Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, May 25 to 27, 2011

Thunderstorms produced quarter to ping pong ball size hail.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees.

Quarter sized hail was observed.

A supercell thunderstorm moved across Hancock County. Hail as large as baseballs fell in association with this thunderstorm. The western half of the city of Findlay was especially hard hit. Golf ball or larger hail affected an area bordered by State Route 12 to the south, Township Road 99 to the north, County Road 140 to the west and roughly Main Street to the east. As many as 4,000 homes and business in this area may have been damaged by the hail. Thousands of automobiles also sustained damage from the hail. One automobile dealership on the north side of Findlay had over 400 vehicles damaged by the hail. Hundreds of homes also sustained damage from broken windows or damaged siding. This event could end up being one of costliest hail storms in Ohio history.

Golf ball sized hail was observed and reported to the Northern Indiana National Weather Service Office. The report was then forwarded to the Cleveland office. Numerous vehicles were damaged as a result of the large hail.

Thunderstorms downed a 36-inch diameter tree.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.

Hail from penny to golf ball sized was reported. Many vehicles and a few homes were damage by the hail.

Thunderstorm winds downed a 5 inch diameter tree onto a residence in town. The estimated wind gust associated with this thunderstorm was 65 mph.

A trained spotter estimated thunderstorm winds at 60 mph.

Nickel sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced nickel size hail.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of quarter to golf ball size hail. Numerous vehicles and homes were damaged as a result of the large hail.

Thunderstorms produced a measured wind gust of 60 mph.

A supercell thunderstorm tracked across Sandusky County and produced a large swath of hail, ranging in size from quarters to baseballs (2.75 inch diameter). The destructive hail resulted in a significant amount of car insurance and home insurance claims. Dealerships around the area reported substantial vehicle damage. The damaging hail also caused a large amount of crop damage.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was observed during this thunderstorm.

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced golf ball size hail. Several vehicles were damaged as a result of the severe hail.

A line of thunderstorms produced a large swath of hail ranging in size from peas to golf balls. Numerous vehicles and homes were damaged during this event.

A swath of large hail fell across Erie County. Golf ball to hen egg size hail fell from the Sandusky area east across the Milan area to near Birmingham. Hundreds of vehicles and many homes were damaged by the hail.

An EF1 tornado touched down in a cemetery on the southeast side of Monroeville. This tornado then continued east on the ground for about eight miles before lifting near the intersection of Tiger Road and North Greenwich Milan Road on the southeast side of Norwalk. The path was parallel and just south of U.S. Route 20 for several miles. Around a dozen homes and businesses were damaged by this tornado. A couple of the buildings lost large sections of roofing with some of damage caused by fallen trees. The tornado also leveled a large barn as it crossed Halfway Road. Several dozen trees were also downed along the damage path which was no more than 50 yards in width.

A line of severe thunderstorms produced a swath of large hail ranging in size from ping pong balls to golf balls. Numerous vehicles and homes were damaged as a result of the damaging hail.

Thunderstorms produced hail ranging in size from ping pong balls to golf balls. Numerous vehicles were damaged during this event.

Thunderstorms produced a swatch of quarter size hail. Damaged windows were reported during this thunderstorm.

Golf ball sized hail was reported in Upper Sandusky. Many vehicles and a few homes sustained damage from the hail.

Thunderstorms produced quarter size hail.

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Penny to quarter sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced golf ball size hail. The large hail damaged numerous vehicles.

Penny to quarter sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced quarter size hail.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of nickel to quarter size hail as they tracked across the county. Locations impacted by the hail included Westlake, Rocky River, and Lakewood.

Thunderstorms produced quarter to golf ball size hail. Many vehicles were damaged by the hail.

Thunderstorms produced quarter size hail.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of pea, nickel, and quarter size hail.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of nickel to quarter size hail.

Thunderstorms produced quarter size hail as they tracked across Cuyahoga County.

Thunderstorm winds downed many trees in the Holly Hills Development along Cannon Ridge Drive and Brayes Manor Drive in Mentor.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of quarter to ping pong ball size hail. Numerous vehicles in the area were damaged as a result of the large hail.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees.

