Tornadoes · United States · Ohio · 2025

EF1 tornado, East Townsend to Oberlin Arpt, Ohio, June 18, 2025

From East Townsend to Oberlin Arpt, this EF1 tornado ran 9.3 miles across Huron and Lorain counties on June 18, 2025, touching down at 8:26 PM EDT and reaching 200 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $40,000 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 18, 2025
Touchdown
8:26 PM EDT (00:26 UTC)
Lifted
8:36 PM EDT (00:36 UTC)
On the ground
10 minutes
Path length
9.3 miles (14.9 km)
Path width
200 yards (183 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$40,000
Counties
Huron and Lorain counties
Touchdown point
41.249, -82.488
Lift-off point
41.291, -82.319
Record number
2506181826-01

The damage survey

2 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS CLE, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The highest wind the damage implies is 80 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 cold front was draped west to east across the southern Great Lakes during the day of June 18th, 2025, with low pressure near Chicago drifting east toward southern Ontario. An upper-level shortwave trough moving eastward across the southern Great Lakes during the afternoon brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to portions of northern Ohio, with slow-moving and back-building storms along a lake breeze front in far-northeast Ohio, which brought flash flooding to portions of Ashtabula County. A quasi-linear convective system organized and strengthened across Illinois and Indiana during the afternoon and early evening hours, and moved eastward across northern Ohio during the evening. This line of storms generated widespread damaging straight-line wind gusts up to approximately 80 mph and three tornadoes in northern Ohio. All of these storms occurred amidst moderate to strong effective bulk shear and primarily weak to moderate MUCAPE.

This EF1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 mph travelled east-northeastward during its lifespan and began on the south side of Collins, near the intersection of U.S. Route 20 and Hartland Center Road. The tornado produced mainly tree damage along its path in Huron County, although some tree limbs or entire trees were downed onto residences, which caused minor structural damage. As the tornado progressed east-northeastward, it crossed Derussey Road, Wakeman Townline Road, Ogan Road, Fitchville River Road, West River Road, North River Street, Lincoln Road, and Butler Road before entering Lorain County near the Firelands Boy Scout Reservation.

After exiting Huron County and entering Lorain County, this EF1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 mph continued moving east-northeastward across the Firelands Boy Scout Reservation and Gore Orphanage Road before dissipating north of Becker Road and west of Baird Road in the Kipton area. Along this portion of the tornado's path, additional trees were downed and a house along Becker Road, near Gore Orphanage Road, sustained roof damage.

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

The warnings

1 minute of warning. NWS CLE issued a tornado warning for this county at 00:25 UTC, 1 minute before the tornado touched down, in force until 00:41 UTC.

The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 21:01 UTC and running to 01:33 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
17:51 UTC18:11 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLE
21:01 UTC01:33 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchCLE
23:41 UTC00:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLE
00:25 UTC00:41 UTCTornado 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 Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 19:55 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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Jun 18, 3:51 PM EDT, 4 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 3:51 PM EDT, 4 hours 35 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
351 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move across the region this evening and
overnight. A strong upper level ridge of high pressure will
build over the Ohio Valley this weekend into early next week
and bring a Heat Wave across the region.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
3:45 PM Update:

Key Messages:
-Scattered showers and thunderstorms ongoing across parts of
 northern OH and northwestern PA this afternoon will continue to
 be capable of producing locally heavy rain, with an isolated
 severe weather risk, before exiting east into this evening.
-After a break, an arcing line of storms is expected to quickly
 push in from the west-southwest this evening with greater
 potential for severe weather.
-The greatest confidence in severe weather this evening is
 across Northwest OH, where an Enhanced Risk (risk level 3/5)
 for severe weather is in place. The risk gradually diminishes
 east across North Central and Northeast OH, where a Slight Risk
 (level 2/5) is in place to near the PA border. The risk level
 drops off to Marginal (1/5) across Northwest PA.
-The main severe risk this evening will be damaging wind gusts,
 with large hail a secondary risk. There is a lower but non-
 zero potential for tornadoes, especially across Northwest OH.
-Timing into Northwest OH (including Toledo/Findlay) for the
 severe threat is greatest 6-9 PM...across North Central OH
 (including Sandusky, Mansfield, and Lorain) 7-10 PM...in the
 Cleveland-Akron-Canton corridor 8-11 PM...in far Northeast OH
 (including Youngstown) 9 PM-12 AM...and in Northwest PA between
 11 PM-2 AM if storms remain strong that far east.

