A surface low moved from southwestern Lower Michigan to far-western Lake Erie between the late morning and early evening of the 10th. The trailing cold front swept eastward from near the Indiana/Ohio border to central Ohio.
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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 CLE wrote it up.
A surface low moved from southwestern Lower Michigan to far-western Lake Erie between the late morning and early evening of the 10th. The trailing cold front swept eastward from near the Indiana/Ohio border to central Ohio. Multiple thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front. Several of these storms generated damaging wind gusts within a warm sector characterized by moderate to strong instability, moderate to strong DCAPE, and weak to moderate vertical wind shear.
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 Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 10, 11:53 AM EST, 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cleveland OH 1253 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A shortwave trough will move east across Michigan today and cross Lake Erie tonight. A cold front will push through late tonight ushering in a cooler and less humid airmass for the weekend. Additional but weaker shortwave troughs will cross the area again on Sunday and Monday as the pattern remains active. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... Thunderstorms fired as expected along the outflow boundaries across western Ohio with some activity developing from the northeast lakeshore into the Youngstown area. Activity is producing locally heavy rain and wind gusts at least to 45 knots in general with a few stronger storms. Expecting activity to continue advancing east and expand with time. Temperatures will continue to climb a few degrees yet where precipitation and influence of outflow boundaries have not been present. Otherwise, made some adjustments to high temperatures across the area. Previous Discussion... Focus for today is the progress of a shortwave trough as it moves east across Michigan. Its eastward progress has slowed overnight as a frontal wave developed, putting the best estimate for its arrival around late morning to noon in our western most counties. In the meantime...expect mostly clear skies for the first part of the day which will drive temperatures back up into the 90s. Looking at rapid diurnal heating coinciding with afternoon height falls which will destabilize the region. MLCAPE values likely in the 1000-1500+J/kg range this afternoon with PWATs increasing with low level flow to around 1.8". This will set the stage for diurnally driven pulse storm development ahead of the approaching surface front. Looking at conditional/marginal severe potential this afternoon as shear values increase to around 15 to 20 knots. Though weak, this combined with sufficient instability could produce some localized downburst along with locally heavy rainfall. Lake breeze east of Vermilion will be the lifting mechanism for another area of storm development ahead of the main line. Moisture pooling with main line will push PWATs to around 2" and warm cloud depths near 13k feet will support heavy rainfall. Shear values are modest but the timing of 17-24Z will provide peak boundary layer heating and destabilization which when combined with low level convergence and upper level support should strengthen the line as it moves east. Recent hot spell has dried out much of the area so streams and creeks should be handle the heavy rain for the most part, however can't rule out localized flash flooding given the likely intensity of the rainfall and possibility of cell training. This evening the cold front will push east of the area with the shortwave trekking into Ontario. With cooler heights aloft and lingering low and mid level moisture expect to see a fair amount of clouds behind the front and ongoing development of showers through the overnight. The drier air will gradually erode the clouds from the west by Saturday, however the flow feeding in from the lakes will continue rain/thunderstorm chances in the east. Temperatures will return to normal low/mid 80s for Saturday. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Multiple upper-level shortwave troughs will make their way across the region through the short term period, resulting in several chances for much needed showers and thunderstorms along with near normal temperatures. The first of the upper-level troughs will make its way through on Sunday, with the best chance for showers and thunderstorms during the daytime hours on Sunday. The second upper- level trough will be quickly moving southeast across the area on Monday evening/night with slightly less moisture than Sunday's system. However, there will still be a chance for showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon hours on Monday. These upper-level troughs will result in near-normal temperatures (highs in the upper 70s to low 80s), which will provide much needed relief from the ongoing heat wave. