Tornadoes · United States · Ohio · 2023

EF1 tornado, Monroeville to Fitchville, Ohio, June 15, 2023

From Monroeville to Fitchville, this EF1 tornado ran 4.0 miles across Huron County on June 15, 2023, touching down at 8:13 PM EDT and reaching 250 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $60,000 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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

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

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    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
EF1
Date
June 15, 2023
Touchdown
8:13 PM EDT (00:13 UTC)
Lifted
8:22 PM EDT (00:22 UTC)
On the ground
9 minutes
Path length
4.0 miles (6.5 km)
Path width
250 yards (229 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$60,000
County
Huron County
Touchdown point
41.066, -82.563
Lift-off point
41.063, -82.486
Record number
2306151813-01

The damage survey

69 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS CLE, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 123 mph.

  • Large snapped tree is west. Cornfield blown SW
  • Numerous trees snapped an uprooted. House to the north of Snyder Rd had roof damage. Metal was wrapped around a mailbox. A piece of slate was lodged in the trunk of a tree.
  • More trees snapped back here, solid steel flag pole bent over completely.
  • Numerous trees snapped and uprotted, with debris everywhere. Several projectiles lodged into the ground.

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 cold front moved into northwest Ohio the evening of Thursday, June 15. A weak surface low pressure developed along this front over southern Michigan earlier in the day and moved southeast across the western tip of Lake Erie during the evening. A warm front extended southeast of this low pressure along the western Lake Erie shoreline and then down towards central Ohio. Thunderstorms erupted along the cold front near Toledo just before 6:00 PM and moved southeast towards east-central Ohio over the coming hours. Enhanced vertical wind shear associated with the low pressure and warm front allowed storms to rotate amidst an unstable environment. A particularly intense supercell (rotating thunderstorm) developed near the Ohio/Michigan border just north of Toledo and tracked across parts of Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, Huron, Seneca, Richland, Ashland, and Wayne Counties. This supercell was responsible for nine tornadoes and numerous instances of large hail, with hail to at least the size of tennis balls reported near Toledo and multiple reports of hail to golf ball sized or larger as the storm continued southeast. Heavy rainfall from this supercell also produced flash flooding across Huron County. Storms gradually congealed into a line that produced some hail and straight-line convective wind damage into east central Ohio.

This tornado began about two miles south of Monroeville, near Townline Road 198 and Sand Hill Road, where trees were damaged. The tornado moved southeastward, damaged additional trees, and caused EF0 to EF1-level damage to two barns and outbuildings. The greatest damage from the tornado occurred in vicinity of Snyder Road and Peru Center Road. This is where several residences sustained EF1 to EF2-level damage and the tornado's estimated peak winds reached 115 mph. A piece of slate roofing was lifted off a building north of Snyder Road and impaled a tree to the southeast. An outbuilding was destroyed completely and material from this structure was lofted a quarter mile southeast into a residence before eventually settling into a tree line. About ten buildings in total sustained damage, including one residence that was shifted off its foundation.||Damage to additional trees and outbuildings occurred as the tornado persisted farther southeastward across Peru Center Road, toward Townline Road 131 and OH-61. As the tornado reached Hanville Corners Road and Townline Road 113, several outbuildings and silos were damaged heavily with twisted debris lofted in various directions. The tornado continued farther southeast toward OH-162 and Ridge Road, where it caused heavy damage to a barn before the tornado dissipated west of the village of North Fairfield.

An EF0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 80 mph impacted portions of Peru Township. The tornado began at the intersection of Hettle and Terry Roads, where a pine tree was uprooted and several large tree branches were snapped. This tornado dissipated after crossing Peru Center Road.

An EF0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph tracked southeastward from near the intersection of OH-61 and Hanville Corners Road toward the intersection of OH-162 and Walnut Road. The tornado snapped a pine tree and damaged several other trees during its brief lifespan just west of North Fairfield.

