Tornadoes · United States · Ohio · 2020
EF0 tornado, Vera Cruz to Fayetteville Jj Arpt, Ohio, April 8, 2020
From Vera Cruz to Fayetteville Jj Arpt, this EF0 tornado ran 2.4 miles across Brown County on April 8, 2020, touching down at 10:56 PM EDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $15,000 of property damage.
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.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
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.
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.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
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.
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
- April 8, 2020
- Touchdown
- 10:56 PM EDT (02:56 UTC)
- Lifted
- 10:59 PM EDT (02:59 UTC)
- On the ground
- 3 minutes
- Path length
- 2.4 miles (3.9 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $15,000
- County
- Brown County
- Touchdown point
- 39.159, -83.978
- Lift-off point
- 39.172, -83.937
- Record number
- 2004082056-01
What the Weather Service recorded
Thunderstorms developed ahead of an advancing cold front which moved east across the region.
The tornado caused tree damage along its path, with some structural damage noted to a property on State Route 131.
The tornado originally touched down in Clermont County at 21:50 EST and caused damage near Newtonsville. At 21:56 EST, the tornado moved into Brown County and later produced tree and structural damage near Lake Lorelei, with wind speeds of about 80 MPH.
The tornado originally touched down in far southwestern Clinton County just west of SR-123 at 22:01 EST. It moved east southeast across SR-123 into Brown County at 23:02, lifting just after the county line. As it moved across OH-123 numerous trees were knocked down and pole barns were damaged.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
11 minutes of warning. NWS ILN issued a tornado warning for this county at 02:45 UTC, 11 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 03:15 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 23:25 UTC and running to 04:24 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23:25 UTC | 04:24 UTC | Tornado Watch | ILN |
| 02:02 UTC | 02:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN |
| 02:34 UTC | 02:49 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN |
| 02:42 UTC | 03:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN |
| 02:45 UTC | 03:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILN |
| 02:57 UTC | 03:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILN |
| 03:03 UTC | 03:34 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILN |
| 03:06 UTC | 04:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN |
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 Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 01:04 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), 00:00Z
2.9 hours before the tornado, 32 km from the path. April 9, 2020.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -94574 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2413 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 66 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 13 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 128 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 295 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.7 K/km
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 12:00Z
9.1 hours after it, 32 km from the path. April 9, 2020.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -88104 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 958 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 85 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 0 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 62 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.5 K/km
The surface observations
Batavia (I69), 24 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:16 UTC | 71.4 | 45 | 150° 4 kt | 1000.7 | ||
| 01:36 UTC | 71.2 | 47.5 | 160° 5 kt | 1000.7 | ||
| 01:55 UTC | 71.2 | 51 | 140° 4 kt | 999.7 | ||
| 02:16 UTC | 71 | 55.4 | 180° 7 kt | 999 | ||
| 02:36 UTC | 70.7 | 58 | 190° 7 kt | 998.6 | ||
| 02:55 UTC | 65.5 | 56 | 290° 23 kt | 41 | 1003.4 | +RA |
| 03:16 UTC | 57 | 55.4 | 300° 20 kt | 34 | 1003.7 | +RA |
| 03:36 UTC | 57.2 | 55.4 | 320° 13 kt | 29 | 1004.7 | RA |
| 03:55 UTC | 57.2 | 55.4 | 350° 9 kt | 1004.1 | +RA | |
| 04:16 UTC | 56.7 | 55.2 | 170° 3 kt | 1002 | -RA | |
| 04:36 UTC | 56.3 | 55.4 | 180° 3 kt | 1001.7 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:54 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) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:59 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 5 Ese New Richmond | Clermont, OH | |
| 02:03 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | Liberty Township | Butler, OH | |
| 02:04 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | New Richmond | Clermont, OH | |
| 02:04 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 Ese Bethel | Clermont, OH | |
| 02:04 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 3 Wnw Mason | Butler, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:05 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | N Bethel | Clermont, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:06 UTC | HAIL 1 | Monroe | Butler, OH | |
| 02:07 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Mason | Warren, OH | |
| 02:09 UTC | HAIL 1 | Mason | Warren, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:10 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | Mason | Warren, OH | |
| 02:11 UTC | HAIL 1 | Mason | Warren, OH | |
