Tornadoes · United States · Ohio · 2025
EF0 tornado, Columbus So Columbus to Valley Crossing, Ohio, March 30, 2025
From Columbus So Columbus to Valley Crossing, this EF0 tornado ran 2.6 miles across Franklin County on March 30, 2025, touching down at 10:10 PM EDT and reaching 250 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $85,000 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
- March 30, 2025
- Touchdown
- 10:10 PM EDT (02:10 UTC)
- Lifted
- 10:13 PM EDT (02:13 UTC)
- On the ground
- 3 minutes
- Path length
- 2.6 miles (4.2 km)
- Path width
- 250 yards (229 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $85,000
- County
- Franklin County
- Touchdown point
- 39.870, -82.980
- Lift-off point
- 39.880, -82.936
- Record number
- 2503302010-01
The damage survey
30 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 85 mph.
- Yard furniture thrown around.
- Stick embedded in home siding. minor siding damage
- Damage to home patio furniture
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 low pressure system moved through the Great Lakes region, bringing showers and thunderstorms.
The tornado likely began south of I-270, west of Lockbourne Road. Damage to carports along with minor damage to homes was observed at a mobile home park. Additional minor damage to homes and lawn furniture was found in the Butler Farms subdivision to the east of the mobile home park. ||After crossing Lockbourne Road and I-270, the tornado next impacted homes north of Groveport Road. Roof and siding damage was found along Bridlewood Blvd and Thelma Drive, along with uprooted trees. Minor home and tree damage continued northeastward on Pelham Place, Poplar Street, and Jermoore Road. The tornado is believed to have dissipated west of Alum Creek Drive.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
32 minutes of warning. NWS ILN issued a tornado warning for this county at 01:38 UTC, 32 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 02:15 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 01:10 UTC and running to 03:19 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01:10 UTC | 03:19 UTC | Tornado Watch | ILN |
| 01:38 UTC | 02:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILN |
| 01:46 UTC | 02:45 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 Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:51 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
2.2 hours before the tornado, 87 km from the path. March 31, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 390 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -14 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 943 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 816 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 293 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 322 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.7
- Supercell composite
- 6.4
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.3 K/km
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 12:00Z
9.8 hours after it, 87 km from the path. March 31, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10101 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 626 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 80 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 137 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.2 K/km
The radar
The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Downtown Columbus | Franklin, OH | Large softwood trees snapped aloft. |
| 01:35 UTC | TORNADO | 2 W Jeffersonville | Fayette, OH | An EF1 tornado with estimated peak winds around 90 MPH and a path width of about 250 yards occurred just west of Jeffersonville, OH and traveled a total of 3.91 miles, dissipating at about 9:35PM. The tornado caused dama |
| 01:36 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Jeffersonville | Fayette, OH | Large barn collapsed/destroyed. |
| 01:38 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Jeffersonville | Fayette, OH | Power poles down on 71. Time estimated from RADAR. |
| 01:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | London | Madison, OH | Multiple trees down in London. Time estimated from RADAR. |
| 01:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Mount Sterling | Fayette, OH | Power poles down on 62. Time estimated from RADAR. |
| 01:55 UTC | TSTM WND GST 51 | 2 Nne Washington Court | Fayette, OH | KI23 AWOS. |
| 02:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Jeffersonville | Fayette, OH | Barn destroyed. Time estimated from RADAR. |
| 02:02 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Wsw Obetz | Franklin, OH | NWS damage survey confirmed an EF0 in Obetz Ohio. Estimated maximum winds of 85 mph, with a path length of 2.6 miles. |
| 02:04 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 3 W Riverlea | Franklin, OH | Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 3 W Riverlea. ASOS station KOSU Columbus Ohio State University Airport. |
| 02:07 UTC | HAIL 1 | 3 W Riverlea | Franklin, OH | |
| 02:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Obetz | Franklin, OH | Damaged siding, roof damage, carports damaged. Manufactured homes damaged. |
| 02:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Downtown Columbus | Franklin, OH | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 SSE Downtown Columbus. Large softwood trees snapped aloft. |
| 02:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Downtown Columbus | Franklin, OH | Several trees downed (some uprooted, some split at trunk), numerous grave headstones blown off of their bases. |
