HURON COUNTY, Ohio – Ohio was hit by severe storms on Thursday, resulting in multiple likely tornadoes across the state. The areas in northern and central Ohio experienced massive storms as severe weather continued to move through the region. The National Weather Service reported a “very dangerous half-mile tornado on the ground” in Huron County, warning of potential damage to homes and structures. The situation was described as serious and dangerous by the NWS.
A destructive tornado in Logan County led to a mass casualty incident, with one resident narrowly missing the storm by two minutes. Multiple injuries were reported, along with significant damage to structures. Mercer County also experienced the impact of the storm, with three people injured and several transmission poles knocked down, causing power outages in the area. Furthermore, Indian Lake saw severe damage to houses and structures.
In neighboring Indiana, state police confirmed three fatalities in Randolph County during the severe weather on Thursday night. The deaths were reported in a mobile home park on North Cash Drive in Winchester. Additionally, storms in Cincinnati surged towards the Ohio River overnight, bringing the potential for strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Residents were urged to have ways to receive warnings throughout the night.
Tornado warnings were already issued on Thursday afternoon, causing damage across southeastern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Switzerland County and Gallatin County experienced heavy damage as well. The storms were expected to subside around 2 a.m., with showers tapering off around sunrise. Temperatures on Friday were projected to fall into the 50s and 40s in the afternoon before dropping even lower.