| 02:12 UTC | HAIL 1 | N Williamsburg | Clermont, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:12 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Williamsburg | Clermont, OH | NUMEROUS REPORTS/PICTURES FROM WILLIAMSBURG OF HAIL RANGING FROM HALF DOLLAR TO PING PONGS. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:15 UTC | HAIL 1 | Springdale | Hamilton, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:15 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Mount Orab | Brown, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:18 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Blue Ash | Hamilton, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:19 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 4 W Blue Ash | Hamilton, OH | |
| 02:21 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Wnw Finneytown | Hamilton, OH | TREE DOWNED NEAR NORTGATE MALL. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:22 UTC | HAIL 1 | Blue Ash | Hamilton, OH | |
| 02:22 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 4 Wnw Finneytown | Hamilton, OH | EF0 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN AND NEAR MOUNT HEALTHY IN CENTRAL HAMILTON COUNTY. |
| 02:23 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wnw Finneytown | Hamilton, OH | MULTIPLE TREES DOWN INTO HOUSE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR DATA. |
| 02:23 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Fairfield | Butler, OH | SHINGLES REMOVED FROM A ROOF. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wnw Finneytown | Hamilton, OH | TREES DOWNED, STOREFRONT WINDOW BROKEN ALONG HAMILTON AVE IN MOUNT HEALTHY. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:25 UTC | HAIL 1 | Buford | Highland, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR |
| 02:25 UTC | HAIL 1 | Hamilton | Butler, OH | |
| 02:25 UTC | HAIL 1 | Loveland | Hamilton, OH | |
| 02:25 UTC | HAIL 1 | Montgomery | Hamilton, OH | |
| 02:26 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Finneytown | Hamilton, OH | LARGE TREE DOWNED ALONG SHAMROCK AVE IN NORTH COLLEGE HILL. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:26 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Colerain Township | Hamilton, OH | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND PEA-SIZED HAIL |
| 02:27 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Mount Orab | Brown, OH | PHOTO POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
| 02:28 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 1 Nw Winchester | Adams, OH | |
| 02:29 UTC | TSTM WND GST 54 | Khao Hamilton Apt | Butler, OH | |
| 02:31 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Sardinia | Brown, OH | TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:31 UTC | HAIL 2 | 3 Nnw Loveland | Warren, OH | |
| 02:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 6 N Covington | Hamilton, OH | TREE DOWNED ALONG VINE STREET. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 6 Se Blue Ash | Hamilton, OH | SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN ON ALBERLY LANE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. |
| 02:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Silverton | Hamilton, OH | TWO LARGE TREES DOWN, INCLUDING ONE ONTO HOUSE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR DATA. |
| 02:32 UTC | HAIL 1 | Landen | Warren, OH | |
| 02:33 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Amberley | Hamilton, OH | LARGE TREE DOWNED. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 02:33 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Silverton | Hamilton, OH | ROOF DAMAGE TO A STORE/COMMERCIAL SITE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2020 tornado in OhioEvery tornado in Ohio since 1950Warnings in force in Ohio nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 8, 2020
24 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 8 | 8:22 PM EDT | EF0 | Lanier, GA | 4.4 | 300 | $100,000 | ||
| April 8 | 8:43 PM EDT | EF1 | Morgan, IN | 1.0 | 35 | $500,000 | ||
| April 8 | 7:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Craighead, AR | 0.9 | 30 | $8,000 | ||
| April 8 | 8:05 PM CDT | EF2 | Poinsett, AR | 9.3 | 75 | 2 | $250,000 | |
| April 8 | 9:59 PM EDT | EF1 | Ripley, IN | 2.5 | 450 | $50,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:06 PM EDT | EF0 | Ripley, IN | 0.2 | 75 | $20,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:08 PM EDT | EF0 | Ripley, IN | 2.6 | 220 | $50,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:10 PM EDT | EF0 | Dearborn, IN | 1.0 | 150 | $40,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:11 PM EDT | EF0 | Ohio, IN | 0.1 | 60 | $20,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:13 PM EDT | EF0 | Ohio, IN | 5.3 | 200 | $20,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:13 PM EDT | EF0 | Ohio, IN | 5.7 | 450 | $50,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:22 PM EDT | EF0 | Hamilton, OH | 6.2 | 300 | $100,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:27 PM EDT | EF0 | Gallatin, KY | 0.5 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:37 PM EDT | EF0 | Hamilton, OH | 3.3 | 350 | $45,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:40 PM EDT | EF1 | Grant, KY | 2.4 | 500 | $35,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:42 PM EDT | EF0 | Kenton, KY | 1.2 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:47 PM EDT | EF1 | Grant, KY | 19.2 | 400 | $45,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:50 PM EDT | EF0 | Clermont, OH | 8.8 | 200 | $40,000 | ||
| April 8 | 10:53 PM EDT | EF0 | Clermont, OH | 0.8 | 75 | $25,000 | ||
| April 8 | 11:01 PM EDT | EF0 | Clinton, OH | 0.9 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| April 8 | 11:16 PM EDT | EF0 | Robertson, KY | 1.0 | 50 | $25,000 | ||
| April 8 | 11:20 PM EDT | EF1 | Nelson, KY | 4.0 | 45 | $200,000 | ||
| April 8 | 11:25 PM EDT | EF0 | Mason, KY | 1.2 | 50 | $15,000 | ||
| April 8 | 12:33 AM EDT | EF1 | Vinton, OH | 0.3 | 125 | $200,000 |
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.