This tornado began in vicinity of New State Road and Townline Road 131, where it downed a deteriorated barn. The tornado continued southeast toward the village of North Fairfield, intensified, lifted a large portion of a roof off an outbuilding, and downed several trees on Hanville Corners Road. A power pole was separated from power lines with additional tree damage. The tornado entered North Fairfield and caused widespread tree and power line damage in the village. Some roofing material was lifted off residences and some trees fell onto homes. A large sign was ripped off the facade of a building and several light and power poles were leaning along Main Street (OH-162). Damage in the village was at the EF0 to EF1 level and this is where the tornado was widest along its path.||The tornado continued southeastward across Penn Road toward Old State Road and Olive Road, where a large area of snapped and shredded trees fell and additional damage occurred to several barns and outbuildings. The greatest damage occurred near the intersection of Old State Road and Townline Road 12, where the tornado's estimated peak winds reached 110 mph. Several large trees were snapped, a mobile home was damaged heavily, and three power poles were snapped at their bases. As the tornado persisted farther southeast toward Boughtonville Road, several silos were damaged heavily. Near Edwards Road and Boughtonville Road, several roofs were displaced from outbuildings and the second floor of a residence was damaged heavily. The tornado continued toward Greenwich Milan Townline Road, where a large swath of trees were snapped. Minor tree and power pole damage occurred near the intersection of US-224 and Greenwich Milan Townline Road, west of the village of Greenwich, just before the tornado dissipated.

An EF1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 105 mph exhibited deviant west-to-east motion in the Greenwich area. The tornado started in vicinity of Townline Road 12 and Edwards Road, where several softwood trees were snapped. The tornado struck a business, where it damaged an office, several silos, an outbuilding, and some equipment. The tornado followed Townline Road 12 east to Greenwich Milan Townline Road, where additional tree damage occurred along with a clear damage path in a field. Additional trees were downed along Omega Road before the tornado dissipated near OH-13, northeast of Greenwich.

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

The warnings

35 minutes of warning. NWS CLE issued a tornado warning for this county at 23:38 UTC, 35 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 00:15 UTC.

The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 23:17 UTC and running to 02:37 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
23:17 UTC02:37 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchCLE
23:24 UTC00:15 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLE
23:38 UTC00:15 UTCTornado WarningCLE
23:55 UTC00:30 UTCTornado WarningCLE
00:08 UTC04:00 UTCFlood AdvisoryCLE
00:09 UTC01:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLE
00:21 UTC00:37 UTCTornado WarningCLE
00:30 UTC05:30 UTCFlash Flood WarningCLE

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 19:57 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.

Detroit, MI (KDTX), 00:00Z

0.2 hours before the tornado, 199 km from the path. June 16, 2023.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2023-06-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 115 joules per kilogram, CIN -67, lifted condensation level 789 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2023-06-16The 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 172 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 41 knots.193958Sfc1 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
115 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-67 J/kg
Surface CAPE
625 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
789 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
172 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
242 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.7
0-3 km lapse rate
5.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Detroit, MI (KDTX), 12:00Z

