A line of severe storms moved through during the morning hours of February 28th. The main threats were damaging winds and flash flooding, however one tornado also occurred with this event.
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 ILN wrote it up.
A line of severe storms moved through during the morning hours of February 28th. The main threats were damaging winds and flash flooding, however one tornado also occurred with this event.
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 Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 27, 9:22 PM EST, 5 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
922 PM EST SUN FEB 27 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL TRAVEL THROUGH INDIANA TONIGHT THEN THROUGH OHIO
ON MONDAY. THE LOW WILL CARRY COPIOUS MOISTURE...AND THE POTENTIAL
FOR SEVERE WEATHER. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY AIR WILL MOVE IN ON TUESDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
THE DEVIL IS STILL IN THE DETAILS AT THIS JUNCTURE IN TERMS OF SVR
WX POTENTIAL OVERNIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. STRONG...MOIST ASCENT
WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AS FIRST SFC LOW RIPPLES BY JUST TO OUR NW
AND ALLOWS A COLD FRONT TO SAG SE INTO THE REGION. THIS SHOULD
RESULT IN WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. JUICY
AIRMASS FOR LATE FEBRUARY WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN. HENCE...FLOOD WATCH WILL CONTINUE. MUCH FOCUS FOR SVR
POTENTIAL HAS BEEN ON WHAT A SECONDARY SFC LOW WILL DO AS IS
PIVOTS NE ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY FROM MISSOURI TO THE OHIO
VALLEY REGION. LATEST MODEL RUNS SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS THIS RIPPLE
MAY BE A LITTLE FARTHER SOUTH THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED.
THUS...THIS WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SFC BASED INSTABILITY TO
REACH FARTHER NORTH INTO OUR AREA. GIVEN SUCH A STRONG SHEAR
ENVIRONMENT...IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH CAPE TO PRODUCE LOW TOP
CONVECTION WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. AS OF
NOW...THIS RISK MAY BE MORE GEARED FOR POINTS ALONG AND SOUTH OF
THE OHIO RIVER. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR MODEL AND OBSERVATIONAL
TRENDS TO SEE WHAT WILL TRANSPIRE LATE TONIGHT INTO THE FIRST PART
OF MONDAY. WILL TWEAK ZONES/GRIDS FOR NON DIURNAL TEMPERATURES.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST ON MONDAY.
ANY SVR WX THAT MAY FORM SHOULD BE OVER BY MID AFTERNOON WITH
LOSS OF INSTABILITY AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH OHIO AND
COLDER AIR FILTERS IN. SHOWERS WILL END DURING THE
EVENING...LEAVING FLOOD PROBLEMS DUE TO RISING RIVERS.
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL DURING THE DAY MONDAY AFTER EARLY HIGHS IN
THE LOWER 50S TO LOWER 60S.
A FEW SHOWERS MAY LINGER IN THE SOUTHEAST EARLY MONDAY NIGHT
BEFORE HIGH PRESSURE BRINGS DRY WEATHER TO ALL ZONES BY TUESDAY
MORNING. THE DRY CONDITIONS WILL STAY AROUND THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT
AS THE HIGH MOVES EAST. TEMPERATURES WILL RISE MAINLY INTO THE 40S
ON TUESDAY IN THE COOLER AIRMASS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
SYSTEM MOVING THRU SRN CANADA TO PUSH A WEAK COLD FRONT SOUTH
THRU THE OHIO VALLEY EARLY WEDNESDAY. BEST DYNAMICS AND MOISTURE
TO REMAIN WELL TO OUR NORTH SO THEREFORE WL CONTINUE DRY FCST WITH
FROPA AND ONLY INDICATE A FEW CLOUDS.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REESTABLISH ITSELF AGAIN LATER WED INTO THURSDAY.