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... On Tuesday, upper-level ridging builds in before the synoptic pattern becomes less amplified for the rest of the forecast. This forecast period will be fairly similar to what we've been seeing the past week or so: hot temperatures with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s with diurnally-forced isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly during the afternoon hours. Dew points also creep back up into the upper 60s to near 70 by midweek as well, making it uncomfortably humid. && .AVIATION /18Z Friday THROUGH Tuesday/... VFR conditions will continue through the first 6 hrs of the TAF period at all terminals. Southerly winds around 5 to 10 knots, slightly higher with downsloping at ERI. Diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms expected to develop early this afternoon, with locally heavy rain dropping VSBYs and CIGs to MVFR at times. Meanwhile a frontal boundary will bring a more linear line of storms starting around noon in the west and trekking east through the early evening. Gusty winds around 35kt will be possible with the line and any strong pulse storm this afternoon. Behind the front more stable conditions will develop and look for a MVFR deck to develop which will continue into Saturday. Gradually drier air will filter in from the west lifting/eroding clouds but for the central and eastern terminals plan for mostly cloudy conditions and on/off again showers and thunderstorms into Saturday afternoon. Outlook...Non-VFR ceilings possible in lower ceilings Saturday morning. Non-VFR could linger across portions of NE OH and NW PA through Saturday night. && .MARINE... Southerly winds of 10 knots or less expected during the daytime hours today. Southwest winds begin strengthening late tonight to around 15 knots ahead of an approaching cold front. This cold front is expected to cross Lake Erie Saturday morning with west to northwest winds increasing to 15 to 25 knots most of the day Saturday. At this point, based on much of the model guidance, it seems probable that a Small Craft Advisory and Beach Hazard Statement will be needed for much of the day Saturday. Winds weaken Saturday night and Sunday but should persist out of the west and northwest behind a weak front that moves across Lake Erie late Saturday night into Sunday morning. West to northwest winds persist through Monday before becoming weak and variable on Tuesday as weak high pressure builds into the area on Tuesday. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...None. PA...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...Jamison NEAR TERM...Jamison/Lombardy SHORT TERM...Saunders LONG TERM...Saunders AVIATION...Jamison MARINE...Saunders
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cleveland OH 358 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020 OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-089-PAZ001>003-110800- Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-Geauga- Ashtabula Inland-Hancock-Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull- Wyandot-Crawford-Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow- Holmes-Knox-Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-Southern Erie- 358 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Ohio, northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy rain and localized flooding. Some storms could approach strong to severe levels with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LEZ061-142>149-162>169-110800- Lake Erie open waters from Ripley to Buffalo NY- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Reno Beach to The Islands OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from The Islands to Vermilion OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Vermilion to Avon Point OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Avon Point to Willowick OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Conneaut OH to Ripley NY- Lake Erie open waters from Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH- Lake Erie open waters from Reno Beach to The Islands OH- Lake Erie open waters from The Islands to Vermilion OH- Lake Erie open waters from Vermilion to Avon Point OH- Lake Erie open waters from Avon Point to Willowick OH- Lake Erie open waters from Willowick to Geneva-on-the-Lake OH- Lake Erie open waters from Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH- Lake Erie open waters from Conneaut OH to Ripley NY- 358 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Lake Erie, eastern Lake Erie and western Lake Erie. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1123 AM EDT FRI JUL 10 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E BELLEVUE 41.28N 82.81W
07/09/2020 HURON OH TRAINED SPOTTER
SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE ALONG STATE ROUTE
113. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1154 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
OHZ011-012-101630-
Lake-Cuyahoga-
1154 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN CUYAHOGA AND
SOUTHWESTERN LAKE COUNTIES...
At 1154 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Euclid, or
near Willowick, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Cleveland, Willowick, Euclid, Cleveland Heights, Willoughby,
Eastlake, Timberlake, Lakeline, South Euclid, East Cleveland,
Wickliffe, Richmond Heights, Willoughby Hills, Highland Heights,
Bratenahl and Waite Hill.
LAT...LON 4161 8139 4151 8155 4155 8161 4162 8153
4162 8150 4170 8141
TIME...MOT...LOC 1554Z 209DEG 20KT 4159 8153
ClarkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1231 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
OHZ003-006-101700-
Wood-Lucas-
1231 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WOOD AND LUCAS
COUNTIES...
