Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Wilmington, OH

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NOUS41 KILN 182118
PNSILN
OHZ045-190930-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
518 PM EDT Mon Mar 18 2024

...EF1 TORNADO CONFIRMED ACROSS MUCH OF DELAWARE AND
LICKING COUNTIES...

Start Location...3 SSW Delaware in Delaware County OH
End Location...1 S St. Louisville in Licking County OH
Date...03/14/2024
Estimated Start Time...08:58 PM EDT
Estimated End TIme...09:49 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...110 mph
Maximum Path Width...600.0 yards
Path Length...36.3 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...40.2608 / -83.0934
Ending Lat/Lon...40.1591 / -82.4218
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
With considerable assistance from the Delaware and Licking County
Emergency Management Agency, and the Delaware County Sherriff`s
Office,  the National Weather Service in Wilmington, OH conducted
a storm survey across much of Delaware and Licking Counties in
relation to the severe thunderstorms on the evening of March
14th, 2024.

The survey concluded that a tornado developed across
central Delaware County on the west side of U.S. Highway 23 near
Sawmill Parkway initially causing minor and sporadic tree damage
in the area. As the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 23, the tornado
strengthened and widened, and began causing more structural
damage as it crossed the Olentangy River, and then especially so
as it moved along Berlin Station Road and other areas of Berlin
Township.  Along this portion of the track, a number of homes
sustained siding and roof damage, and numerous tree snaps and
uproots were seen. Several barns were also destroyed.

In vicinity of Olentangy Berlin High School, parts of the school
campus and athletic fields were damaged, signs were bent over, and
several free-standing transmission towers were felled. Among all
of the damage indicators in this area, wind speeds around 110 mph
were estimated as the maximum wind speed. The tornado crossed Alum
Creek Reservoir and moved into neighborhoods southwest of Sunbury
and west of Galena, continuing to cause widespread and
significant tree damage, along with a large number of homes having
windows blown out, partial roof removal, and power poles snapped.
Damage in these areas was consistent with wind speeds from 95 to
105 mph.

As the tornado moved through the Galena area, there was a
complex mix of straight-line wind damage through southern parts
of the town of Galena, with tornadic damage embedded across the
north side of Galena. The damage field through this area is
notably wide. As the tornado crossed into Licking County, the
damage path remains quite wide and a complex mix of straight-
line winds on the immediate southern flank of the tornadic
circulation. However, the damage is very consistent with wind
speeds ranging from 90-100 mph across most of Licking County.
Along this entire stretch of the damage path, the damage is a
combination of partial roof removal on some homes, barns being
completely destroyed or heavily damaged, widespread tree uproots
and snaps, and power poles snapped.

The tornado appears to have dissipated near Highway 13 south of
St. Louisville.

It is important to note that there is some possibility that this
track will need to be extended further back to the west toward the
Union County line pending continuing assessment of damage reports
which continue to arrive. In addition, there is some possibility
that this track will extend all the way back into eastern Union
County itself, making this an entire singular path of damage
across most of Union and across all of Delaware and Licking
Counties. That assessment is still ongoing, but as of right now
the above data outlines the highest confidence tornado track as of
this writing. The National Weather Service would like to thank
the Delaware and Licking County Emergency Management Agencies for
all of the coordination and assistance in completing this survey,
as well as the Delaware County Sheriffs Office.

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$

Binau/Zwier


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