UPPER LEVEL FLOW BACKS IN RESPONSE TO SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE PLAINS
AT THE END OF THE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND. MODEL SOLN/S INDICATE SOME
DIFFERENCES IN TIMING...WITH MORE PHASING INDICATED BY GFS THAN
ECMWF. AT THIS POINT GIVEN UNCERTAINTY REGARDING TIMING...WL BLEND
LOW CHC POPS INTO THE WEST ON FRIDAY AND THEN A HIGHER CHC ON
SATURDAY WHEN A SLOW MOVING FRONT PUSHES INTO THE REGION.
AS FOR TEMPERATURES...THEY SHOULD AVERAGE SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH TWO CATEGORIES ABOVE NORMAL FRIDAY
AND THEN NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL NEXT WEEKEND.
&&
.AVIATION /02Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
A VIGOROUS STORM SYSTEM WILL LIFT NE OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TO
THE OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS OUT
AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM.
RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE REGION IN TWO WAVES. SFC LOW
WILL RIPPLE ALONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY FROM MISSOURI THIS EVENING TO
NE OHIO BY 12Z. STRONG...MOIST ASCENT AHEAD OF THE LOW WILL
PRODUCE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. CIGS FOR THE
MOST PART SHOULD REMAIN IN THE MVFR CATEGORY...ALTHOUGH SOME IFR
VSBYS IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. SECOND WAVE
OF LOW PRESSURE WILL ALSO LIFT NE OUT OF MISSOURI THEN INTO THE
OHIO VALLEY BETWEEN 12Z AND 18Z MONDAY. THIS FEATURE WILL ALLOW A
COLD FRONT TO MOVE SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE REGION. MODERATE TO GUSTY
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND WILL VEER TO THE NORTH AND WILL GUST TO 30
KNOTS AT TIMES. WIDESPREAD RAIN SHOULD OCCUR BEHIND THE FRONT AS
FORCING ABOVE THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY CONTINUES. CIGS MAY BE THE
LOWEST RIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT IN A SHALLOW POST-FRONTAL INVERSION
ENVIRONMENT. SOME MODELS ARE HINTING THAT A LITTLE SNOW MAY MIX
IN WITH THE PCPN BEFORE IT EXITS QUICKLY TO THE EAST BETWEEN 18Z
AND 00Z TUESDAY. AM NOT CONFIDENT ON THIS CHANGE OVER AS PCPN MAY
END BEFORE ENOUGH COLD AIR IS REALIZED. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR
LATER MODEL FORECASTS FOR POTENTIAL CHANGES. OTHERWISE...ONCE COLD
FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH...ALL PCPN SHOULD BE OVER WITH BY 00Z. SFC
HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE REGION MONDAY
NIGHT...ALLOWING SKIES TO CLEAR FROM N TO SOUTH...WHICH WILL MARK
A RETURN TO VFR CONDITIONS.
OUTLOOK...MVFR CEILINGS TO CONTINUE INTO MONDAY NIGHT.
&&
.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088.
KY...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR KYZ089>100.
IN...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR INZ050-058-059-066-
073>075-080.
&&
SYNOPSIS...CONIGLIO/HICKMAN
NEAR TERM...CONIGLIO/HICKMAN
SHORT TERM...CONIGLIO/HICKMAN
LONG TERM...AR
AVIATION...HICKMANHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH 153 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 INZ050-058-059-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-051>053-060>062-010700- WAYNE-FAYETTE IN-UNION IN-HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-DARKE-SHELBY-LOGAN- UNION OH-DELAWARE-MIAMI-CHAMPAIGN-CLARK-PREBLE-MONTGOMERY-GREENE- 153 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 28 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL INDIANA...CENTRAL OHIO...MIAMI VALLEY OF OHIO AND WEST CENTRAL OHIO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. INZ066-073>075-080-KYZ091>093-OHZ054>056-063>065-070>074-077>082-088- 010700- FRANKLIN IN-RIPLEY-DEARBORN-OHIO-SWITZERLAND-BOONE-KENTON-CAMPBELL- MADISON-FRANKLIN OH-LICKING-FAYETTE OH-PICKAWAY-FAIRFIELD-BUTLER- WARREN-CLINTON-ROSS-HOCKING-HAMILTON-CLERMONT-BROWN-HIGHLAND-ADAMS- PIKE-SCIOTO- 153 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 28 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST INDIANA...NORTHERN KENTUCKY...CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWEST OHIO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. KYZ089-090-094>100-010700- CARROLL-GALLATIN-OWEN-GRANT-PENDLETON-BRACKEN-ROBERTSON-MASON-LEWIS- 153 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST KENTUCKY AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH 1200 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 OHZ026-034-035-042>044-051-052-280700- HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-DARKE-SHELBY-LOGAN-MIAMI-CHAMPAIGN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENTON...CELINA...WAPAKONETA... GREENVILLE...SIDNEY...BELLEFONTAINE...PIQUA...URBANA 1200 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...SCATTERED DENSE FOG AFFECTING THE REGION... A WARM...MOIST ATMOSPHERE WAS RIDING UP OVER WHAT IS LEFT OF THE SNOWFALL. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN FROM SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS PRODUCING SCATTERED DENSE FOG. VISIBILITIES AT TIMES COULD DROP TO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE IN THE DENSE FOG. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION TONIGHT WHEN TRAVELING. REMEMBER TO USE THE LOW BEAM ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS WHEN TRAVELING IN THE FOG. SITES