An MCV over Lake Erie is helping to force a batch of scattered
showers and thunderstorms from the lake into northern OH and
northwestern PA early this afternoon. The environment is most
supportive of heavy rain with this initial round, given skinny
instability profiles, high precipitable water values, and rather
marginal amounts of wind shear. With that said, a couple of
cells have been weakly rotating, so will continue to monitor for
isolated/marginal severe potential with the current activity. A
lull in activity is expected behind this activity for a few
hours into this evening, with warm, humid, and somewhat breezy
conditions. Hopefully everyone enjoys 70-75F dew points...

After the brief break, the main focus for severe weather arrives
from the west this evening. Radar/satellite/water vapor depict
an arcing and strongly-forced band of convection evolving near
the IL/IN border, with plenty of heating taking place ahead of
the line. The strong forcing and continued destabilization
should allow this line to surge into Northwest OH at a strong to
severe intensity this evening. The greatest forcing will pass
just northwest of the region, and timing gradually becomes an
issue farther east as we move towards and past sunset. So, the
greatest and highest-confidence severe threat is across
Northwest OH (in and near the SPC enhanced risk), with the
threat gradually lowering to the east. However, suspect the line
of storms will have enough momentum to remain strong to at
least locally severe to at least the I-77 corridor (even if
they're gradually weakening by then), with a lower-confidence
severe threat across the rest of Northeast OH and perhaps into
Northwest PA. There's certainly a chance hit-or-miss severe
weather occurs all the way east across our forecast area this
evening into tonight, though will need to assess the state of
the incoming storms this evening and environment across the
local area behind this afternoon's storms to say with more
confidence how far east an organized severe threat will persist
this evening. With that said, there are enough "pros" that the
SPC did expand the Slight Risk east to the OH/PA border with
their 12:30 PM convective outlook update. Activity should exit
OH by midnight, if not slightly earlier, with activity exiting
PA around or just after midnight (see timing in Key Messages).

In terms of potential severe hazards this evening, the
combination of moderate instability (1500-2500 J/KG of MLCAPE),
steep low-level lapse rates (0-3km lapse rates of 8-8.5C/km),
marginal to moderate downdraft CAPE of 700-900 J/KG, and
marginal to moderate shear (effective bulk shear 30-35kt and
0-3km shear of 20-30kt with modest SRH) across Northwest OH will
support primarily a damaging wind gust risk with a linear storm
mode. If there are any discrete cells, marginally severe hail
is possible...though the primarily linear mode and poor mid-
level lapse rates (near 6C/km) should limit large hail
potential. Shear is marginal for a tornado threat, though we
will need to watch for any bowing/surging portions of the line
or any rotating discrete cells that get ingested by the line
for a localized tornado risk. As storms push east this evening,
shear will remain similar to the values listed above or may
increase slightly...while instability and low-level lapse rates
gradually weaken farther east as we move past sunset. This will
likely maintain a primarily wind damage risk with surging/bowing
portions of the line farther east across our area...with lower
but non-zero hail and tornado potential. Will also need to
monitor for locally heavy rainfall and flooding with high
precipitable water values remaining in place and some recent
heavy rainfall, though increased flow aloft should keep storms
generally moving this evening and into tonight.

A general lull in activity is expected overnight tonight behind
the round of storms, though with the surface cold front trailing
behind the line of storms there could be some lingering shower
potential overnight tonight. Lows will generally dip into the
mid to upper 60s, with somewhat brisk southwest winds continuing
tonight into Thursday (gusts potentially 25-35 MPH) as low
pressure lifts into the Great Lakes. The axis of the mid and
level trough will swing through our region on Thursday. We will
continue with the chance for scattered rain showers and maybe
some isolated thunder during the day Thursday with the higher
POPs favoring the late morning through mid-afternoon timeframe.
Skinny instability profiles on Thursday could support transient
torrential rain-rates with convection, leading to localized
flooding concerns...especially if training impacts saturated
ground. Rain chances will taper off from west to east during
the late afternoon and evening as the trough axis begins exiting
to the east- southeast. Considerable cloudiness and push of a
slightly cooler, less humid airmass will follow the cold front
passage on Thursday with high temps in the mid to upper 70s.
Lows Thursday night will be on either side of 60 degrees. A
passing shower may push off the lake into Northeast OH/Northwest
PA Thursday night, but most of the area will stay dry.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
The big focus to end the work week and start the weekend will be the
transition into the first heat wave of Summer 2025. A mid/upper
trough will linger over the eastern Great Lakes and Northeast CONUS
Friday while strong subtropical mid/upper ridging amplifies over the
central Plains and Mississippi Valley in response to a closed
mid/upper low swinging into the Pacific Northwest. Northern Ohio and
NW PA will remain under the influence of the cooler mid/upper trough
and NW flow aloft Friday, although increasing southwesterly low-
level flow and resultant warm air advection will already start to
warm both temperatures and dew points compared to Thursday. Look for
highs to reach the upper 70s to low 80s areawide, with mid 80s in NW
Ohio as dew points rebound back into the mid 60s. Lows Friday night
will stay in the mid/upper 60s as dew points continue to increase
and hold up low temperatures.

