Tornadoes · United States · Ohio · 2020
EF0 tornado, Troy to Fletcher, Ohio, January 11, 2020
From Troy to Fletcher, this EF0 tornado ran 6.3 miles across Miami County on January 11, 2020, touching down at 10:15 PM EST and reaching 175 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $50,000 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
- January 11, 2020
- Touchdown
- 10:15 PM EST (03:15 UTC)
- Lifted
- 10:21 PM EST (03:21 UTC)
- On the ground
- 6 minutes
- Path length
- 6.3 miles (10.2 km)
- Path width
- 175 yards (160 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $50,000
- County
- Miami County
- Touchdown point
- 40.106, -84.176
- Lift-off point
- 40.158, -84.077
- Record number
- 2001112115-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A line of showers and embedded thunderstorms moved quickly east across the Miami Valley during the evening hours. A couple of these storms produced brief, weak tornadoes.
The tornado touched down initially in the southwest portions of the city of Troy and moved northeast through the center of the city. It then crossed the Great Miami River before it weakened and lifted in the far northeast portions of the city.||Much of the damage was confined to trees and roofs, both residential and commercial, as the tornado moved through the city. To the west of the Great Miami River, damage was more intermittent and weak in comparison to areas east of the Great Miami River, where more concentrated and significant tree and roof damage was noted. In particular, areas near Troy High School and along and east of North Market Street saw the most concentrated and higher end structural damage to roofing material. This included the far eastern portions of the downtown area which saw several businesses lose all or portions of their roofs.||Damage was tornadic in nature, especially on the east side of the Great Miami River, where convergent tree damage was easily noted before the tornado rapidly weakened as it left the city. Damage along the path was consistent with wind speeds ranging from 65 to 80 mph, again with the highest wind speeds estimated on the east side of the Great Miami River.
The tornado first touched down on the north side of East Peterson Road, about 4 miles southwest of Fletcher. It then crossed North Union Shelby Road, moved across the Big Woods Reserve, and then moved across the far southeast portions of the town of Fletcher. The tornado lifted about 2 miles northeast of Fletcher in an open field after it removed a portion of a barn roof on Snyder Road.||Damage consisted mainly of broken and snapped off trees and roof damage to barns and outbuildings. Snapped electrical poles were assessed on the east side of Fletcher. Residential structures were impacted either with shingle and soffit removal, or with trees having fallen on them.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
3 minutes of warning. NWS ILN issued a tornado warning for this county at 03:12 UTC, 3 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 03:25 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01:00 UTC | 07:06 UTC | High Wind Warning | ILN |
| 03:12 UTC | 03:25 UTC | Tornado 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 General Thunderstorms Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 00:55 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
3.3 hours before the tornado, 83 km from the path. January 12, 2020.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -26545 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 602 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 61 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 41 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 161 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 105 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.0 K/km
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 12:00Z
8.7 hours after it, 83 km from the path. January 12, 2020.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -106880 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 679 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 64 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 15 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 29 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 178 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 1.9 K/km
The radar
The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 03:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03:05 UTC | NON-TSTM WND DMG | 5 W Beavercreek | Montgomery, OH | LARGE SPRUCE TREE DOWNED |
| 03:11 UTC | TORNADO 0 | Troy | Miami, OH | NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMS A BRIEF EF0 TORNADO THROUGH THE CITY OF TROY WITH DAMAGE MAINLY TO TREES AND ROOFS. |
| 03:12 UTC | NON-TSTM WND DMG | Troy | Miami, OH | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE TROY AREA AND SOME ROOF DAMAGE TO A BUSINESS IN TROY. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 03:15 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 5 Se Piqua | Miami, OH | NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMS A BRIEF EF0 TORNADO DAMAGED TREES AND BARN ROOFS NEAR FLETCHER. |
