAKES TONIGHT WILL BRING A THREAT OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHERN OHIO TONIGHT. SHOWERS AN THUNDERSTORMS WILL DECREASE THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE ANOTHER PIECE OF JET ENERGY BRINGS ADDITIONAL CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... FOR EVENING UPDATE HAVE ADJUSTED TIMING FOR REST OF THE NIGHT. IN GENERAL HAVE LEFT HIGHEST POP FOR THE NIGHT ABOUT THE SAME AS STILL THINK MOST OF AREA WILL HAVE MEASURABLE PRECIP BY 10Z. LEFT HEAVY RAIN THREAT IN AND KEPT DAMAGING WINDS THREAT FOR JUST WEST HALF. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE THROUGH THE MORNING AND SHOULD SHIFT SOUTH AND EAST THROUGH THE CWA. FRONT SHOULD BE THROUGH MOST OF THE AREA BUT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PICK OUT WITH THE OUTFLOW FROM THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WILL BE AHEAD OF THIS BOUNDARY. HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR SATURDAY WILL MAKE FOR A DIFFICULT FORECAST WITH THE WET GROUNDS AND CONVECTIVE DEBRIS CLOUDS. ANOTHER WAVE WILL ROTATE THROUGH THE TROUGH ON SUNDAY AND COULD BRING A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SOUTHWESTERN CWA. MONDAY APPEARS TO BE DRY ACROSS ALL OF NORTHERN OHIO BUT ANOTHER SHORT WAVE WILL APPROACH ON TUESDAY BRINGING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. EXPECT SEASONAL TEMPERATURES SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... CONSENSUS HERE IN THE LONG TERM IS TO LEAN TOWARD THE EUROPEAN. A WARM UP IS IN STORE AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD INTO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES AND BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY OVER THE EAST COAST BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL SET UP THE FIRST LARGE WESTERN ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE AREA. FORECAST AREA WILL SETTLE INTO A WARM SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALONG WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN DEW POINTS ACROSS THE AREA. THREAT FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST EACH DAY IN THE EXTENDED PERIODS AS ATMOSPHERE BECOMES UNSTABLE IN THE SOUTHERLY FLOW. GULF MOISTURE OPENS UP ALLOWING MOISTURE TO STREAM NORTH INTO THE REGION. INCREASING HUMIDITY WILL ALSO BE NOTICEABLE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO WARM INTO THE 80S BY MID WEEK FOR HIGHS WITH LOWS IN THE 60S. ENSEMBLE MOS GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES SUPPORT CURRENT EUROPEAN TRENDS OVER THE EXTENDED PERIODS. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SOURCE REGION AND BEST INSTABILITY FOR STRONGER STORMS PROGGED TO REMAIN TO THE WEST OVERNIGHT. MODELS ALL INSIST THAT SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL FILL IN ALONG PREFRONTAL TROUGH ACROSS NW OHIO AND SPREAD ACROSS NE OHIO OVERNIGHT. CONVECTION MAY BE MAINLY ELEVATED SO SOMEWHAT LESS RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS. NICE SW FLOW AHEAD OF THE TROUGH AND WILL BE BREEZY OVERNIGHT MAINLY WEST OF I-71. WILL SEE MVFR VISIBILITY AND CEILINGS IN HEAVIER SHOWERS/STORMS AND EVENTUALLY THE CEILINGS WILL LIKELY COME DOWN TO MVFR AND SOME SHOWERS COULD LINGER INTO SATURDAY MORNING. NEW SHOWERS/STORMS COULD DEVELOP ON SATURDAY AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT MAINLY ACROSS NE OH AND NW PA. EVENTUALLY DRIER AIR WILL FILTER IN ON SATURDAY AND WEST WIND WILL GET GUSTY WITH DAYTIME MIXING. OUTLOOK...DRIER AIR SHOULD CONTINUE TO FILTER INTO THE AREA ON SUNDAY. GFS AND TO A LESSER EXTENT THE NAM/WRF MODEL BRING ANOTHER TROUGH ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY WITH THE SMALL CHANCE OF SHOWERS/STORMS. WITH DRIER AND SOMEWHAT MORE STABLE AIR MOST OF THE DAY SUNDAY SHOULD BE DRY WITH VFR CONDITIONS ALTHOUGH CANNOT TOTALLY RULE OUT A SHOWER AT INLAND LOCATIONS. WARM FRONTAL TYPE SHOWERS/STORMS COULD ARRIVE AS EARLY AS TUESDAY MORNING AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STARTING TUESDAY AND ESSENTIALLY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK NEXT WEEK. SOME MORNING FOG/HAZE MAY ALSO GRADUALLY DEVELOP LATER NEXT WEEK. && .MARINE... COLD FRONT OVER CENTRAL U.S. WILL MOVE EAST ONTO LAKE ERIE LATE TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FRONT WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS OVERNIGHT AS THE FRONT APPROACHES. SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH HIGHS WINDS. WINDS AND WAVES MAY APPROACH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA ON SATURDAY AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE WEST AND INCREASE AFTER FRONT MOVES THROUGH. HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN TO THE LAKE ON SUNDAY WITH GENERALLY LIGHT/VARIABLE WINDS THROUGH MID WEEK EVEN WITH WEAK COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO DROP SE ACROSS THE LAKE ON TUESDAY. