Tornadoes · United States · Ohio · 2017

EF0 tornado, Harveysburg to Mt Holly, Ohio, May 24, 2017

From Harveysburg to Mt Holly, this EF0 tornado ran 0.2 miles across Warren County on May 24, 2017, touching down at 7:47 PM EDT and reaching 25 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF0
Date
May 24, 2017
Touchdown
7:47 PM EDT (23:47 UTC)
Lifted
7:48 PM EDT (23:48 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.2 miles (0.3 km)
Path width
25 yards (23 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Warren County
Touchdown point
39.541, -83.981
Lift-off point
39.544, -83.983
Record number
1705241747-01

The damage survey

2 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS ILN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 62 mph.

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A slow moving low pressure system resulted in thunderstorm development through the late afternoon. The thunderstorms continued into the evening hours, producing locally heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes.

Based on radar data, video evidence and eyewitness reports, a tornado appeared to briefly touch down about 4 miles NNE of Harveysburg in extreme northeast Warren County. No damage was observed so the maximum winds were estimated to be 50 mph, equivalent to a weak EF0 tornado.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
23:04 UTC04:00 UTCFlood AdvisoryILN
23:55 UTC00:03 UTCTornado WarningILN
00:44 UTC00:55 UTCTornado WarningILN

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Marginal Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 20:06 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 12:00Z

11.8 hours before the tornado, 20 km from the path. May 24, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2017-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 10 joules per kilogram, CIN -89, lifted condensation level 828 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2017-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 28 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 37 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
10 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-89 J/kg
Surface CAPE
62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
828 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
80 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 00:00Z

0.2 hours after it, 20 km from the path. May 25, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2017-05-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 195 joules per kilogram, CIN -4, lifted condensation level 911 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2017-05-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 180 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 35 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
195 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Surface CAPE
850 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
911 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
231 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
2.8
0-3 km lapse rate
7.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 19 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
22:18 UTCHEAVY RAIN 1.81FairfieldButler, OHRAINFALL IN 45-MINUTE SPAN.
23:45 UTCFLASH FLOOD4 Nne HamiltonButler, OHRAILROAD WAS WASHED OUT BY FLOODING ON SEVENMILE CREEK.
23:55 UTCTORNADO 04 N HarveysburgWarren, OHBASED ON RADAR DATA, VIDEO EVIDENCE AND EYEWITNESS REPORTS...THE TORNADO APPEARED TO BRIEFLY TOUCH DOWN IN A FARM FIELD.
00:25 UTCFLASH FLOODFairfieldButler, OH2.62 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE LAST HOUR AND A HALF.
00:26 UTCTORNADO 02 W XeniaGreene, OHSMALL TREE DAMAGE AND MINOR BRANCH DAMAGE. VIDEO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWED TORNADO CIRCULATION CROSSING ROUTE 35 WEST OF XENIA. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FURTHER NORTH OF 35 ALONG TREBEIN ROAD IN BEAVERCREEK TOWNSHIP.
00:27 UTCTORNADO 03 Wsw OctaFayette, OHBASED ON RADAR DATA, VIDEO EVIDENCE AND EYEWITNESS REPORTS, THE TORNADO APPEARED TO FIRST TOUCH DOWN ABOUT 3 MILES WSW OF OCTA IN EXTREME WESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED NORTHWEST INTO FAR EASTERN GREENE C
00:28 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ese BeavercreekGreene, OHSEVERAL TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN NEAR INTERSECTION OF DAYTON XENIA RD AND TREBEIN RD. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
00:53 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Nne BeavercreekGreene, OHSEVERAL TREES DOWN ALONG A PORTION OF DAYTON YELLOWSPRINGS RD NEAR FAIRBORN. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
01:07 UTCTORNADO 04 Nnw FairbornGreene, OHNWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED A TORNADO NEAR MEDWAY IN CLARK AND GREEN COUNTIES. SEVERAL MANUFACTURED HOMES SUSTAINED ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE ALONG WITH SEVERAL CARPORTS AND AWNINGS DESTROYED ON EITHER SIDE OF PRINCETON DRIV
01:13 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ene Huber HeightsClark, OHDAMAGE OBSERVED AT A SUNOCO GAS STATION JUST SOUTH OF STYER DRIVE. NEARBY ROOF DAMAGE AT GROCERY STORE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
01:15 UTCTORNADO 04 Nnw FairbornClark, OHNWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED A TORNADO NEAR MEDWAY IN CLARK COUNTY. SEVERAL MANUFACTURED HOMES SUSTAINED ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE ALONG WITH SEVERAL CARPORTS AND AWNINGS DESTROYED ON EITHER SIDE OF PRINCETON DRIVE. SEVERAL L
01:16 UTCTORNADO 14 Ene Huber HeightsClark, OHNWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED A TORNADO NEAR PARK LAYNE IN CLARK AND MIAMI COUNTIES. STRUCTURAL AND TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON WESTERN SIDE OF PARK LAYNE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OBSERVED ALONG BELLEFONTAINE ROAD AND STUDEBA
01:16 UTCTORNADO 14 Nnw New CarlisleMiami, OHNWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED A TORNADO NEAR PARK LAYNE IN CLARK AND MIAMI COUNTIES. STRUCTURAL AND TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON WESTERN SIDE OF PARK LAYNE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OBSERVED ALONG BELLEFONTAINE ROAD AND STUDEBA
01:16 UTCTORNADO 14 Nnw New CarlisleMiami, OHNWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED A TORNADO NEAR PARK LAYNE IN CLARK AND MIAMI COUNTIES. STRUCTURAL AND TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON WESTERN SIDE OF PARK LAYNE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OBSERVED ALONG BELLEFONTAINE ROAD AND STUDEBA
01:19 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ne Huber HeightsMiami, OHTREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ALONG BELLEFONTAINE RD. BETWEEN US 40 AND PALMER ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
01:28 UTCTSTM WND DMG6 Nne Huber HeightsMiami, OHTWO HOMES REPORTED WITH SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2017 tornado in OhioEvery tornado in Ohio since 1950Warnings in force in Ohio nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 24, 2017

