Thunderstorms developed just ahead of a vigorous cold front across Indiana and West Central Ohio. Some of these storms became severe.
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.
Thunderstorms developed just ahead of a vigorous cold front across Indiana and West Central Ohio. Some of these storms became severe. The main threat from these storms was damaging thunderstorm winds.
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 Aug 5, 3:08 AM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH 408 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012 .SYNOPSIS... THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION AHEAD OF A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT. THE FRONT WILL PUSH EAST OF THE AREA BY TONIGHT...USHERING IN MORE SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES AND DRY CONDITIONS FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE WORK WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... PRE FRONTAL CONVECTION ADVANCING TOWARD FCST AREA...WITH EXPECTED IMPACT PERIOD IN THE WEST BEFORE 10Z. BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS GENERALLLY ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 71 AS ARRIVAL HERE COINCIDES WITH HEATING AND INCREASED INSTABILITY AS ML CAPE VALUES INCREASE TO OVER 2000 J/KG. THIS ALONG WITH DECENT LL LAPSE RATES CREATE A SEVERE WIND THREAT. VERY HIGH LL MOISTURE ALSO CONTINUE THE HEAVY RAIN THREAT...THOUGH FORWARD MOTION OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD LIMIT ANY FLOOD PROBLEMS TO ISOLATED AREAS. BY 22Z...ONLY EASTERN FCST AREA CONTINUES THUNDERSTORM THREAT. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THUNDERSTORMS WIND DOWN IN THE 09Z-12Z TIMEFRAME WITH MORE SEASONABLE AND DRIER AIRMASS UNDER RIDGE TO INFLUENCE AREA THROUGH WED. INCREASING CLOUDS ON WED AHEAD OF NEXT APPROACHING S/WV. TEMPS DO NOT INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY THROUGH THE PERIOD UNDER MOSTLY ZONAL FLOW. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... IN NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE REGION IN WAKE OF COLD FRONT MONDAY...PROVIDING DRY WEATHER AND COOLER TEMPERATURES. EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO BE NEAR SEASONABLE VALUES DURING THE DAY. THE HIGH PRESSURE AREA WILL REMAIN IN CONTROL OF OUR WEATHER INTO MID WEEK...WITH TEMPERATURES MODERATING TO ABOVE NORMAL VALUES. NUMERICAL MODELS GENERALLY SIMILAR WITH UPPER LEVEL RIDGE PERSISTING OVER THE WEST AND ENERGY DROPPING SE FROM S CNTRL CANADA CARVING OUT A TROF OVER THE GREAT LAKE BY LATE WEEK. WILL INTRODUCE CHC POPS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AHD OF APPROACHING SFC WAVE WITH THE BEST THREAT LOOKING TO BE ON FRIDAY WHEN FROPA IS EXPECTED TO PASS THRU THE OHIO VALLEY. IN CONTD NW FLOW...SFC HIGH PRESSURE TO NOSE INTO OHIO VALLEY NEXT WEEKEND PROVIDING DRY WEATHER AND COOLER MORE SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. && .AVIATION /08Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... COMPLEX EXITING CENTRAL OHIO AND KCMH/KLCK TAF SITES IN THE NEXT HOUR WITH VFR HIGH CLOUDS EXPECTED IN ITS WAKE AND A RETURN TO THE SOUTHERLY WIND DIRECTION. UNLESS EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO...DISCARDING THE GFS AND EUROPEAN IN FAVOR OF A CANADIEN/NAM BLEND APPEARS TO HAVE THE BEST RESULTS FOR THE UPCOMING CONVECTION ALONG AND IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF THE NEXT FRONT WHICH WILL BEGIN AT OR SLIGHTLY AFTER DAYBREAK FOR MOST OF CWA. TRIED TO LIMIT PREVAILING THUNDERSTORMS TO A 3-4 HOUR TIME BLOCK AND CLEARED IT OUT VERY QUICKLY BEHIND IT. NORTHERLY WINDS SET UP AND PUSH SOME NICELY COOLER AND DRIER AIR TO THE REGION WITH A RAPID CLEARING. .OUTLOOK...NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EXPECTED. && .ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...NONE. KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...JDR NEAR TERM...JDR SHORT TERM...JDR LONG TERM...AR AVIATION...FRANKS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH 344 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012 INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046- 051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-060745- WAYNE-FAYETTE IN-UNION IN-FRANKLIN IN-RIPLEY-DEARBORN-OHIO- SWITZERLAND-CARROLL-GALLATIN-BOONE-KENTON-CAMPBELL-OWEN-GRANT- PENDLETON-BRACKEN-ROBERTSON-MASON-LEWIS-HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-DARKE- SHELBY-LOGAN-UNION OH-DELAWARE-MIAMI-CHAMPAIGN-CLARK-MADISON- FRANKLIN OH-LICKING-PREBLE-MONTGOMERY-GREENE-FAYETTE OH-PICKAWAY- FAIRFIELD-BUTLER-WARREN-CLINTON-ROSS-HOCKING-HAMILTON-CLERMONT-BROWN- HIGHLAND-ADAMS-PIKE-SCIOTO- 344 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL INDIANA...SOUTHEAST INDIANA...NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...NORTHERN KENTUCKY...CENTRAL OHIO...MIAMI VALLEY OF OHIO...SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST OHIO AND WEST CENTRAL OHIO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. WITH THE APPROACH OF A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT INTO THE AREA TODAY...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LARGE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
626 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012
INZ050-058-059-051100-
UNION IN-FAYETTE IN-WAYNE IN-
626 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WAYNE...NORTHERN FAYETTE AND
NORTHERN UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 700 AM EDT...
