2024 is turning out to be quite a year for weather in the Buckeye State, and not in the ‘enjoy a pleasant picnic at the park’ kind of way.
Instead, Ohio has been getting its fair share of unwanted attention thanks to a wild uptick in tornado activity that’s rewriting our spring expectations.
By the time late April rolled around, we’d already counted a whopping 35 tornadoes across the state—smashing the usual yearly average of 22 twisters and even sprinting past last year’s near-record 57 tornadoes.
And just when you thought it was safe to go back outside, this past Tuesday served up nine more tornadoes as severe storms raged across our communities.
Tornado north of New Bremen Ohio with power flashes. 10 mins ago . @NWSILN @ReedTimmerUSA @BrandonCopicWx @ryanhallyall pic.twitter.com/GdZzc1UzZX
— Nathan Droesch (@NatMatNo) May 8, 2024
The National Weather Service had their hands full and provided a breakdown the following Wednesday. It turns out these turbulent twisters weren’t just picking on one unlucky area; they were widespread throughout the state. Mercer, Auglaize, Darke, and Warren counties took the brunt, with Warren County alone witnessing five tornadoes.
The severity of these tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale hasn’t been nailed down yet, as the experts are still out there doing their storm detective work.
Several counties, including our own, were under a tornado warning from late Tuesday into the wee hours of Wednesday, showcasing just how widespread and serious the threat was.
Tornado video from a family friend NW of Continental, Ohio in Putnam County. @ryanhallyall #ohwx pic.twitter.com/MzQIlQ3fK8
— SchuyGuy (@SchuyGuy_) May 8, 2024
This year’s tornado trend isn’t just notable for its numbers; it’s the timing and frequency that has everyone scratching their heads and wondering about our preparedness and the robustness of our infrastructure to withstand such frequent visits from Mother Nature.
As we step into what could be a record-breaking tornado season, the focus shifts sharply to recovery and readiness.
With our weather being as flip-floppy as ever, staying informed, prepped, and resilient is crucial. Stay safe, stay prepared, and as always, take updates and warnings from the National Weather Service seriously.