26 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 248:53 AM EDTUnratedSaint Johns, FL0.625
May 249:45 AM EDTEF1Whitfield, GA1.6200$20,000
May 2410:47 AM EDTEF0Gordon, GA0.390$10,000
May 2410:50 AM EDTEF0Gordon, GA0.390$30,000
May 2411:16 AM EDTEF0Gilmer, GA0.130$8,000
May 2411:43 AM EDTEF0Fannin, GA0.135$7,000
May 2411:36 AM CDTEF0Smith, TN2.575$50,000
May 242:05 PM EDTEF0Laurens, GA2.3240$25,000
May 242:40 PM EDTEF1Saluda, SC2.975
May 243:04 PM EDTEF2Saluda, SC12.1250
May 243:26 PM EDTEF0Iredell, NC1.150$10,000
May 243:41 PM EDTEF2Iredell, NC3.2100$250,000
May 244:14 PM EDTEF2Davie, NC5.92251$9.6 million
May 243:19 PM CDTEF1Lancaster, SC to NC8.150$100,000
May 244:48 PM EDTEF0Cook, GA1.1568$5,000
May 244:52 PM EDTEF2Stokes, NC16.1700$20 million
May 248:11 PM EDTEF1Lawrence, OH3.0100$100,000
May 248:26 PM EDTEF0Greene, OH2.640$3,000
May 248:27 PM EDTEF0Fayette, OH0.725
May 248:30 PM EDTEF0Greene, OH2.225
May 249:06 PM EDTEF0Greene, OH1.690$2,000
May 249:12 PM EDTEF0Clark, OH1.190$100,000
May 249:16 PM EDTEF1Clark, OH0.4300$250,000
May 249:20 PM EDTEF1Miami, OH4.1300$50,000
May 2410:03 PM EDTEF1Miami, OH1.9160$5,000
May 2411:09 PM EDTEF1Toombs, GA4.2440$50,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.