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
251 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 AM FLOOD 2 S BOTKINS 40.44N 84.18W
02/28/2011 SHELBY OH TRAINED SPOTTER
CO CO RAHS OBSERVER 3.1 NNW OF ANNA REPORTS RAIN HAS
MELTED 6 INCHES OF SNOW COVER. SMALL STREAM FLOODING AND
ROADS WITH WATER COMING OFF OF THE FIELDS.
&&
JOHNFThe Cincinnati radar (KILN), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:57 UTC.
24 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple homes were flooded with water rescues necessary.
Roads were closed with over two feet of water on them due to heavy rain and snow melt.
A house was flooded and people were evacuated due to flash flooding.
Multiple streets were flooded due to heavy rain.
Multiple roads were closed due to flash flooding.
Measurement was taken at KMGY Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport.
One tree and several large tree limbs were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
A few barns were damaged and numerous tree limbs were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Numerous trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Wind gust was measured at the National Weather Service office.
Multiple homes were flooded with water coming into the windows. Evacuations were also necessary across the flooded area.
Twelve power poles were snapped due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped off due to damaging thunderstorm winds. A house had the roof removed and the garage collapsed due to the winds. Several large pine trees landed on outbuildings, carports, and homes.
Two large trees were reported down, heavy patio furniture was thrown, and a brick wall was broken into pieces due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
A carport was blown fifty feet, a shed was destroyed, and a fence was damaged due to thunderstorm winds.
Trees and power lines were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
The tornado touched down south of Millersport near the intersection of Millersport Road and Canal Road where tree damage was observed. The tornado then continued to the east and directly hit a farm on the north side of Canal Road. At this location, metal grain bins were tossed and rolled and trees were uprooted. A masonry wall was also flattened and numerous objects were impaled into the ground as well. A newly constructed barn had the roof removed and numerous pieces of sheet metal were strewn into adjoining fields. The tornado then continued on and hit two residences on Lake Road. A modular home had the roof completely removed and tossed and trees were uprooted. A barn was completely destroyed in the area as well. At another residence, one of the exterior walls was buckled from the wind blowing the door of the home open. Corn debris from a nearby field was driven into the ground. A stick was found driven into the siding on the front of the home.
Trees and power lines were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Shingles were torn off of a roof of a house due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Trees and power lines were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
A small metal shed was destroyed, trees were down, and power lines were down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Two homes were damaged due to thunderstorm winds.
Numerous trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Numerous trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Multiple trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
Trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
A tree was reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
A tree was reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Ohio, 2011Warnings in Ohio, February 2011
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: 280187, 280188, 280014, 280016, 280017, 279078, 279079, 279093, 279098, 279113, 280189, 279788, 279803, 279786, 279787, 279784, 279785, 279789, 279804, 279791, 279117, 279792, 279794, 279795, 279797, 279798, 279799, 279793, 279800, 279801, 279802.