The transition will really take place Saturday as the mid/upper
ridge further amplifies, with the center of a sub 595 DM H5 high
shifting northeastward across Missouri and southern Illinois. A warm
front will be arcing southeast from Upper Michigan through northern
Ohio early in the day on the eastern periphery of the strong thermal
ridging and associated EML, and this warm frontal boundary will
slowly shift east through the day as the aforementioned thermal
ridge drifts eastward. H85 temps will be approaching 25 C in NW Ohio
by 00Z Sunday per the latest NAM, and this will easily support
surface temperatures reaching the 90s in NW Ohio and upper 80s
elsewhere. Stuck with highs in the low 90s in NW Ohio at this time
for Saturday, but mid 90s are not out of the question if the
aforementioned thermal ridging builds in faster. Continued moisture
advection through the day will boost dew points into the upper 60s
to low 70s areawide, and with the wet ground and building EML
(reducing mixing), dew points have a better chance to stay higher
than normal during the day. This will at least raise heat indices
into the 90s areawide.

One wild card for Saturday will be a possible MCS, or the remnants
of one, riding southeastward down the warm front and into the Lower
Great Lakes. Our location on the eastern periphery of the EML and
associated theta e/instability gradient definitely supports a
complex before the EML and associated strong capping build eastward,
but confidence is low. The environment supports initiation in the
Upper Midwest and northern Great Lakes Friday night on the nose of a
strong low-level jet, but most early guidance suggests the complex
will outrun the best upper support and instability and weaken as it
dives toward PA and NY Saturday morning. There could also be an
outcome where the complex stays stronger and farther west depending
on the strength of the shortwave and location of the gradient. For
now, boosted PoPs slightly in NW PA late Friday night and Saturday,
and kept the rest of the area dry, but it will be monitored.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The mid/upper ridge and associated thermal ridging will firmly build
overhead Sunday and persist through at least Tuesday as the closed
low in the West evolves into a longwave western CONUS trough and
forces the mid/upper ridge to expand downstream across the entire
central and eastern CONUS. Deterministic and ensemble guidance
remain in strong agreement on this evolution, with the H5 high
strengthening to 595-598 DM and sliding over the Ohio Valley Sunday
and Monday, then gradually sinking into the Tennessee Valley and Mid
Atlantic Tuesday and Wednesday. This will support an extended period
of high temperatures in the low to mid 90s, with the wet ground and
strong thermal capping beneath the EML helping to keep dew points
mostly in the 70s (reduced mixing). The worst of the heat will
likely peak Sunday through Tuesday when H85 temps will hover around
22 to 23 C, solidly supporting mid 90s, but even low 90s look to
linger through Wednesday as the ridging gradually flattens and 850
mb temps slowly cool.

The air temperatures will be less important than the consecutive
days of high heat and humidity and resultant heat indices.
Probabilities are increasing for heat indices to reach or exceed 100
in many areas Sunday through Tuesday due to the combination of the
air temperatures and high dew points, with only slight improvement
Wednesday. These values occurring for 3 to 4 consecutive days, the
first extended hot spell of the summer, and minimal relief at night
with low temperatures only dipping into the mid 70s will
significantly increase heat-related impacts to human health and
infrastructure. With all of this being said, the new NWS HeatRisk
product continues to show major impacts by Sunday and extreme
impacts by Monday and Tuesday across all of northern Ohio and NW PA.