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...NONE. PA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...MULLEN NEAR TERM...MULLEN/ADAMS SHORT TERM...MULLEN LONG TERM...LOMBARDY AVIATION...KOSARIK MARINE...RANDEL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH 340 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2008 LEZ061-142>149-162>169-OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047- 089-PAZ001>003-311945- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO BUFFALO NY- MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH- THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH- AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE LAKE OH-GENEVA- ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT- LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-LUCAS-WOOD- OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-ERIE OH-LORAIN-CUYAHOGA-LAKE-GEAUGA-ASHTABULA INLAND- HANCOCK-SENECA-HURON-MEDINA-SUMMIT-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-WYANDOT-CRAWFORD- RICHLAND-ASHLAND-WAYNE-STARK-MAHONING-MARION-MORROW-HOLMES-KNOX- ASHTABULA LAKESHORE-NORTHERN ERIE-SOUTHERN ERIE-CRAWFORD PA- 340 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE...NORTH CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO...NORTHWEST OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN OHIO. THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP OVER ILLINOIS AND INDIANA WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWESTERN OHIO DURING THE LATE EVENING AND MOVE EASTWARD THROUGH SUNRISE. THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE THREAT OF STRONG DAMAGING WINDS WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY MORNING FOR AREAS EAST OF A CLEVELAND TO MANSFIELD LINE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED OVERNIGHT.
The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:30 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed two trees on the east side of Bellevue.
Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs in Bowling Green.
Thunderstorm winds destroyed a couple small garages in Arlington. Several trees and large limbs were also reported down.
Thunderstorm winds heavily damaged the roof of a house in Jenera.
A tornado touched down in northeastern Hancock County about two miles southwest of Arcadia near the intersection of Township Roads 214 and 254. The tornado continued northeast for about six miles before moving into Seneca County on the south end of Fostoria. The total tornado path length was over eight miles. The track was parallel to State Route 12 and about a mile to the south of the road. The tornado was initially an EF1 but strengthened to EF2 intensity after crossing County Road 330. The tornado returned to EF1 intensity just before reaching County Road 23 on the southwest edge of Fostoria. The damage path had a maximum width of around 100 yards. Around a dozen properties sustained damage from this tornado. At least two homes were destroyed with several others heavily damaged. Many outbuildings were also damaged. Hundreds of trees were toppled along the damage path. At least six people were treated at a Fostoria hospital for cuts and bruises.
An EF1 tornado continued into western Seneca County from Hancock County. The tornado entered the county on the south side of Fostoria and continued northeast for around two and half miles before dissipating near County Road 60. One home on the south side of Fostoria was damaged enough to be classified as destroyed. Many other homes in the city sustained roof or siding damage. At least 30 homes were reported to have limbs or trees on them in Fostoria alone. Several sheds and other outbuildings were also leveled. Hundreds of trees were toppled as well. This tornado had a damage path more than eight miles in length and up to a 100 yards in width.
Thunderstorm downburst winds damaged a farm nine miles west of Upper Sandusky. Two barn buildings were heavily damaged. A house nearby sustained roof damage. A large tree on the property was also toppled.
Thunderstorm winds damaged several barn roofs in the Wharton area.
Thunderstorm downbust winds destroyed four barns at a farm west of Carey. Six cows in one of the buildings were killed.
Thunderstorm winds downed one tree and one large limb.
Thunderstorm winds downed a couple large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree.
Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree limb.
Thunderstorm winds downed three large trees in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. Two of the trees landed on houses causing some damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Ohio, 2008Warnings in Ohio, May 2008
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: 107435, 107450, 107433, 107432, 107422, 107423, 107444, 107445, 107447, 107449, 107437, 107438, 107439, 107454.