Thunderstorm winds caused damage across Lake County. A couple buildings sustained damage in East Lake. Roads had to be closed because of fallen trees in Lake Township, Madison Township and also in the city of Mentor. Numerous other trees were reported down across the county.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and large limbs in Concord Township.

Nickel sized hail was reported.

An EF0 tornado touched down in Fairlawn and traveled northeast for over four miles before lifting for good near Cuyahoga Falls. The damage survey suggested that the tornado may not have been in contact with the ground for much of the path length which was no more than 50 yards in width. Only intermittent damage was observed and it is likely that some of this was caused by straight line winds. Most of the damage was from fallen trees but some buildings were also damaged. A church in Fairlawn lost it's roof and several buildings sustained roof damage in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Dozens of trees were either uprooted or snapped by the tornado. Several witnesses reported seeing a tornado in contact with the ground.

Thunderstorm winds downed numerous large trees onto power lines across the area. Police reported a transformer on fire and wide spread power outages.

A line of thunderstorms tracked across the county, producing a swath of nickel to quarter size hail.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of quarter sized hal.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree branches.

Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree and several large tree branches. The downed tree fell onto a home and destroyed the porch.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees.

A thunderstorm downburst caused damage in Geneva. A swath of damage was observed from near Geneva High School northeast to near the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and South Myers Road. A house near the high school lost a large section of roof. Another 8 to 10 homes were damaged in a neighborhood just to the west of South Myers Road and to the south of U.S. 20. Most of this damage was caused by fallen trees and limbs. Many trees were damaged along the damage path which was over a mile in length.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees. Some homes were damaged as a result of the downed trees.

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.

Local media reported that thunderstorm winds damaged roofs and gutters on a few industrial buildings.

Quarter size hail was observed.

Thunderstorms winds downed a few trees.

Quarter sized hail was reported. Thunderstorms continued to produce nickel size hail for several minutes.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Quarter size hail was observed.

Thunderstorm winds downed numerous large trees.

Nickel sized hail was observed.

Quarter size hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorms produced quarter size hail.

Thunderstorms produced nickel size hail.

Penny size hail was observed.

Penny to quarter sized hail was reported.

Thunderstorms with torrential rain moved over northern Ohio on the 25th. Rainfall rates around 1.5 per hour were observed. This heavy rainfall caused a mudslide in Garfield Heights closing portions of I-480 eastbound.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was reported.

Torrential thunderstorms moved over western Medina County on the 25th with rainfall rates around 1.5 inches per hour. Runoff from this excessive rainfall caused portions of Interstate 71 northbound to flood just north of State Route 83. It was impassable to cars and was closed for a short while.

Strong thunderstorms with rain, wind, and hail moved over portions of Lorain County. Rainfall rates approaching two inches per hour were reported with this storm. Flooding occurred in Oberlin with several roads impassable with water up to the hoods on cars.

Thunderstorms with torrential rainfall with rates as high as 1.5 per hour moved over northern Ohio. Doppler radar estimated around two inches over Summit County. The rapid runoff resulted in flooding of several roads, including RT 224 and 277 in Akron.

Multiple thunderstorms move over central Ohio on the evening of the 25th. A storm moved over Ashland County late on the 25th with rainfall rates over an inch per hour. Numerous roads were flooded and several were closed. Water rescuse had to be conducted along RT 250 and Rt 89 as flood waters from Scotts Run inundated the road.

Torrential rainfall with rates over an inch per hour produced widespread flooding across Stark County. The Ohio and Erie Canal towpath in Navarre was flooded and closed for a short while. Several roads were closed or experienced nuisance flooding from High St and Whipple Road NW in Canton, and Strausser St in Jackson Township.

Strong thunderstorms with hail and heavy rain moved over Lorain County. The town of Pittsfield had high water on several roads most notably Quarry Road and Russia Road where depths were near waist deep in spots. Doppler Radar estimated over 2.5 in this area over 2 hours.

Thunderstorms with efficient rainfall rates moved over Cuyahoga County. Doppler Radar estimated over two inches of rainfall withing 75 minutes fell over portions of the county. Olmsted Falls experienced widespread flooding as streams downtown overflowed their banks. Water several feet deep was reported over Cook Road in the northern portion of town.