Otherwise, strong capping should prevent any convection Sunday and
Monday, but have PoPs gradually increasing for scattered convection
Tuesday and Wednesday as the ridge gradually flattens and a cold
front slowly sinks down from the NW, but confidence in when a
frontal passage will eventually occur is low at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z Wednesday THROUGH Monday/...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are ongoing from
approximately LPR to MFD points east, with the greatest coverage
over and near Lake Erie. This activity will continue east while
exiting through late afternoon. Lightning, along with brief vsby
reductions to IFR or lower, can accompany storms within this
activity. After a brief lull with breezy south-southwest winds
and mainly VFR conditions, an arcing line of thunderstorms is
expected to surge in from the west this evening. Confidence in
impacts is very high (>80%) at TOL, FDY, and MFD, high (60-90%)
at CLE and CAK, and medium (40-60%) at ERI and YNG. Included
TEMPOs at all sites to indicate potential wind gusts, vsby
reduction, and a best guess at a 1-2 hour timing window of
potential direct impacts. This activity exits east, though a
cold front moves through from west to east late tonight into
early Thursday. This will bring continued potential for shower
activity along the front, with MVFR ceilings likely spreading in
along and behind the cold front into Thursday. Another round of
showers and some thunder is likely Thursday afternoon, though
future cycles will take a better look at that.

South-southwest winds at 7-15kt with a few gusts to 25kt will
continue through this afternoon and early evening. Winds
gradually shift more southwesterly tonight and likely increase a
bit to the 10-18kt range with gusts 20-30kt into Thursday.

Outlook...Non-VFR likely with scattered showers and isolated
storms Thursday afternoon. A large high pressure system will
build over the region over the weekend into early next week with
fair skies and quiet weather.

&&

.MARINE...
A relatively short period of gusty SW winds will occur on Lake Erie
from west to east tonight and Thursday morning as a cold front
approaches and crosses the lake. The SW winds will increase to 15-25
knots first in the western basin around 04Z then in the central
basin by 06Z and in the eastern basin by 08Z, with the strongest
winds lasting about 6 to 10 hours. Issued mainly wind driven Small
Craft Advisories for this wind tonight into early Thursday afternoon
since the bulk of the 3 to 5 foot wave action will be in the
offshore waters. This should keep the rip current risk moderate in
most areas, with some high risk of rip currents possible in the
eastern basin.

Winds will turn NW and decrease to 5-15 knots Thursday afternoon
before turning SW at 5-15 knots by Friday into Saturday. SW winds
will then average 10-15 knots, occasionally up to 20 knots, late
Saturday through Monday

&&

.CLIMATE...
Daily Record High Maximum Temperatures

Date    Toledo         Mansfield      Cleveland      Akron          Youngstown     Erie

06-22   99(1988)       95(1988)       98(1988)       97(1988)       97(1933)       94(1988)
06-23   96(1911)       91(1964)       94(1948)       94(1923)       94(1943)       92(1964)
06-24   95(2005)       93(1933)       96(1952)       95(1923)       93(1952)       92(1952)
06-25   104(1988)      101(1988)      104(1988)      100(1988)      99(1988)       100(1988)

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...None.
PA...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 10 AM EDT
     Thursday for LEZ142>145.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM to noon EDT Thursday for LEZ146.
     Small Craft Advisory from 4 AM to 2 PM EDT Thursday for
     LEZ147>149.

&&

SYNOPSIS...77
NEAR TERM...77/Sullivan
SHORT TERM...Garuckas
LONG TERM...Garuckas
AVIATION...Sullivan
MARINE...Garuckas
CLIMATE...
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 18, 4:25 PM EDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
425 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

LEZ061-147>149-167>169-OHZ012>014-022-023-033-089-PAZ001>003-192030-
Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH-Geneva-on-the-
Lake to Conneaut OH-Conneaut OH to Ripley NY-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-Lake-Geauga-Ashtabula Inland-Portage-Trumbull-
Mahoning-Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-Southern Erie-Crawford-
425 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie, northeast Ohio and
northwest Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

There is a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for the potential of a few
strong to severe thunderstorms this evening into the overnight
across Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. The primary hazard
will be damaging winds and large hail. Localized heavy rainfall may
also be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure will build over the Ohio
Valley this weekend into early next week and bring a Heat Wave
across the region. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the lower
and middle 90s Sunday through Tuesday. Heat indices will approach 100
to 103 degrees. Daily record high temperatures may be possible early
next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