| 02:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Obetz | Franklin, OH | Tree reported down on a home. Power lines down in the area. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:15 UTC | TSTM WND GST 54 | 3 W Urbancrest | Franklin, OH | KTZR AWOS. |
| 02:16 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Whitehall | Franklin, OH | Many trees uprooted, snapped at trunks, large branches broken off, shingles lifted from homes, siding lifted from homes, gutters torn down. |
| 02:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Whitehall | Franklin, OH | Numerous trees downed near East Mound St and Striebel. Time estimated by radar. |
| 02:29 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Ne Pickerington | Fairfield, OH | Power poles down, large tree downed across Tollgate Road south of 204. Large limbs downed. |
| 02:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nw Baltimore | Fairfield, OH | One tree down. Time estimated from RADAR. |
| 02:38 UTC | TSTM WND GST 53 | 4 Se Carroll | Fairfield, OH | ASOS station KLHQ Fairfield County Airport. |
| 02:40 UTC | TSTM WND GST 53 | 2 Nne Whitehall | Franklin, OH | ASOS station KCMH Columbus John Glenn International Airport. |
| 02:41 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Utica | Licking, OH | Multiple trees downed in Utica. Time estimated by radar. |
| 02:43 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Utica | Licking, OH | A couple of trees down in Utica. Time estimated from RADAR. |
| 02:53 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 3 W Riverlea | Franklin, OH | ASOS station KOSU Columbus Ohio State University Airport. |
| 02:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Junction City | Perry, OH | Multiple trees along with a couple of power lines on Flagdale Rd. Time estimated from radar. |
| 02:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Junction City | Perry, OH | Multiple trees along with a couple of power lines on Flagdale Rd. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Somerset | Perry, OH | Multiple trees down. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Somerset | Perry, OH | Multiple trees down. Time estimated from radar. |
| 03:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Junction City | Perry, OH | Tree reported down across Logan Street. |
| 03:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Junction City | Perry, OH | Tree reported down across Logan Street. |
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 March 30, 2025
42 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30 | 11:46 AM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 2.4 | 75 | |||
| March 30 | 1:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Champaign, IL | 12.1 | 300 | |||
| March 30 | 1:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 0.9 | 75 | $5,000 | ||
| March 30 | 2:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Newton, IN | 6.1 | 200 | |||
| March 30 | 3:22 PM CDT | EF1 | Starke, IN | 3.2 | 750 | 1 | $110,000 | |
| March 30 | 4:52 PM EDT | EF1 | Cass, MI | 2.6 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| March 30 | 4:56 PM EDT | EF1 | Cass, MI | 2.0 | 200 | $50,000 | ||
| March 30 | 5:16 PM EDT | EF1 | Noble, IN | 1.4 | 200 | $100,000 | ||
| March 30 | 5:17 PM EDT | EF0 | Saint Joseph, MI | 3.6 | 300 | $60,000 | ||
| March 30 | 5:28 PM EDT | EF1 | Steuben, IN | 5.7 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| March 30 | 5:42 PM EDT | EF0 | Kent, MI | 4.2 | 150 | |||
| March 30 | 5:58 PM EDT | EF1 | Kent, MI | 1.7 | 250 | |||
| March 30 | 6:00 PM EDT | EF0 | Kent, MI | 2.4 | 300 | |||
| March 30 | 6:00 PM EDT | EF0 | Kent, MI | 5.0 | 150 | |||
| March 30 | 5:02 PM CDT | EF1 | Ripley, MO | 8.6 | 50 | $55,000 | ||
| March 30 | 6:05 PM EDT | EF0 | Newaygo, MI | 2.8 | 50 | |||
| March 30 | 6:07 PM EDT | EF0 | Ionia, MI | 2.2 | 150 | |||
| March 30 | 6:20 PM EDT | EF0 | Ingham, MI | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| March 30 | 6:21 PM EDT | EF0 | Ionia, MI | 0.5 | 25 | |||
| March 30 | 6:40 PM EDT | EF1 | Ingham, MI | 5.3 | 150 | |||
| March 30 | 6:45 PM EDT | EF0 | Monroe, IN | 0.1 | 30 | $15,000 | ||
| March 30 | 6:51 PM EDT | EF0 | Monroe, MI | 0.5 | 100 | |||
| March 30 | 7:00 PM EDT | EF1 | Shiawassee, MI | 0.9 | 100 | |||
| March 30 | 6:05 PM CDT | EF1 | Alexander, IL | 23.9 | 150 | $75,000 | ||
| March 30 | 7:54 PM EDT | EF0 | Ripley, IN | 2.2 | 100 | $150,000 | ||
| March 30 | 8:02 PM EDT | EF1 | Ripley, IN | 4.8 | 200 | $200,000 | ||
| March 30 | 7:39 PM CDT | EF0 | Poinsett, AR | 4.8 | 150 | $3,000 | ||
| March 30 | 8:40 PM EDT | EF0 | Butler, OH | 6.9 | 150 | $250,000 | ||
| March 30 | 8:52 PM EDT | EF0 | Butler, OH | 11.7 | 200 | $265,000 | ||
| March 30 | 9:07 PM EDT | EF0 | Warren, OH | 3.0 | 150 | $100,000 | ||
| March 30 | 8:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Breckinridge, KY | 2.5 | 30 | |||
| March 30 | 9:23 PM EDT | EF1 | Meade, KY | 30.3 | 500 | 1 | ||
| March 30 | 9:35 PM EDT | EF1 | Fayette, OH | 3.9 | 250 | $250,000 | ||
| March 30 | 9:35 PM EDT | EF1 | Meade, KY | 7.2 | 50 | |||
| March 30 | 9:48 PM EDT | EF1 | Jefferson, KY | 5.4 | 30 | 1 | ||
| March 30 | 10:23 PM EDT | EF1 | Spencer, KY | 2.5 | 80 | |||
| March 30 | 10:07 PM CDT | EF1 | Humphreys, TN | 2.0 | 150 | $100,000 | ||
| March 30 | 10:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Humphreys, TN | 2.5 | 300 | $100,000 | ||
| March 30 | 11:07 PM CDT | EF0 | Hickman, TN | 2.2 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| March 30 | 11:12 PM CDT | EF0 | Perry, TN | 0.3 | 75 | $50,000 | ||
| March 30 | 12:00 AM CDT | EF2 | Maury, TN | 5.6 | 350 | $500,000 | ||
| March 30 | 12:14 AM CDT | EF1 | Maury, TN | 4.1 | 300 | $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.