Thunderstorms with torrential rainfall of over 1.5 per hour fell over northern Ohio. Doppler Radar estimated two to three inches of rainfall over the Akron area. Local rain gages reported 1.92 at Akron-Fulton Airport and 2.37 at the Akron COOP site. The result of this rainfall was several intersections and N Main Street flooded. Water depths were a foot or less.

An area of low pressure and associated frontal boundaries resulted in several days of showers and thunderstorms with high rainfall rates. This rainfall cumulated over saturated ground cover to produce countywide flooding in Trumbull County. Several streams and creeks came out of banks, including the Eagle Creek in Braceville. In the Vienna and Howland areas there were several basements flooded.

Multiple thunderstorms move over central Ohio. A strong storm with rainfall rates over an inch per hour hit late on the 25th. Numerous roads were flooded and several were closed. In Crestline some families had to be evacuated to to rising flood waters from a local creek.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and tree branches.

Thunderstorms with high rainfall rates of over an inch per hour moved into northern and eastern portions of Medina County. Rainfall totals on the 25th were over 3 inches in portions of the county, most of which fell within an hour and a half. Several roads were flooded, including a section of I-71. Hadcock Road in Brunswick was flooded by Healey Creek, which overflowed its banks and washed a vehicle into the creek.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm winds downed four trees near Garrettsville.

Thunderstorms produced a swath of nickel size hail as they tracked across Trumbull County.

Thunderstorms produced nickel, quarter, half dollar, and golf ball sized hail during this period of time. Some vehicles were damaged by the hail.

Thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn located on State Route 568.

Thunderstorm winds downed large trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree branches.

Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree limb.

Thunderstorms produced nickel size hail.

Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with torrential rain moved over Northern Ohio on the 25th. Over Sandusky County as much as 2.13 inches of rain was recorded at the Fremont Water Treatment Plant during the evening hours. Runoff from these showers cause small streams and creeks to come out of banks during the early morning hours of the 26th. The Green Creek, a tributary to the Sandusky River, came out of banks and flooded County RT 181.

An EF0 tornado touched down west of Pierpont near the intersection of Lewis Road and State Route 167. The tornado continued east along State Route 167 for just over a mile before lifting just west of the center of Pierpont. Ten homes and buildings along the damage path sustained damage, mainly from lost roofing or siding. Many trees were also downed. Straight line winds may have contributed to the damage path which was no more than 100 yards in width.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and power lines. Farm equipment was overturned and a roof was blown off a barn. Siding on an industrial building was damaged during this event as well.

Thunderstorms produced penny size hail.

Thunderstorms produced nickel size hail.

Thunderstorm winds downed two large trees.

Strong thunderstorms with efficient rainfall moved over portions of Wood County on the 26th. Doppler Radar estimated as much as 2-3 inches of rain fell across portions of the county. Minor flooding resulted with several road closures for a few hours that evening. Some roads that were flooded include ST RT 65 and Brillhart Road.

Severe thunderstorms moved through Hancock County bringing strong winds and hail. The heavy rainfall also produced nuisance flooding in typical urban locations with water around two feet deep over Bigelow Avenue.

Multiple thunderstorms move over Lorain County between the 25th and 26th of May. The storms on the 25th saturated the ground, allowing for rapid runoff from storms on the 26th. A storm moved over Lorain County late on the 26th with rainfall rates over an inch per hour. Numerous roads were flooded and several were closed. In the hardest hit city of Lorain there was waist deep flooding in Gulf Street and Ohio Street near the elementary school.

Multiple thunderstorms move over Lorain County between the 25th and 26th of May. The storms on the 25th saturated the ground, allowing for rapid runoff from storms on the 26th. A storm moved over Lorain County late on the 26th with rainfall rates over an inch per hour. Numerous roads were flooded and several were closed. In Elyria, water several feet deep was reported over Poplar and Olive Streets.

Heavy rain fell over portions of Trumbull County on the 25th and 26th of May. Doppler Radar estimates around two to three inches of rain fell over a 24hr span, with the majority of the rain falling in two seperate showers lasting less than an hour a piece. The runoff from the rainfall overwhelmed the Niles Water Department which had to close due to too much water.