11.8 hours after it, 199 km from the path. June 16, 2023.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2023-06-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -111104, lifted condensation level 518 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2023-06-16The 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 36 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 31 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-111104 J/kg
Surface CAPE
4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
518 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
70 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:13 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
23:18 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Ene FremontSandusky, OHMultiple trees snapped and powerlines down along the Turnpike/I-80. Time estimated via radar.
23:18 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Ene FremontSandusky, OHMultiple trees snapped and powerlines down along the Turnpike/I-80. Time estimated via radar.
23:18 UTCTORNADO6 W CastaliaSandusky, OHDelayed report. An NWS Cleveland storm survey confirms an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Sandusky County east of Vickery on June 15, 2023. The tornado touched down along CR 247 partially destroying a metal roof of
23:18 UTCTORNADO6 W CastaliaSandusky, OHDelayed report. An NWS Cleveland storm survey confirms an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Sandusky County east of Vickery on June 15, 2023. The tornado touched down along CR 247 partially destroying a metal roof of
23:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 W CastaliaSandusky, OHOutbuilding destroyed with debris scattered into field near US-6 and County Road 298. Time estimated via radar.
23:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 W CastaliaSandusky, OHOutbuilding destroyed with debris scattered into field near US-6 and County Road 298. Time estimated via radar.
23:22 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wsw SanduskyErie, OHCorrects previous non-tstm wnd dmg report from 2 WSW Sandusky. Poles snapped along US-6.
23:22 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wsw SanduskyErie, OHPoles snapped along US-6.
23:22 UTCNON-TSTM WND DMG2 Wsw SanduskyErie, OHPoles snapped along US-6.
23:27 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 N Green SpringsSandusky, OHBarn collapse. Time estimated via radar.
23:27 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 N Green SpringsSandusky, OHBarn collapse. Time estimated via radar.
23:27 UTCTSTM WND DMGCastaliaErie, OHNumerous trees and powerlines down.
23:27 UTCTSTM WND DMGCastaliaErie, OHNumerous trees and powerlines down.
23:29 UTCHAIL 1.51 W BellevueSandusky, OH
23:29 UTCHAIL 1.51 W BellevueSandusky, OH
23:29 UTCHAIL 1.75BellevueSandusky, OH
23:29 UTCHAIL 1.75BellevueSandusky, OH
23:31 UTCTSTM WND DMGBellevueHuron, OHCorrects previous non-tstm wnd dmg report from Bellevue. Trees snapped along Northwest Street.
23:31 UTCTSTM WND DMGBellevueHuron, OHTrees snapped along Northwest Street.
23:31 UTCNON-TSTM WND DMGBellevueHuron, OHTrees snapped along Northwest Street.
23:32 UTCHAIL 1.75BellevueHuron, OHA trained spotter reported golf ball sized hail near SR 269 and Lincoln Street in Bellevue.
23:32 UTCHAIL 1.75BellevueHuron, OHA trained spotter reported golf ball sized hail near SR 269 and Lincoln Street in Bellevue.
23:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 404 E Port ClintonOttawa, OHAWOS station KPCW Port Clinton reported a 35 kt wind gust.
23:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 404 E Port ClintonOttawa, OHAWOS station KPCW Port Clinton reported a 35 kt wind gust.
23:40 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N BellevueHuron, OHLarge trees downed just north of Bellevue. Time estimated via radar.
23:40 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N BellevueHuron, OHLarge trees downed just north of Bellevue. Time estimated via radar.
23:40 UTCTORNADO1 Nw BellevueSandusky, OHA preliminary NWS storm survey confirms an EF-0 tornado with estimated maximum winds of 80 mph and a width of 500 yards began in northern Bellevue. The tornado tracked 0.93 miles southeast and knocked over multiple power
23:40 UTCTORNADO1 Nw BellevueSandusky, OHA preliminary NWS storm survey confirms an EF-0 tornado with estimated maximum winds of 80 mph and a width of 500 yards began in northern Bellevue. The tornado tracked 0.93 miles southeast and knocked over multiple power
23:48 UTCTORNADO2 S MonroevilleHuron, OHUpdates previous tornado report from 2 S Monroeville. An NWS Cleveland Storm Survey confirms an EF-2 tornado with a maximum estimated wind speed of 115 mph occurred in Huron County on June 15 2023. This tornado started 2
23:48 UTCTORNADO2 S MonroevilleHuron, OHUpdates previous tornado report from 2 S Monroeville. An NWS Cleveland Storm Survey confirms an EF-2 tornado with a maximum estimated wind speed of 115 mph occurred in Huron County on June 15 2023. This tornado started 2
23:49 UTCTORNADO2 S MonroevilleHuron, OHAn NWS Cleveland Storm Survey confirms an EF-2 tornado with estimated maximum wind speeds of 115 mph in Huron County from northern Peru Township to Northwest of Greenwich. Additional details will be released in a Public
23:50 UTCTORNADO4 S MonroevilleHuron, OHAn EF-0 tornado with max wind speed of 80 mph began at the intersection of Hettle Rd and Terry Rd where it uprooted a pine tree and snapped several large branches. This tornado tracked southeast and dissipated after cros
23:51 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N BellevueSandusky, OHMultiple trees down north of Bellevue. Report obtained on social media and time estimated via radar.
23:51 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N BellevueSandusky, OHMultiple trees down north of Bellevue. Report obtained on social media and time estimated via radar.
23:51 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Nnw North FairfieldHuron, OHLarge tree uprooted. Time estimated via radar.
23:51 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Nnw North FairfieldHuron, OHLarge tree uprooted. Time estimated via radar.
23:52 UTCHAIL 1.752 W TiffinSeneca, OHGolf ball sized hail between Bascom and Tiffin.
23:52 UTCHAIL 1.752 W TiffinSeneca, OHGolf ball sized hail between Bascom and Tiffin.
23:53 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 S MonroevilleHuron, OHDamage to houses and outbuildings. Numerous trees and powerlines down. Possible tornado damage. Time estimated via radar.
23:53 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 S MonroevilleHuron, OHDamage to houses and outbuildings. Numerous trees and powerlines down. Possible tornado damage. Time estimated via radar.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2023 tornado in OhioEvery tornado in Ohio since 1950Warnings in force in Ohio nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 15, 2023

