Tornadoes and Hail in Ohio, March 2, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Ohio, March 2, 2012
Start: 2012-03-02T15:50
End: 2012-03-02T17:55
Location: Ohio

March 2, 2012 · NWS ILN · 22 events in 6 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 4
Injuries: 15
Property damage: $8.7 million
Crop damage: $35,000
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 ILN wrote it up.

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 Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 2, 3:27 PM EST, 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 3:27 PM EST, 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
327 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
RAPIDLY DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE WILL SWING NORTHEAST ACROSS THE
GREAT LAKES TONIGHT...PUSHING A STRONG COLD FRONT EAST THROUGH THE
OHIO VALLEY REGION THIS EVENING. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN
THE WAKE OF THE WEATHER SYSTEM ON SATURDAY. DEVELOPING UPPER LEVEL
TROUGH WILL DIG INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY SATURDAY
NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
A PDS CAN BE EXPECTED ACRS THE REGION BETWEEN NOW AND 7/8 PM AS
PREFRONTAL TROF AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACRS THE AREA. SUPERCELLS WILL BE LIKELY ESPECIALLY
ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER WHERE HIGHER THETA E AREA WILL
BE REALIZED. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES
WILL BE A BIG THREAT. ONCE COLD FRONT SWINGS BY AND DEEPENING SFC
LOW PUSHES INTO SRN LOWER MICHIGAN...SYNOPTIC SCALE WINDS WILL
INCREASE FROM THE SOUTHWEST/WEST. MOMENTUM TRANSFER TOOLS SUGGEST
WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS 55 MPH ACRS OUR NORTH WITH 40 MPH TOWARD THE
OHIO RIVER. HAVE EXPANDED THE WIND ADVISORY TO INCLUDE MORE OF
EAST CENTRAL INDIANA...SOUTHWEST OHIO AND CENTRAL OHIO. FAR NORTH
WILL BE BORDERLINE HIGH WIND WARNING AND WILL MONITOR TRENDS FOR A
POSSIBLE UPGRADE IF SFC LOW DEEPENS MORE THAN EXPECTED. WARM
TEMPERATURES WILL PLUMMET OVERNIGHT IN STRONG CAA WITH OVERNIGHT
LOWS DROPPING INTO THE LOWER 30S WEST TO THE MID 30S EAST.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
REGION WILL BE A DRY SLOT AREA IN THE WAKE OF AFOREMENTIONED
STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM ON SATURDAY...WHICH RESULTS IN WEAK SFC
RIDGING. SKIES WILL BE PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY EARLY ON...BUT
MOISTURE IN THE LOW LEVELS AND CAA WILL INCREASE STRATOCUMULUS/CUMULUS
CLOUDS FROM NW TO SE THROUGH THE DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLDER
ON SATURDAY WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE LOWER 40S NW TO THE UPPER
40S SE.

FOR SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT...A BROAD MID LVL TROF WILL
DIG SE INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY REGION. EMBEDDED
PIECES OF ENERGY ROTATING THROUGH THIS TROF WILL BRING SOME SNOW
SHOWERS TO THE REGION. BEST CHANCE APPEARS ACRS NRN ZONES SUNDAY
INTO SUNDAY NIGHT AND SOUTH OF THE SRN ZONES ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
TEMPERATURES AGAIN WILL BE COLDER AND EVEN BELOW NORMAL FOR EARLY
MARCH. HIGHS ON SUNDAY WILL STRUGGLE INTO THE MID 30S NORTH TO
NEAR 40 SOUTH WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE 20S.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
PERIOD. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL QUICKLY BECOME ESTABLISHED ON TUESDAY
WITH TEMPERATURES RISING BACK ABOVE NORMAL. ALL GUIDANCE IS SHOWING
A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE AREA LATER IN THE WEEK. BUT THERE
ARE CONSIDERABLE DISCREPANCIES ON TIMING. 12Z GFS AND ITS ENSEMBLE
MEAN ARE QUITE A BIT QUICKER AND EVEN THE 12Z ECMWF HAS SPED UP
ALTHOUGH NOT TO THE EXTENT OF THE GFS SUITE. HAVE BROUGHT CHANCE
POPS THROUGH FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE FRONT ON FRIDAY.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
CONVECTION ALONG THE WRMFNT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP. THIS CONVECTION
WILL LIFT N AS THE WRMFNT DOES. THIS CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO BE
SUB-SEVERE.

