Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, November 5 to 6, 2017

This tornado developed in Delaware County, Indiana, near the town of Eaton and then moved across Blackford and Jay Counties in Indiana before crossing into Mercer County, Ohio at 1418EST near the intersection of St. Anthony Road and County Road 235 (see Storm data for Indiana, Central and Northeast, for more information on the beginning portion of this tornado in Indiana). The tornado traveled northeast in Mercer County for just more than 8 miles before terminating in a wooded area north of Carmel Church Road and west of Now Road. A few pieces of light debris were carried slightly further to the northeast, but the tornado is not believed to have been on the ground east of Now Road.

The vast majority of the surveyed path in Mercer County contained damage consistent with winds of 60 to 100 MPH, including scattered tree damage, significant damage or destruction of outbuildings, and minor damage to well-built homes. In all, 20 to 25 different properties were affected by this tornado in Mercer County.

Damage was determined to be most significant at two different locations along the track, with wind speeds estimated at 120 MPH, or EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The first of these locations was a dairy farm on State Route 49 north of St. Anthony Road. At this location, a small home had its roof completely removed, with the removal and collapse of some exterior walls. It was noted that while some walls were collapsed, toe nailing was the primary anchoring mechanism for the roof and walls on this home. Barns and outbuildings on the property were significantly damaged or destroyed and debris from this location was deposited up to a mile downstream.

The second location exhibiting EF2-rated damage was at a property on Mud Pike Road just east of Township Line Road. Here, a well-built residence had the majority of its roof removed, including the entirety of the garage roof. Sections of brick facade were removed from the exterior walls of the home, with significant mud splatter on the east-facing exterior wall. A large well-constructed barn adjacent to this home was completely demolished, with debris thrown about a mile downstream of its source location.

Throughout its track across Mercer County, this tornado exhibited a large and relatively uniform width, with damage observed that indicated a width of near or slightly greater than three tenths of a mile. Some minor damage was even observed outside of this estimated width. Downstream of some of the affected properties, debris fields were observed to be long, wide, and relatively uniform.

Law enforcement initially observed a funnel cloud near the intersection of Main Street and Schunk Road in Celina. Just to the northeast of this report is where it appears the tornado first touched down, where multiple tree limbs were knocked down between Main Street and W Bank Road.

It is believed that the tornado then skirted Grand Lake St. Marys, producing minor tree and structural damage near the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Elmgrove Avenue. The tornado then likely moved back over a small portion of Grand Lake St. Marys before knocking down a fence and a few small trees at the back parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant on E Market Street. A one story home on Vine Street also had shingles removed from about 10 percent of its roof.

Further east on E Market Street, the tornado intensified as it impacted Lakeshore Auto Sales. This business had its roof completely destroyed. Along Lake Street, several large branches were knocked down on one property, with significant debris splatter on the east-facing side of a home along with some removal of siding.

Further east on E Market Street, another business had a significant portion of its roof removed, and windows at the front of the business were broken. On the 1100 block of E Livingston Street, tree damage was common and several of the homes also exhibited minor roof damage. One of the homes also had one large hardwood tree knocked down onto its second floor, producing significant roof damage.

To the northeast, an outbuilding associated with a business on Grand Lake Road was completely destroyed. On the other side of Grand Lake Road, significant debris wrapped around a fence on Montgomery Field. Trees were also uprooted on adjacent May Street.

The most significant damage was then observed beginning at Crown Equipment Corporation. A significant portion of the roof was removed, and exterior walls on the southwest side of the building also collapsed. Damage was also noted on the east-facing side of the building.

Businesses along Havermann Road were also affected, most notably C-Town Wings, where the front windows were blown out, and the Dollar General store which sustained considerable structural damage, including roof collapse and exterior wall failure. Observed damage from the Crown Equipment Corporation to the Dollar General store was consistent with EF2 tornadic winds.

Several businesses within a strip mall along Havermann Road also sustained some damage, particularly a sports store where the front doors were blown in and a portion of the roof collapsed into the store.

Damage to the northeast of the strip mall became more sparse, however some trees were downed near the intersection of Howick Road and Riley Road. The end of the tornado appears to have occurred near the 8000 block of Riley Road.

Several trees were downed and a roof of a building was damaged.

Sheet metal roofing was removed from an outbuilding.

A few trees and power lines were downed in Moorefield Township.

The tornado first touched down between Ritchie Drive and Interstate 70, where a semi-trailer was overturned. Damage was then observed approaching Ritchie Drive to Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers, which had some roof damage and siding removed. The tornado progressed east-southeast into South Vienna where multiple tree limbs were downed across east North Street and north East Street and some minor structural damage to roofs occurred.

Damage then continued toward the east-southeast along east Main Street and the tornado strengthened as it crossed Longs Court and headed further east-southeast. Several trees were snapped in half with at least three trees uprooted toward the eastern city limits of South Vienna.

East of where east Main Street merges with east National Road, a garage was slightly shifted off of its foundation. The tornado continued east-southeast with minor tree damage observed near where Wilson Road and south Houston Pike meet.

The tornado then crossed into Madison County, about 2 miles east-northeast of Brighton and continued east-southeast before dissipating near Summerford at 1825EST.

This tornado developed in Clark County at 1816EST, about 1 mile north of South Vienna and moved east-southeast, entering Madison County about 2 miles west of Summerford.

Some tree damage occurred on Markley Road, just south of east National Road. Most trees only had limbs downed with two being uprooted. The tornado then strengthened with structural damage occurring just south of east National Road on Roberts Mill Road. A trailer attached to a tractor was tipped on its side and a barn on the property lost the west facing wall, with some of the north and south walls also removed. The east facing wall was completely removed from the structure. Around 30 percent of the roof was removed with pieces of the barn blown into a corn field toward the east. Observed damage from the barn was consistent with EF1 tornadic winds. Farther to the east, corn in a field was downed in different directions before the tornado lifted.

A wooden structure was damaged and numerous branches were downed.

Several trees were downed and uprooted, damaging power lines and a few homes.

A few trees were downed in the Pataskala area.

A few trees were downed across eastern Licking County.

High water caused a basement wall to buckle on Holly Drive.

Flash flooding was reported at the Springfield Meadows mobile home park.

Water was reported pouring into a home on Hinckley Court and the back porch had been washed away.

Hebble Creek near Hidden Hills Wetlands Park was out of its banks.

Standing water was reported on Route 25A, just north of the Montgomery County line.

Several vehicles were stranded in flooded roadways, resulting in a few water rescues.

A few roads were closed due to high water.

High water resulted in multiple water rescues in German and Bethel Townships.

Multiple homes were flooded in German Township, causing several basement walls to cave in.

East and west bound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed in places due to high water between mile markers 36 and 44.

One to two feet of water was reported on north Hampton Road.

High water was reported on several roads.

Three to four inches of water were flowing across the street.

Numerous roads were flooded throughout the Cincinnati area and some basements were flooded. Flooding also caused some damage at Reading High School and Whitaker Elementary School.

Hamilton Road and Mason Montgomery Road were closed due to flowing water. High water was also reported near Columbia Road and Irwin Simpson Road.

A few tree limbs were downed and a residence received some minor roof damage.

Two feet of water was reported in an apartment on Fox Run Drive.