At the surface, a low wobbled southeastward from the northwestern Great Lakes to southern Lake Huron during the early evening of the 16th through early evening of the 17th. Simultaneously, the attendant warm front moved northeastward from northern Lake Michigan and central Lake Erie to near the northern shore of Lake Ontario and Upper St.
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 CLE wrote it up.
At the surface, a low wobbled southeastward from the northwestern Great Lakes to southern Lake Huron during the early evening of the 16th through early evening of the 17th. Simultaneously, the attendant warm front moved northeastward from northern Lake Michigan and central Lake Erie to near the northern shore of Lake Ontario and Upper St. Lawrence River Valley, while the trailing cold front moved eastward from the Upper Mississippi River Valley to central Lake Erie and north-central OH.
Within the warm and moist sector, a cluster of multicell thunderstorms persisted eastward across far-northeast OH and generated isolated straight-line convective wind damage in northern Ashtabula County during the early evening of the 16th. The ambient environment exhibited modest MLCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg, modest effective bulk shear of 20-25 knots, and modestly-steep low-level lapse rates near 7C/km.
During the afternoon through early evening of the 17th, additional multicell thunderstorms developed and persisted northeastward or eastward across north-central and northeast OH, along and ahead of the cold front. These storms generated isolated severe hail and scattered straight-line convective wind damage. Despite modest MLCAPE of 750-1000 J/kg and effective bulk shear near 25 knots, strong convective wind gusts were aided by a corridor of steep low-level lapse rates of 7.5-8C/km. Torrential rainfall was observed in several locations, with flash flooding reported in and near Ravenna where slow storm motions and repeated thunderstorms impacted the area. Precipitable water values of 1.6-1.75 inches resided in the warm and moist sector.
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 Aug 16, 3:13 PM EST, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cleveland OH 413 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will drift east through the Great Lakes this weekend. A trailing cold front will slowly cross the area tonight and Saturday. The low pressure will exit east on Monday allowing high pressure to build in. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... An unsettled near term forecast period is in store as a stacked low slowly drifts east from Wisconsin this afternoon to Michigan by dawn Sunday. A warm front is lifting across far northeast OH this afternoon with a pre-frontal surface trough pushing across northwest OH. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to continue developing with both features over the next few hours thanks to continued heating / destabilization, along with some lift ahead of a pair of vort maxs apparent on water vapor imagery over western Lake Erie and farther southwest near the OH/IN boarder. Have the highest POPs focused east of a Marion to Sandusky line over the next several hours. The environment is not conducive to any sort of organized severe weather threat this evening, with MLCAPE values struggling to exceed 1000 J/KG beneath poor mid- level lapse rates and relatively modest deep layer shear. Still, will monitor for a locally stronger storm with locally gusty winds near or west of I-77 where the greatest instability and a bit more deep-layer shear exists. Skinny instability profiles and increasing precipitable water values may allow for efficient rain-rates, though cell motion should be quick enough to avoid much flooding unless localized training or back- building occurs. While a few showers or storms may persist into the overnight ahead of the approaching cold front, expect coverage and intensity to decrease after sunset. This will leave a mainly dry period of weather overnight tonight into Saturday morning, though some low stratus may develop overnight and persist into Saturday morning. By early to mid Saturday afternoon, a combination of the cold front pushing east across the area and a more potent shortwave rotating around the larger closed low should lead to fairly numerous showers and thunderstorms developing. Showers and thunder should gradually exit east- southeast Saturday evening with a gradual reduction in coverage and intensity after sunset as well. This will lead to a mainly dry overnight Saturday night, though a few showers may still be around at times as the closed low continues to slowly approach, especially near or over the warm waters of Lake Erie. Daytime heating on Saturday should be a bit stronger than today with modestly colder temperatures aloft, allowing for 1000-2000 J/KG of MLCAPE to develop. Forecast soundings show slightly steeper mid-level lapse rates of 6.0-6.5C/km on Saturday with 800-1100 J/KG of DCAPE overtop well-mixed low-levels. While deep-layer shear will still be rather modest, 25-30 knots of it should be enough to see some convective organization. All this to say that there's greater potential for locally damaging winds and perhaps some hail with a few storms on Saturday, especially along and east of the I-71 corridor. The SPC has maintained a Marginal Risk (level 1/5) for severe weather Saturday afternoon and evening for all of our area except for the I-75 corridor, and it's possible we eventually need a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for some of our eastern counties. While slightly lower PWATs (1.40-1.70") and thicker instability profiles aren't overly favorable for efficient rain-rates on Saturday, hi-res models are hinting at some training due to deep-layer flow paralleling the advancing cold front. This could lead to localized 2-3" totals and isolated flash flood concerns, especially if this occurs over urban areas or over the small corridor that saw significant flash flooding last Thursday night. Lows tonight will struggle to fall below the upper 60s to near 70 tonight. Expect humid highs in the low to mid 80s on Saturday, with lows falling further in the 60s Saturday night. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Largely in the wake of the cold front after 12Z Saturday with a brief drying period that will be masked in the 6hr POP forecast from 12-18Z Sunday with the increasing chances at the very end of that block. Post frontal surface trough drops in from the north along with the axis within the closed 500mb low over the Great Lakes. Also have small pockets of PVA passing through the cyclonic flow as well along the western side of the low aloft. Combining the forcing mechanisms in the cold pool scenario with some weak diurnal heating gives high POPs for the rest of Sunday, waning Sunday night. They will then increase again Monday as flow turns sharply northerly with some onshore flow and cold air advection aloft for some lake enhanced showers. Should come to an end around 00Z Tuesday. Will have some lingering marginal risk for excessive into Sunday with tropical PWATs remaining in place. Temperatures on the cooler side Sunday with 70s, becoming upper 60s in NW PA Monday and low to mid 70s further west. Upper trough will be on the exit after Monday night. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Dominant high pressure for the long term forecast period with dry air and below normal temperatures continuing. Not expected to see 80 degrees until Friday with fair weather cumulus through the period with no signs of heat in the upcoming days. && .AVIATION /18Z Friday THROUGH Wednesday/... Outside of convection, mainly VFR is expected through the TAF period. Some brief MVFR ceilings are possible across Northwest OH this afternoon as has been intermittently observed just to the west. Otherwise, some inland sites may develop low stratus and some mist late tonight into early Saturday in such a humid airmass. Guidance has backed off on this a bit, though still have a period of IFR at CAK and YNG. Do not want to rule out a period of non-VFR ceilings at most other TAF sites between about 7-13z Saturday, though confidence was too low to include at this time given guidance has trended less pessimistic overall. Scattered showers and thunderstorms appear to be on the verge of developing, and expect scattered activity through this evening. Handled with a mix of VCTS and some TEMPOS at all sites, though did not include at TOL and FDY as confidence is lower. Will monitor FDY in the 19-21z timeframe though given some slightly more agitated cumulus upstream of the site. We should be mainly dry overnight tonight into Saturday morning, though scattered to numerous showers and storms should re-develop by early to mid afternoon Saturday. Expect future cycles to add more detail. South winds of 8 to 12 knots with a few gusts to 20 knots will slacken to 3 to 7 knots tonight. Winds shift more southwesterly into Saturday while increasing to 10 to 15 knots with gusts as high as 25 knots. Thunderstorms may produce localized 30 knot wind gusts today, with greater potential for 30-40 knot thunderstorm wind gusts on Saturday from CLE-MFD points east. Outlook...Non-VFR possible in periods of showers and thunderstorms through Monday, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Widespread non-VFR appears most likely in low ceilings Sunday into Monday. && .MARINE... Offshore winds 10-20kts become more southwesterly behind a cold front Saturday into Saturday night at 15-20kts, with wave heights away from shoreline areas at 1-3ft. By Sunday, winds sharply offshore 15-25kts in north northwesterly winds and wave heights increasing to 3-6ft Monday into Monday night, gradually subsiding to 2-4ft Tuesday as high pressure moves over the Great Lakes. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...None. PA...None. NY...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...Sullivan NEAR TERM...Sullivan SHORT TERM...26 LONG TERM...26 AVIATION...Sullivan MARINE...26
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cleveland OH 1028 AM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024 OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-089-PAZ001>003-171430- 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- 1028 AM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Ohio, northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon. A few of these storms may be strong to severe with isolated damaging wind gusts possible. Locally heavy rainfall may lead to flooding during this time, primarily in low-lying or urban areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Scattered thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon. A few of these storms may be strong to severe with isolated damaging wind gusts possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LEZ061-142>149-162>169-171430- Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH- Reno Beach to The Islands OH-The Islands to Vermilion OH- Vermilion to Avon Point OH-Avon Point to Willowick OH- Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH-Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH- Conneaut OH to Ripley NY- Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay OH to Reno Beach OH beyond 5NM offshoreline to US-Canadian border- Reno Beach to The Islands OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US- Canadian border- The Islands to Vermilion OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- Vermilion to Avon Point OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- Avon Point to Willowick OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the- Lake OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-Canadian border-Geneva-on-the- Lake to Conneaut OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-Canadian border- Conneaut OH to Ripley NY beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- 1028 AM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon. A few of these storms may be strong to severe with isolated damaging wind gusts possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Scattered thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon. A few of these storms may be strong to severe with isolated damaging wind gusts possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
535 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
OHZ012-162215-
Lake OH-
535 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LAKE COUNTY THROUGH 615 PM
EDT...