MODELS HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS CONVECTION DEVELOPING ALONG
CDFNT...WHICH WILL MOVE THRU THE TAFS BETWEEN 21-02Z. THIS LINE
COULD BE SEVERE. CURRENTLY HAVE WINDS GUSTING TO 30KT...BUT THEY
COULD BE HIGHER IN STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS.

THE COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING. AS THIS
OCCURS...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND INCREASE TO 15 TO 20
KT...GUSTING UP TO 35 KT. A WEAKENING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL ALLOW
FOR WINDS TO SUBSIDE SOMEWHAT AFT 06Z.

SKIES WILL CLEAR OUT BEHIND CONVECTION. CAA SC WILL BEGIN TO WORK
TOWARDS THE FA SATURDAY MORNING....BUT CIGS ARE NOT EXPECTED
UNTIL AFTER 18Z AT CVG.

OUTLOOK...MVFR CIGS POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.

&&

.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EST SATURDAY FOR OHZ026-034-035-
     042>046-051>056-060>065-070>074.
KY...NONE.
IN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EST SATURDAY FOR INZ050-058-059-066.

&&

SYNOPSIS...HICKMAN
NEAR TERM...HICKMAN
SHORT TERM...HICKMAN
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...SITES

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 2, 2:22 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
222 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ050-058-059-066-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-051>056-060>065-070>074-
031930-
WAYNE-FAYETTE IN-UNION IN-FRANKLIN IN-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-
222 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL
INDIANA...SOUTHEAST INDIANA...CENTRAL OHIO...MIAMI VALLEY OF
OHIO...SOUTHWEST OHIO AND WEST CENTRAL OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE OUT OF THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH TONIGHT.
AS IT DOES...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH EAST ACROSS THE OHIO
VALLEY REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. FAVORABLE WIND
FIELDS WITHIN AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL
RESULT IN ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO REACH SEVERE LIMITS WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
BEING THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. HOWEVER...LARGE HAIL AND
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. CONTINUE TO MONITOR
LATER FORECASTS ON THIS CHANGEABLE WEATHER SITUATION.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS SHOULD ACTIVATE AND REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

INZ073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ077>082-088-031930-
RIPLEY-DEARBORN-OHIO-SWITZERLAND-CARROLL-GALLATIN-BOONE-KENTON-
CAMPBELL-OWEN-GRANT-PENDLETON-BRACKEN-ROBERTSON-MASON-LEWIS-HAMILTON-
CLERMONT-BROWN-HIGHLAND-ADAMS-PIKE-SCIOTO-
222 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST INDIANA...NORTHEAST
KENTUCKY...NORTHERN KENTUCKY...SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWEST
OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE OUT OF THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH TONIGHT.
AS IT DOES...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH EAST ACROSS THE OHIO
VALLEY REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. FAVORABLE WIND
FIELDS WITHIN AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL
RESULT IN ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO REACH SEVERE LIMITS WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
BEING THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. HOWEVER...LARGE HAIL AND
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. CONTINUE TO MONITOR
LATER FORECASTS ON THIS CHANGEABLE WEATHER SITUATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS SHOULD ACTIVATE AND REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 2, 10:19 AM EST, 5 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1019 AM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1010 AM     HAIL             5 NE SIDNEY             40.34N 84.10W
03/02/2012  E0.25 INCH       SHELBY             OH   COCORAHS

&&

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 10:40 AM EST, 5 hours 10 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1040 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

OHZ026-044>046-021615-
DELAWARE OH-HARDIN OH-LOGAN OH-UNION OH-
1040 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN UNION...NORTHEASTERN
LOGAN...SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN AND NORTHWESTERN DELAWARE COUNTIES
THROUGH 1115 AM EST...

AT 1038 AM EST...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
RIDGEWAY...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...RICHWOOD.

ALSO...MOUNT VICTORY...BYHALIA...PFEIFFER...SOMERSVILLE...HEPBURN AND
ESSEX ARE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 4055 8341 4051 8341 4051 8325 4050 8324
      4045 8324 4044 8309 4040 8309 4035 8373
      4066 8364 4068 8342

SNYDER

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 11:26 AM EST, 4 hours 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1126 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ073>075-080-KYZ091-021700-
SWITZERLAND IN-OHIO IN-DEARBORN IN-RIPLEY IN-BOONE KY-
1126 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BOONE...SOUTHEASTERN RIPLEY...
SOUTHERN DEARBORN...OHIO AND SWITZERLAND COUNTIES THROUGH NOON EST...

AT 1124 AM EST...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTH
OF REXVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE PENNY SIZE HAIL.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...DILLSBORO...RISING
SUN...AURORA AND LAWRENCEBURG.