31 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 154:58 PM CDTEF0Comanche, OK3.850$10,000
June 155:02 PM CDTEF2Ochiltree, TX17.4200$114,000
June 156:06 PM EDTEF2Lucas, OH3.8300$176,000
June 155:06 PM CDTEF3Perryton tornado, TX6.38803100$1.0 million
June 156:09 PM EDTEF1Monroe, MI4.8400
June 155:10 PM CDTEF0Cotton, OK1.250$10,000
June 155:11 PM CDTUnratedStephens, OK0.550
June 155:12 PM CDTEF0Ochiltree, TX12.350
June 156:28 PM EDTEF0Lucas, OH0.250$5,000
June 155:34 PM CDTEF0Stephens, OK0.8200
June 155:37 PM CDTEF1Stephens, OK0.520$30,000
June 156:49 PM EDTEF2Ottawa, OH3.4200$255,000
June 156:57 PM EDTEF1Sandusky, OH0.1100$15,000
June 155:58 PM CDTUnratedJefferson, OK0.850
June 156:03 PM CDTEF1Stephens, OK1.550$10,000
June 156:16 PM CDTEF2Jefferson, OK4.11,000$250,000
June 157:19 PM EDTEF0Sandusky, OH0.350$18,000
June 156:29 PM CDTEF1Ellis, TX to OK4.8200$11,000
June 157:40 PM EDTEF0Sandusky, OH0.950$10,000
June 157:43 PM EDTEF0Franklin, FL0.450$5,000
June 156:47 PM CDTUnratedRoger Mills, OK1.050
June 157:48 PM EDTEF2Huron, OH8.72,200$270,000
June 157:51 PM EDTEF0Huron, OH1.6100$5,000
June 158:01 PM EDTEF0Huron, OH0.7100$5,000
June 158:04 PM EDTEF1Huron, OH8.61,100$165,000
June 157:26 PM CDTEF0Love, OK0.510
June 158:46 PM EDTEF0Ashland, OH1.2300$70,000
June 158:02 PM CDTEF1Clay, TX2.5100$8,000
June 158:35 PM CDTEF2Escambia, FL8.6450
June 1512:21 AM CDTEF0Baldwin, AL0.375
June 151:43 AM EDTEF0Taylor, FL1.050

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.