At 535 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Euclid, or 7 miles west of Willowick, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Painesville, Willowick, Fairport Harbor, Euclid, Mentor, Willoughby,
Eastlake, Perry, Timberlake, Lakeline, Wickliffe, Willoughby Hills,
Mentor-On-The-Lake, Kirtland, North Perry, Kirtland Hills, Waite
Hill, and Grand River.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4170 8110 4164 8111 4164 8129 4160 8130
4160 8149 4164 8149 4171 8138 4176 8129
4176 8124 4180 8115
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 246DEG 22KT 4166 8161
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GaruckasSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
616 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
OHZ012>014-089-162300-
Geauga OH-Lake OH-Ashtabula Lakeshore OH-Ashtabula Inland OH-
616 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN GEAUGA...LAKE AND
NORTHWESTERN ASHTABULA COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM EDT...
At 616 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Fairport Harbor, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Painesville, Ashtabula, Fairport Harbor, Geneva-On-The-Lake, Mentor,
Geneva, Madison, Perry, Austinburg, Roaming Shores, North Perry,
Thompson, Kirtland Hills, Rock Creek, Grand River, Plymouth Center,
North Madison, and Edgewood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4164 8073 4163 8131 4173 8135 4176 8129
4176 8124 4185 8104 4187 8090 4189 8082
4191 8080 4191 8077 4192 8075
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 254DEG 19KT 4177 8126
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GaruckasSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
647 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
OHZ036-162345-
Marion OH-
647 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT MARION COUNTY THROUGH 745 PM
EDT...
At 647 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
La Rue, or 10 miles west of Marion, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Marion, La Rue, Morral, New Bloomington, and Green Camp.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4049 8325 4051 8325 4050 8339 4062 8342
4070 8315 4070 8300 4051 8296 4049 8296
4048 8302
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 260DEG 13KT 4058 8332
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GaruckasSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
655 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
OHZ014-089-PAZ001>003-162345-
Ashtabula Lakeshore OH-Ashtabula Inland OH-Northern Erie PA-
Southern Erie PA-Crawford PA-
655 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ASHTABULA...SOUTHWESTERN
ERIE AND NORTHWESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM EDT...
At 654 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Geneva, or near Geneva-On-The-Lake, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Ashtabula, Conneaut, Geneva-On-The-Lake, Geneva, North Kingsville,
Albion, Linesville, Pymatuning North, Harmonsburg, Austinburg,
Kingsville, Roaming Shores, Pierpont, Conneautville, Rock Creek,
Springboro, Edgewood, Plymouth Center, and Kelloggsville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4165 8032 4164 8091 4186 8096 4187 8090
4189 8082 4191 8080 4192 8072 4193 8070
4196 8055 4202 8038
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 264DEG 26KT 4180 8089
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GaruckasThe Cleveland radar (KCLE), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Power pole downed about 1.5-miles NNE of Saybrook.
Multiple trees downed at intersection of Lee Road West and Green Road in North Kingsville.
Trees downed about five-miles west of Wooster.
Hail up to quarter-size about one-mile south of Wooster.
Hail up to quarter-size in Wooster.
Trees downed or snapped about two-miles SSE of Bladensburg.
Trees damaged about two-miles southeast of Martinsburg.
Tree downed onto vehicle about one-mile east of Portage Lakes.
Tree limbs downed in Elyria.
Tree limbs downed about two-miles southeast of Elyria.
Numerous large tree limbs downed, including one that fell onto a car, about one-mile east of Green.
Downed tree damaged power pole at corner of Norris Avenue and Dick Street in Mogadore.
Tree downed about two-miles WSW of Brimfield.
Tree downed about two-miles northeast of Brimfield.
Widespread flash flooding in Kent and Ravenna. Several roads flooded and impassable with several feet of standing water, including OH-59 between downtown Ravenna and OH-44. Dispatch received 30 calls to assist motorists stranded in flood waters. Widespread basement flooding reported. Radar estimates and gauge measurements indicate 3 to 3.25 inches of rainfall in a two hour period.
Tree downed onto vehicle along 2000 block of Lark Street in Lakewood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, August 2024
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: 1230047, 1230048, 1230063, 1230061, 1230062, 1230064, 1230065, 1230068, 1230066, 1230067, 1230069, 1230070, 1230229, 1230230, 1215276, 1230231.