ALSO...REXVILLE...MOOREFIELD...BENHAM...AVONBURG...CROSS PLAINS...
OLEAN...JACKSONVILLE AND FAIRVIEW ARE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STRONG
THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3919 8493 3891 8472 3877 8521 3891 8521
      3891 8542

SNYDER

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 3:04 PM EST, 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
304 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ070-077>079-081-022215-
FAYETTE IN-UNION IN-FRANKLIN IN-RIPLEY-DEARBORN-OHIO-SWITZERLAND-
CARROLL-GALLATIN-BOONE-KENTON-CAMPBELL-OWEN-GRANT-PENDLETON-
BRACKEN-ROBERTSON-MASON-LEWIS-BUTLER-HAMILTON-CLERMONT-BROWN-
ADAMS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CONNERSVILLE...LIBERTY...BROOKVILLE...
VERSAILLES...LAWRENCEBURG...RISING SUN...VEVAY...CARROLLTON...
WARSAW...BURLINGTON...INDEPENDENCE...ALEXANDRIA...OWENTON...
WILLIAMSTOWN...FALMOUTH...BROOKSVILLE...MOUNT OLIVET...
MAYSVILLE...VANCEBURG...HAMILTON...CINCINNATI...MILFORD...
GEORGETOWN...WEST UNION
304 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS SPREADING TOWARD THE TRI-STATE...

A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH A HISTORY OF TORNADOES AND LARGE
HAIL WILL SPREAD INTO THE TRI-STATE AREA OF NORTHERN
KENTUCKY...SOUTHEAST INDIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-
CENTRAL OHIO AFTER 330 PM.

WHILE SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE AREA...THE AREA OF
MOST CONCERN FOR SEVERAL STRONG TORNADOES...AND VERY LARGE HAIL IS
GREATEST FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER FROM THE
LATER AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST. REMAIN ALERT FOR
WARNINGS. FORM A PLAN NOW OF NOT ONLY HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE THE
WARNING INFORMATION...BUT WHAT SPECIFIC ACTIONS YOU WILL TAKE.

WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED OR THREATENING WEATHER MOVES IN...SEEK
SHELTER IN THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF A STURDY STRUCTURE. PUT AS
MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE STORM AS POSSIBLE. MOVE UNDER HEAVY
FURNITURE AND CONSIDER WEARING A BICYCLE HELMET TO PROTECT YOUR
HEAD FROM FALLING DEBRIS. CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF POWER
OUTAGES...SO FLASHLIGHTS...WEATHER RADIOS...AND CELLULAR PHONES
ARE ITEMS TO BE SURE YOU HAVE WITH YOU.

THIS IS AN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PREPARE NOW FOR POSSIBLE
TORNADO WARNINGS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

BINAU

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 3:15 PM EST, 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
315 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ050-058-059-OHZ042-060-022100-
UNION IN-FAYETTE IN-WAYNE IN-DARKE OH-PREBLE OH-
315 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN PREBLE...
DARKE...WAYNE...NORTHERN FAYETTE AND NORTHERN UNION COUNTIES THROUGH
400 PM EST...

AT 310 PM EST...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM FRANKLIN TO SHELBYVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
75 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL ARE POSSIBLE
WITH THESE STORMS.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...HAGERSTOWN...DUBLIN...
UNION CITY...CAMBRIDGE CITY...ANSONIA...FOUNTAIN CITY...
CONNERSVILLE...VERSAILLES...CENTERVILLE...GREENVILLE...RICHMOND AND
NEW MADISON.

ALSO...ECONOMY...MOUNT AUBURN...GLENWOOD...WILLIAMSBURG...COSMOS...
SHARPS CROSSING...BENTONVILLE AND JACKSONBURG ARE NEAR THE PATH OF
THIS LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.

RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT. IF THESE STORMS BECOME
STRONGER...THEN A WARNING MAY BE NEEDED.

LAT...LON 3979 8531 3980 8523 3995 8521 4001 8517
      4001 8482 4027 8481 4035 8443 3992 8443
      3992 8449 3980 8449 3968 8482 3962 8531

HATZOS

Local storm report, Mar 2, 3:50 PM EST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
350 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0347 PM     TORNADO          3 W CARROLLTON          38.68N 85.22W
03/02/2012                   CARROLL            KY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR KINGDALE ROAD IN WESTERN CARROLL
            COUNTY.