LEZ144>146-164>166-OHZ009>011-018>021-027>032-036>038-047-192030-
The Islands to Vermilion OH-Vermilion to Avon Point OH-
Avon Point to Willowick OH-
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-Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-
Wyandot-Crawford-Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Marion-Morrow-Holmes-
Knox-
425 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie, north central
Ohio, northeast Ohio and northwest Ohio.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

There is a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for the potential of severe
thunderstorms this evening into the overnight across north central
and northwest Ohio, generally west of a line from Cleveland to Mount
Vernon. There is an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather
across northwest Ohio this evening. The primary hazard will be
damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado threat may be
possible for areas of Northwest Ohio this evening. Localized heavy
rainfall may be possible with these storms tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure will build over the Ohio
Valley this weekend into early next week and bring a Heat Wave
across the region. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the lower
and middle 90s Sunday through Tuesday. Heat indices will approach 100
to 103 degrees. Daily record high temperatures may be possible early
next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS.

LEZ142-143-162-163-OHZ003-006>008-017-192030-
Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-Reno Beach to The Islands OH-
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-Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Hancock-
425 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 436 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie and northwest Ohio.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

There is a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for the potential of severe
thunderstorms this evening into the overnight across north central
and northwest Ohio, generally west of a line from Cleveland to Mount
Vernon. There is an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather
across northwest Ohio this evening. The primary hazard will be
damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado threat may be
possible for areas of Northwest Ohio this evening. Localized heavy
rainfall may be possible with these storms tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure will build over the Ohio
Valley this weekend into early next week and bring a Heat Wave
across
the region. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the lower and
middle 90s Sunday through Tuesday. Heat indices will approach 100 to
103 degrees. Daily record high temperatures may be possible early
next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 18, 7:01 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
701 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0605 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WSW Tallmadge         41.10N 81.44W
06/18/2025                   Summit             OH   911 Call Center

            Numerous trees down in Tallmadge.

&&

KEC
Local storm report, Jun 18, 7:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
719 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0713 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SW Findlay            41.02N 83.67W
06/18/2025  M68 MPH          Hancock            OH   ASOS

&&

Garuckas
Local storm report, Jun 18, 8:01 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
801 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0750 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 ESE Clay Center       41.56N 83.34W
06/18/2025  M59 MPH          Ottawa             OH   Trained Spotter

            Measured 59 mph gust in Martin relayed by
            HAM radio.

&&

Garuckas
Local storm report, Jun 18, 8:14 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
814 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0806 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Galion              40.71N 82.79W
06/18/2025                   Crawford           OH   Trained Spotter

            Large tree limbs snapped.

&&

NG
Local storm report, Jun 18, 8:20 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
820 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0810 PM     Funnel Cloud     3 ENE Bellevue          41.29N 82.78W
06/18/2025                   Erie               OH   Trained Spotter

            Possible funnel cloud near Moorman Yard
            train station.

&&

Garuckas
Local storm report, Jun 18, 8:26 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
826 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0734 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Findlay            41.05N 83.65W
06/18/2025                   Hancock            OH   Amateur Radio

            Commercial awning collapsed. Report relayed
            by HAM radio group.

&&

Garuckas

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

0.4 hours before the tornado, 182 km from the path. June 19, 2025.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2025-06-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 447 joules per kilogram, CIN -43, lifted condensation level 934 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2025-06-19The 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 32 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 40 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
447 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-43 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1428 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
934 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6
0-3 km lapse rate
5.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Detroit, MI (KDTX), 12:00Z