At 1231 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Blissfield to Deshler. Movement was
northeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Toledo, Bowling Green, Swanton, Perrysburg, Oregon, Sylvania,
Rossford, Waterville, Northwood, Whitehouse, North Baltimore,
Holland, Weston, Maumee, Ottawa Hills, Walbridge, Pemberville,
Millbury, Haskins and Luckey.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4172 8388 4173 8346 4173 8345 4172 8347
4170 8346 4169 8343 4169 8335 4171 8334
4166 8324 4165 8324 4162 8325 4162 8342
4119 8343 4116 8356 4117 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 1631Z 219DEG 24KT 4178 8383 4121 8388
ClarkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1243 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
OHZ027-036-101715-
Wyandot-Marion-
1243 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MARION AND WYANDOT
COUNTIES...
At 1243 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Dunkirk to near Marseilles to near
Richwood. Movement was northeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Marion, Upper Sandusky, Forest, Prospect, Sycamore, La Rue, Morral,
Waldo, Marseilles, Carey, Nevada, Caledonia, New Bloomington, Green
Camp, Wharton, Harpster, Kirby and State Route 229 at US Route 23.
LAT...LON 4044 8325 4051 8325 4051 8341 4071 8342
4074 8350 4081 8350 4082 8352 4090 8351
4091 8348 4095 8348 4100 8344 4099 8312
4070 8311 4070 8299 4064 8296 4043 8303
TIME...MOT...LOC 1643Z 237DEG 31KT 4083 8362 4075 8338 4049 8336
ClarkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1246 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
OHZ037-047-101730-
Morrow-Knox-
1246 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MORROW AND CENTRAL KNOX
COUNTIES...
At 1246 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Ashley to near Sunbury to near
Summit Station. Movement was northeast at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Vernon, Mount Gilead, Fredericktown, Gambier, Utica,
Cardington, Centerburg, Ashley, Chesterville, Sparta, Waterford,
Edison, Marengo, Fulton and Shauck.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4027 8248 4027 8274 4035 8275 4036 8293
4041 8293 4042 8302 4048 8302 4049 8296
4064 8295 4064 8286 4066 8285 4071 8263
4064 8264 4063 8262 4055 8262 4055 8246
4048 8239 4024 8239 4024 8248
TIME...MOT...LOC 1646Z 221DEG 25KT 4042 8300 4025 8278 4008 8278
ClarkThe Cleveland radar (KCLE), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:54 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees down across intersection of Quarry and Bushey Roads near North Baltimore. Time estimated via radar.
The Findlay Airport ASOS recorded a 59 mph peak wind gust from a thunderstorm. A nearby HAM radio operator measured a 60 mph peak gust on the south side of Findlay at the same time.
Trees down at intersection of Linwood and Emerson Roads near New Rochester. Time estimated via radar.
Trees down at intersection of OH-95 and County Route 110 east of Mt. Gilead. Time estimated via radar.
Several trees down on King Graves Road. Six more trees down on nearby Sodom Hutchings Road in the Vienna area. Time estimated via radar.
Trees down across the road on County Route 123, north of County Route 77 east of Marseilles. Time estimated via radar.
Several greenhouse walls blown out at Green Circles Growing Company in Kipton. Time estimated via radar.
Tree down on Holland Road in Marion. Farther east, multiple tree limbs down in downtown Marion area. Some of the limbs were 4 to 5 feet long. Time estimated via radar.
Several tree limbs down in South Amherst. Multiple trees down in Amherst, including one tree blocking Leavitt Road near KFC. Time estimated via radar.
Numerous trees and power poles down in Lorain and two miles north of Lorain. Time estimated via radar.
Several small trees and limbs down in Leavittsburg. Tree down at 840 Mahoning Ave. in Warren. Several large tree limbs down four miles ENE of Champion Heights.
Tree down near intersection of County Routes 242 and 263 ESE of Bristolville. Another tree down along North Park Avenue in Bristolville. Yet another tree down at intersection of York Street and Chaffee Dodgeville Road in Greene Township.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, July 2020
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: 904032, 904031, 904033, 904034, 904035, 904036, 904038, 904037, 904039, 904040, 904215, 904216.