&&

SFH

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 hail, 9 tornado, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Darke

When: March 2, 3:50 PM EST to 3:54 PM EST
Where: Darke County, 2 mi N of Palestine
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.079, -84.730

Hail, Darke

When: March 2, 3:50 PM EST to 3:54 PM EST
Where: Darke County, Hollansburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 40.000, -84.780

Hail, Darke

When: March 2, 4:14 PM EST to 4:18 PM EST
Where: Darke County, Arcanum
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.980, -84.550

Hail, Clermont

When: March 2, 4:40 PM EST to 4:44 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, New Richmond
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.950, -84.280

Hail, Clermont

When: March 2, 4:44 PM EST to 4:48 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, New Richmond
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.950, -84.280

Tornado, Clermont

When: March 2, 4:46 PM EST to 4:58 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, 0.93 mi NW of Moscow to 2.64 mi ESE of Wiggonsville
Rating: EF3
Path length: 11.04 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Continued into: Brown, Oh (ILN)
Deaths: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 13 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $5.7 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.859, -84.233

The tornado initially touched down in south central Campbell County at 1639 EST near Peach Grove Road and crossed Fisher Road northwest of Peach Grove. The tornado then crossed into Pendleton County at 1641 EST after producing high end EF3 damage along Reid Ridge Road near the Campbell and Pendleton County line. The tornado then moved across Mays Road producing significant and widespread EF2 to low end EF3 damage. The tornado then crossed AA highway and eventually the Ohio River, after crossing Kentucky Highway 8. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum wind speed of the tornado was estimated to be 160 miles per hour in Campbell County and 140 miles per hour in Pendleton County. The tornado traveled a total of 2.68 miles in Campbell County, and 4 miles in Pendleton County. The tornado then moved into Clermont County Ohio at 1646 EST, where it hit the town of Moscow, causing EF3 damage. The tornado continued on the ground across Clermont County, crossing into Brown County at 1658 EST. The tornado then lifted south of Hamersville in western Brown County at 1702 EST. This tornado caused extensive damage to structures and trees along its entire path on both sides of the Ohio River. Numerous homes were very heavily damaged or destroyed. Many homes lost their roofs, having complete exterior wall failure. Some modular homes were completely removed from their foundations, lifted, and thrown in excess of 100 yards where they were destroyed. The damage in Ohio from this tornado was consistent with maximum winds estimated at 160 miles per hour in Clermont County, and 100 miles per hour in Brown County. The tornado traveled a total of 11.04 miles in Clermont County, and 2.69 miles in Brown County.

Tornado, Brown

When: March 2, 4:58 PM EST to 5:02 PM EST
Where: Brown County, 0.39 mi NW of Maple to 1.27 mi NNW of Feesburg
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.69 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.904, -84.036

Hail, Clermont

When: March 2, 4:58 PM EST to 5:02 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, Bethel
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.970, -84.080

Hail, Brown

When: March 2, 5:01 PM EST to 5:05 PM EST
Where: Brown County, Mt Orab
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.050, -83.920

Hail, Brown

When: March 2, 5:04 PM EST to 5:08 PM EST
Where: Brown County, Locust Ridge
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.980, -84.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: March 2, 5:10 PM EST to 5:14 PM EST
Where: Brown County, 3 mi SSW of Sardinia
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.960, -83.821

Numerous trees were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Brown

When: March 2, 5:13 PM EST to 5:17 PM EST
Where: Brown County, Sardinia
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.000, -83.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: March 2, 5:16 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where: Brown County, 2.87 mi SSE of Macon
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.933, -83.696

Numerous trees and powers poles were reported down and a camper trailer was flipped. Fences were blown down in the area and an old barn collapsed. Based on the survey, this damage was determined to be caused by straight-line non-tornadic winds estimated at 75 miles per hour.

Tornado, Adams

When: March 2, 5:25 PM EST to 5:28 PM EST
Where: Adams County, 1.98 mi NNW of Seaman to 0.66 mi SSW of Tranquility
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.93 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.955, -83.588

The tornado touched down in an open field west of Greenlee Road, about 1.2 miles northwest of Seaman. The first notable signs of damage occurred to a nearby pole barn, which partially collapsed. The tornado then moved just north of due east, snapping and uprooting numerous trees and large branches along Greenlee Road. There, some of the tin building material from the aforementioned barn was deposited. Additional tree damage continued into a grove along Mount Leigh Road. The tornado then crossed State Route 247 north of its intersection with Mount Leigh Road, about one mile north of Seaman. On the east side of the highway, a roof was partially removed from a single story home. Directly behind this home, two pole barns sustained heavy damage. Farther east, an aerial survey revealed continuous heavy tree damage along West Fork Ohio Brush Creek. The tornado caused destruction of outbuildings and roof damage to a single story home on State Route 770, just west of its intersection with Old State Route 32. The tornado then lifted. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 100 mph.