11.6 hours after it, 182 km from the path. June 19, 2025.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2025-06-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 27 joules per kilogram, CIN 0, lifted condensation level 491 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2025-06-19The 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 60 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 32 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
27 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Surface CAPE
165 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
491 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
67 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1
0-3 km lapse rate
5.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Lorain/Elyria (LPR), 21 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
22:30 UTC40° 4 kt1009.8
22:35 UTC40° 4 kt1009.8
22:40 UTC 1009.8
22:42 UTC787250° 9 kt1009.8
22:45 UTC50° 7 kt1009.8
22:50 UTC70° 5 kt1009.8
22:53 UTC777370° 6 kt1009.8
22:55 UTC70° 7 kt1009.8
23:00 UTC90° 5 kt1009.5
23:05 UTC100° 4 kt1009.8
23:10 UTC80° 4 kt1009.8
23:15 UTC110° 4 kt1009.8
23:20 UTC130° 5 kt1009.8
23:25 UTC120° 5 kt1009.8
23:30 UTC130° 5 kt1009.8
23:35 UTC130° 5 kt1009.8
23:40 UTC140° 4 kt1009.8
23:45 UTC130° 5 kt1009.5
23:50 UTC130° 5 kt1009.5
23:53 UTC7570130° 6 kt1009.5
23:55 UTC130° 4 kt1009.5
00:00 UTC140° 5 kt1009.1
00:05 UTC130° 5 kt1009.1
00:10 UTC120° 4 kt1009.1
00:15 UTC130° 2 kt1009.1
00:18 UTC7472130° 4 kt1009.1VCTS
00:20 UTC120° 2 kt1008.8
00:25 UTC110° 4 kt1008.8
00:40 UTC190° 8 kt1008.1-RA
00:45 UTC 431009.8
00:49 UTC71.666.2280° 36 kt701011.5-TSRA
00:50 UTC7166280° 31 kt701011.5-TSRA
00:50 UTC 461011.5-RA
00:55 UTC 301011.2+RA BR
00:56 UTC6765290° 21 kt701011.2+TSRA BR
01:00 UTC290° 16 kt1011.2+RA BR
01:03 UTC6765280° 14 kt311011.2TSRA BR
01:05 UTC 171011.2RA BR
01:10 UTC280° 8 kt1011.2-RA
01:15 UTC280° 9 kt1010.8-RA
01:20 UTC270° 8 kt1011.2-RA
01:25 UTC270° 5 kt1010.8-RA
01:27 UTC6765280° 6 kt1010.5RA
01:30 UTC280° 5 kt1010.5RA BR
01:35 UTC270° 2 kt1010.5-RA BR
01:40 UTC250° 2 kt1010.5-RA
01:45 UTC230° 4 kt1010.5-RA
01:50 UTC210° 4 kt1010.2-RA
01:53 UTC6665220° 3 kt1009.8-RA
01:55 UTC190° 4 kt1009.8-RA
02:00 UTC170° 2 kt1009.8-RA
02:05 UTC160° 5 kt1009.8-RA
02:10 UTC160° 4 kt1010.2-RA
02:15 UTC160° 4 kt1010.2-RA
02:20 UTC180° 5 kt1010.2-RA
02:25 UTC180° 5 kt1010.2-RA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:23 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
23:42 UTCTSTM WND DMGTiffinSeneca, OHTree down onto a bus garage.
23:47 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 S TiffinSeneca, OHMultiple large trees downed just south of Tiffin.
23:50 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 N TiffinSeneca, OHDispatch reported numerous trees all across all of Seneca County.
23:51 UTCTSTM WND DMGBloomvilleSeneca, OHPhoto of several large limbs snapped off of a tree in Bloomville.
23:56 UTCTSTM WND DMGAtticaSeneca, OHTree down on N Main.
00:04 UTCTSTM WND DMGWillardHuron, OHSome trees were blown down in Willard.
00:10 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD3 Ene BellevueErie, OHPossible funnel cloud near Moorman Yard train station.
00:10 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Nw CastaliaErie, OHTree downed across Northwest Road.
00:10 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 N WillardHuron, OH12 to 15 inch trees downed in Holiday Lakes. Relayed by HAM radio group.
00:11 UTCTSTM WND DMGNorth FairfieldHuron, OH*** 1 INJ *** A tree fell on someone, requiring EMS.
00:12 UTCTSTM WND DMGSouth Bass IslandOttawa, OHTree down on power lines.
00:17 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Nnw North FairfieldHuron, OHDelayed report - numerous trees down.
00:17 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ssw NorwalkHuron, OHTrees downed near the intersection of OH 61 and Hasbrock Road.
00:18 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Sse NorwalkHuron, OHDelayed report - Damage to roof of commercial building.
00:18 UTCTSTM WND DMGOntarioRichland, OHLarge tree limbs downed. Report received via social media.
00:20 UTCTSTM WND DMGMilanErie, OHSeveral tree branches downed in and around Milan.
00:22 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Ese NorwalkHuron, OHNumerous trees downed along Zenobia Road.
00:24 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Ssw MansfieldRichland, OHLarge limb down.
00:24 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Ssw MansfieldRichland, OHUpdated report for multiple trees and limbs down.
00:26 UTCTORNADO4 W WakemanHuron, OHAn NWS Cleveland Storm Survey determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred from near Collins in Huron County to northwest of Kipton in Lorain County. The tornado began near the intersection of US Route 20 and Hartland Center
00:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Ese WakemanHuron, OHNumerous trees downed near the intersection of 303 and Butler Road.
00:32 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 W BurbankMedina, OHLarge tree snapped and fell across Repp Road in West Salem.
00:35 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw KiptonLorain, OHDelayed report - trees down along Bates Road. Damage to roof of a barn.
00:41 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Nne JeromesvilleAshland, OHA few trees downed on a property in Rowsburg. Photo submitted via social media.
00:43 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ene OberlinLorain, OHDelayed report - trees and telephone pole down near Carlisle Reservation.
00:47 UTCTSTM WND GST 813 Ese South AmherstLorain, OHMeasured gust at the Lorain County Airport.
00:49 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 W Pigeon CreekMedina, OHSeveral trees down. Time estimated via radar.
00:51 UTCTSTM WND DMGElyriaLorain, OHExtensive tree and power-line damage reported across Elyria.
00:52 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Wsw North RidgevilleLorain, OHDelayed report of several trees down.
00:55 UTCTSTM WND GST 611 Ne North RidgevilleLorain, OH61.5 mph measured gust.
00:56 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Sse SheffieldLorain, OHDelayed report - Swath of tree damage through apartment complex.
00:56 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Sw North OlmstedCuyahoga, OHDelayed report - large tree limbs down.
00:59 UTCTSTM WND GST 621 Ne North RidgevilleLorain, OHMesonet station GW5974 NORTH RIDGEVILLE.
01:11 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Wnw RichfieldSummit, OHOH 303 was closed due to downed trees and power-lines near the Medina and Summit Co line.
01:12 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Wsw Parma HeightsCuyahoga, OH8 inch diameter tree downed on two houses in Parma Heights.
01:13 UTCTSTM WND DMGParma HeightsCuyahoga, OHTrees downed in Parma Heights.
01:14 UTCMARINE TSTM WIND 501 Ene LakewoodCuyahoga, OHpublic weather station.
01:53 UTCTSTM WND GST 561 Nne ClevelandCuyahoga, OHdelayed report - ASOS station KBKL Cleveland.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in OhioEvery tornado in Ohio since 1950Warnings in force in Ohio nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 18, 2025

