2024 already a top-10 year for tornadoes in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio is having a very unusual year for tornadoes.
More than 30 twisters have been recorded in the state through April 18, far more than in a normal year. That puts 2024 in the Top 10 for tornado years in Ohio. At this pace, Ohio may be on track for a record-setting tornado year.
RELATED | Five tornadoes confirmed after storms rolled through Ohio on Wednesday
This year’s storms have come in large batches.
Ten of them happened on February 27 and 28. February tornadoes are unusual to start with, let alone a full outbreak. Seven touched down in Ohio on March 14, including the devastating EF3 that ravaged the Indian Lake area. Another nine on April 2 and five on April 17.
Despite an El Nino pattern this season, the large-scale storm tracks are not all that unusual. Even so, the jet stream has shown some occasional strong undulations and, in several cases, has coincidentally aligned with passing cold fronts to create strong lift and shear (turning with height in the atmosphere).
That combination has created some explosive storms with enough energy and rotation to generate tornadoes (as well as large hail and damaging straight-line winds).
On average, from 1950-2022, Ohio endures 13 to 17 tornadoes each year; we’re roughly double that already for 2024, and the typical severe weather season has only just begun. Ohio’s peak tornado months tend to be May, June, and July, averaging three to four twisters per month. Historically, June is the most active month, with a total of 271 tornadoes.
In the 72-year data period, the majority of Ohio tornadoes are classified on the Enhanced Fujita Scale as EF1 (517 tornadoes) with winds of 86-110 mph, capable of significant damage. EF0 storms are close behind at 444. Ohio has noted 210 storms rated EF2, 52 at EF3, 23 twisters at EF4, and five listed as the strongest on the scale, EF5. The F5 Xenia tornado of 1974 remains the deadliest and costliest single tornado in Ohio history.
The worst year and single outbreak in Ohio history was in 1992.
On July 12, at least 28 tornadoes raced across the state and contributed to a record 61 twisters for the year. Another seven tornadoes ravaged the state the next day, with three more on July 14.
Every county in Ohio has reported at least one tornado since 1950.
Van Wert County is Ohio’s most tornado-prone county, with 37 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2022.
Franklin County is second with 34, followed by Miami (32), Lorain and Clinton (31), and Clark and Huron Counties (30). Morgan County is the least-tornadic of Ohio’s 88 counties, reporting only one touchdown from 1950-2022.
Franklin County’s tornadic history is one of the reasons the county has invested so heavily in the outdoor warning siren system.
The Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security agency maintains nearly 200 sirens across the county.
Reminder: the sirens are meant for outdoor warnings only. They are not designed to provide warnings inside houses or to wake you in the middle of the night. That’s why it’s vitally important to have a secondary way to receive watches and warnings, like a NOAA Weather Radio or the Ohio Weather app.