AT 625 AM EDT...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES WEST
OF BENTONVILLE THAT WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...RICHMOND...
HAGERSTOWN...FOUNTAIN CITY...DUBLIN...CENTERVILLE AND CAMBRIDGE CITY.
ALSO...MIDDLEBORO...JACKSONBURG...FRANKLIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BETHEL...
WHITEWATER...SPRING GROVE AND MOUNT AUBURN ARE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS
STRONG THUNDERSTORM.
WATER WILL POND ON ROADS AND MAY QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND
SMALL STREAMS.
LAT...LON 3980 8523 3987 8522 3988 8521 4000 8521
4000 8481 3970 8482 3970 8530 3979 8531SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
629 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012
OHZ026-035-043-044-051115-
AUGLAIZE OH-HARDIN OH-LOGAN OH-SHELBY OH-
629 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN SHELBY...NORTHERN
LOGAN...HARDIN AND EASTERN AUGLAIZE COUNTIES THROUGH 715 AM EDT...
AT 625 AM EDT...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
MAPLEWOOD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
IN ADDITION...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN CAN
BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...LAKEVIEW...RUSSELLS
POINT...WAYNESFIELD...BELLE CENTER...ALGER...KENTON...DUNKIRK AND
FOREST.
ALSO...BLOOM CENTER...ST. JOHNS...LEWISTOWN...MCMORRAN...
HUNTSVILLE...ROUNDHEAD...NORTHWOOD AND RUSHSYLVANIA ARE NEAR THE PATH
OF THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM.
DO NOT STAY IN THE OPEN NOR SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING
THREATENS. MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. WATER WILL
POND ON ROADS AND MAY QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL
STREAMS.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT. IF THIS STORM BECOMES
STRONGER...THEN A WARNING MAY BE NEEDED.
LAT...LON 4082 8349 4071 8349 4071 8344 4068 8341
4056 8341 4028 8402 4046 8422 4065 8394
4065 8389 4069 8389 4083 8368 4082 8350SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
631 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012
INZ050-058-059-051100-
UNION IN-FAYETTE IN-WAYNE IN-
631 AM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WAYNE...NORTHERN FAYETTE AND
NORTHERN UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 700 AM EDT...
AT 625 AM EDT...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES WEST
OF BENTONVILLE THAT WAS MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...RICHMOND...
HAGERSTOWN...FOUNTAIN CITY...DUBLIN...CENTERVILLE AND CAMBRIDGE CITY.
ALSO...MIDDLEBORO...JACKSONBURG...FRANKLIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BETHEL...
WHITEWATER...SPRING GROVE AND MOUNT AUBURN ARE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS
STRONG THUNDERSTORM.
WATER WILL POND ON ROADS AND MAY QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND
SMALL STREAMS.
LAT...LON 3980 8523 3987 8522 3988 8521 4000 8521
4000 8481 3970 8482 3970 8530 3979 8531The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:47 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree fell and took down a power pole that then hit the corner of a house due to thunderstorm winds.
A tree was downed in the Indian Lake State Park area due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, August 2012
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: 409213, 409214.