| 03:18 UTC | NON-TSTM WND GST 83 | Kffo Wright-Patt Afb | Greene, OH | |
| 05:15 UTC | NON-TSTM WND GST 49 | Ki19 Xenia Apt | Greene, OH |
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 January 11, 2020
62 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 11 | 12:18 AM CST | EF1 | Panola, TX | 0.5 | 150 | $30,000 | ||
| January 11 | 12:30 AM CST | EF0 | Harrison, TX | 3.0 | 100 | $15,000 | ||
| January 11 | 12:39 AM CST | EF1 | Shelby, TX | 6.1 | 400 | 1 | $500,000 | |
| January 11 | 12:52 AM CST | EF1 | Bollinger, MO | 0.2 | 45 | $30,000 | ||
| January 11 | 12:58 AM CST | EF1 | Lonoke, AR | 0.4 | 130 | $40,000 | ||
| January 11 | 1:24 AM CST | EF2 | Bossier Parish, LA | 31.8 | 300 | 3 | $1.3 million | |
| January 11 | 1:46 AM CST | EF2 | Cape Girardeau, MO | 9.1 | 300 | $750,000 | ||
| January 11 | 2:02 AM CST | EF1 | Union, IL | 0.9 | 50 | $80,000 | ||
| January 11 | 2:19 AM CST | EF1 | Union Parish, LA | 3.0 | 250 | $60,000 | ||
| January 11 | 2:45 AM CST | EF1 | Ashley, AR | 4.5 | 650 | $600,000 | ||
| January 11 | 2:54 AM CST | EF1 | Ashley, AR | 9.1 | 800 | $800,000 | ||
| January 11 | 2:55 AM CST | EF1 | Ashley, AR | 10.3 | 800 | $400,000 | ||
| January 11 | 3:07 AM CST | EF2 | Ashley, AR | 20.5 | 1,000 | $3.0 million | ||
| January 11 | 3:24 AM CST | EF0 | Drew, AR | 0.8 | 150 | $100,000 | ||
| January 11 | 3:33 AM CST | EF2 | Chicot, AR to MS | 17.7 | 850 | 1 | $1.1 million | |
| January 11 | 3:36 AM CST | EF1 | Chicot, AR | 0.2 | 15 | $110,000 | ||
| January 11 | 3:48 AM CST | EF2 | Bolivar, MS | 23.4 | 1,800 | 4 | $3.0 million | |
| January 11 | 4:02 AM CST | EF1 | Bolivar, MS | 4.2 | 880 | $350,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:07 AM CST | EF1 | Bolivar, MS | 2.5 | 270 | $50,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:18 AM CST | EF2 | Sunflower, MS | 5.5 | 1,700 | $700,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:19 AM CST | EF2 | Sunflower, MS | 5.4 | 850 | $80,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:26 AM CST | EF0 | Tallahatchie, MS | 2.2 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:38 AM CST | EF1 | Obion, TN | 1.9 | 150 | $75,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:42 AM CST | EF1 | Tate, MS | 11.3 | 200 | $610,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:45 AM CST | EF1 | Quitman, MS | 5.7 | 150 | 1 | $350,000 | |
| January 11 | 4:53 AM CST | EF2 | DeSoto, MS | 8.2 | 300 | $2.6 million | ||
| January 11 | 5:04 AM CST | EF0 | Panola, MS | 7.3 | 150 | $110,000 | ||
| January 11 | 5:17 AM CST | EF1 | Graves, KY | 2.0 | 230 | $2.0 million | ||
| January 11 | 5:21 AM CST | EF0 | Marshall, MS | 5.8 | 70 | 1 | $25,000 | |
| January 11 | 5:36 AM CST | EF0 | Fayette, TN | 2.0 | 90 | $30,000 | ||
| January 11 | 5:42 AM CST | EF1 | Marshall, KY | 2.3 | 25 | $30,000 | ||
| January 11 | 5:58 AM CST | EF0 | Weakley, TN | 0.1 | 75 | $15,000 | ||
| January 11 | 6:11 AM CST | EF2 | Pointe Coupee Parish, LA | 1.9 | 125 | 4 | $250,000 | |
| January 11 | 6:45 AM CST | EF1 | Prentiss, MS | 7.2 | 100 | $200,000 | ||
| January 11 | 6:50 AM CST | EF1 | Trigg, KY | 4.5 | 75 | $80,000 | ||
| January 11 | 6:56 AM CST | EF1 | Prentiss, MS | 8.2 | 150 | $75,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:00 AM CST | EF0 | Trigg, KY | 4.2 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:05 AM CST | EF1 | Caldwell, KY | 10.0 | 250 | $150,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:08 AM CST | EF1 | Tishomingo, MS | 5.7 | 120 | $90,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:12 AM CST | EF1 | Caldwell, KY | 7.5 | 175 | $130,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:17 AM CST | EF0 | Tishomingo, MS | 0.7 | 80 | $25,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:19 AM CST | EF1 | Christian, KY | 3.0 | 200 | $80,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:34 AM CST | EF1 | Christian, KY | 10.9 | 100 | $250,000 | ||
| January 11 | 7:40 AM CST | EF1 | Christian, KY | 2.6 | 50 | $15,000 | ||
| January 11 | 9:33 AM CST | EF0 | Scott, MS | 3.0 | 250 | $30,000 | ||
| January 11 | 10:33 AM CST | Unrated | Hancock, MS | 2.2 | 30 | |||
| January 11 | 11:11 AM CST | EF2 | Pickens, AL | 6.3 | 1,056 | 3 | 7 | |
| January 11 | 1:03 PM CST | EF0 | Cullman, AL | 0.2 | 80 | |||
| January 11 | 1:13 PM CST | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 1.8 | 60 | |||
| January 11 | 1:19 PM CST | EF2 | Marshall, AL | 0.2 | 150 | |||
| January 11 | 4:52 PM EST | EF0 | Paulding, GA | 3.9 | 400 | $100,000 | ||
| January 11 | 5:24 PM EST | EF0 | Fannin, GA | 3.0 | 450 | $250,000 | ||
| January 11 | 4:33 PM CST | EF1 | Barbour, AL | 5.8 | 275 | |||
| January 11 | 5:48 PM EST | EF1 | Upson, GA | 0.3 | 100 | $200,000 | ||
| January 11 | 5:55 PM EST | EF0 | Claiborne, TN | 3.3 | 30 | |||
| January 11 | 8:04 PM EST | EF0 | Anderson, SC | 0.4 | 30 | $1,000 | ||
| January 11 | 8:06 PM EST | EF0 | Anderson, SC | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| January 11 | 8:40 PM EST | EF0 | Anderson, SC | 0.7 | 160 | $1,000 | ||
| January 11 | 8:40 PM EST | EF0 | Greenwood, SC | 2.4 | 50 | $1,000 | ||
| January 11 | 8:45 PM EST | EF0 | Greenwood, SC | 0.5 | 30 |
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.