29 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 181:04 AM CDTEF1Cherokee, OK7.71,000$50,000
June 181:14 AM CDTEF1Adair, OK8.8750$100,000
June 181:20 AM CDTEF1Benton, AR3.2800
June 181:29 AM CDTEF1Benton, AR1.7300$500,000
June 181:54 AM CDTEF1Washington, AR2.3300$25,000
June 1810:55 AM CDTEF1Calhoun, MO to IL3.6100
June 1811:30 AM CDTUnratedScott, IL1.510
June 1811:53 AM CDTEF0Morgan, IL4.780
June 1811:54 AM CDTEF1Scott, IL1.050
June 1812:02 PM CDTEF1Morgan, IL3.975
June 1812:07 PM CDTEF2Morgan, IL6.9300
June 1812:15 PM CDTEF1Morgan, IL7.6501
June 1812:25 PM CDTEF1Sangamon, IL7.4200
June 1812:29 PM CDTUnratedCass, IL1.410
June 1812:37 PM CDTUnratedMenard, IL3.010
June 1812:41 PM CDTEF1Menard, IL1.4200
June 182:15 PM EDTEF0Anne Arundel, MD0.175$250,000
June 181:18 PM CDTEF0Mason, IL0.1100
June 181:50 PM CDTEF1DeWitt, IL3.5100
June 181:56 PM CDTUnratedTazewell, IL0.250
June 183:02 PM EDTEF0Tippecanoe, IN0.630$20,000
June 183:10 PM EDTEF0Tippecanoe, IN0.320$25,000
June 182:13 PM CDTUnratedMcLean, IL0.130
June 185:02 PM EDTEF0Macomb, MI2.4400
June 186:10 PM CDTUnratedJackson, OK1.020
June 187:44 PM EDTEF0Ottawa, OH0.510$85,000
June 187:50 PM EDTEF0Ottawa, OH2.910$49,000
June 188:37 PM CDTEF0Hickman, TN6.9175$250,000
June 188:37 PM CDTEF0Macon, TN4.3300$250,000

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.