Tornado, Adams

When: March 2, 5:30 PM EST to 5:31 PM EST
Where: Adams County, 2.55 mi NE of Bentonville to 2.51 mi WSW of West Union
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.15 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.780, -83.572

The tornado briefly touched down, causing extensive damage to a barn. Some of the wooden debris from this barn was driven into the ground. Numerous trees in a nearby grove were snapped. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 75 miles per hour.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: March 2, 5:30 PM EST to 5:34 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Manchester
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.680, -83.600

A roof was torn off a house due to damaging thunderstorm winds.

Tornado, Adams

When: March 2, 5:33 PM EST to 5:43 PM EST
Where: Adams County, 0.99 mi NE of West Union to 1.74 mi NNW of Jones Corner
Rating: EF2
Path length: 11.07 mi
Path width: 330 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.0 million
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.811, -83.518

The tornado touched down just east of Highway 41, about 2 miles northeast of West Union. The tornado then traveled east northeast for just over 11 miles, destroying at least 5 mobile homes. Two homes were also damaged. One of these homes was built of brick. A 99 year old woman was in her mobile home in Tiffin Township when the tornado struck. She was injured from this tornado and passed away several days later. Two others were also injured from this tornado. A dozen cattle were killed and major power transmission poles were knocked over. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 125 miles per hour.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: March 2, 5:40 PM EST to 5:41 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Peebles
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.950, -83.400

The observer estimated the wind gust.

Tornado, Scioto

When: March 2, 5:46 PM EST to 5:48 PM EST
Where: Scioto County, 2.48 mi SW of Otway to 0.46 mi SW of Otway
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.04 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $170,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.846, -83.214

The tornado touched down along Rocky Fork Road, about 2 miles southwest of Otway. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees in groves as it moved northeast along Rocky Fork Road and Highway 348. The tornado then lifted just as it hit the town of Otway, where it damaged two homes and heavily damaged a fire station. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 75 miles per hour.

Tornado, Scioto

When: March 2, 5:46 PM EST to 5:47 PM EST
Where: Scioto County, 2.07 mi WNW of Mt Joy to 1.94 mi WNW of Mt Joy
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.19 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Pike, Oh (ILN)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.958, -83.207

The tornado touched down near Highway 772 and Left Fork Road in extreme northwest Scioto County at 1746 EST, and traveled almost .2 miles before crossing into Pike County at 1747 EST. The path width of the tornado while in Scioto County was around 100 yards. The tornado progressed east northeast along and to the north of Camp Creek Road for nearly 4 miles in Pike County, before lifting at 1750 EST. While on the ground in Pike County, the path width of the tornado expanded to around 200 yards. Damage along the path of the tornado was primarily to trees, with numerous trees snapped and uprooted. A mobile home on Camp Creek Road was damaged with portions of the roof removed, causing an exterior wall to collapse. The resident of that home reported seeing a tornado on the ground approaching the home. Due to heavily forested terrain in this area, the path length and width are approximated as best as possible from accessible roads. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 80 miles per hour in both Scioto and Pike Counties.

Tornado, Pike

When: March 2, 5:47 PM EST to 5:50 PM EST
Where: Pike County, 2.31 mi SW of Ladd to 1.81 mi E of Ladd
Rating: EF0
Path length: 3.95 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.959, -83.204

Tornado, Pike

When: March 2, 5:53 PM EST to 5:55 PM EST
Where: Pike County, 2.91 mi N of Camp to 1.99 mi WNW of Sargents
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.77 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.012, -83.098

The tornado touched down on the south side of Wynn Road and then followed the road. The tornado eventually crossed the road and lifted near Highway 104 southwest of Piketon. The damage from this tornado consisted of numerous large trees snapped off, uprooted, and lying in a convergent pattern toward the center of the most enhanced core of tree damage. One large tree landed on a mobile home, causing heavy structural damage. An eyewitness observed the tornado which corroborates the damage path. Based on the damage surveyed, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 75 miles per hour.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Clermont	2012-03-02	54	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Clermont	2012-03-02	58	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Clermont	2012-03-02	64	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Adams	2012-03-02	99	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Ohio in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Ohio, 2012 Warnings in Ohio, March 2012

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: 371710, 371711, 371712, 372048, 370282, 369430, 369434, 370283, 372051, 370284, 370285, 370286, 370648, 370170, 370272, 371717, 370174, 370655, 370176, 370181, 370182, 370184.