Ohio has 43 tornadoes in 2024, most in the nation

Celeste Houmard
·2 min read
2

*Attached video: Storm clouds near Lodi on April 17

OHIO (WJW) – Ohio is leading the country with 43 tornadoes so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.

According to the NWS, 43 tornadoes have been confirmed in the state of Ohio so far in 2024. Ohio is followed by Florida with 34 tornadoes, Illinois with 30, Kentucky with 24 and Indiana with 22.

Where NWS will survey for tornadoes following storms

On Thursday, the National Weather Service sent survey teams across Northeast Ohio after more powerful storms ripped through the state Wednesday night.

Multiple homes were damaged and many trees and power lines were blown down.

Wednesday tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service:

  • EF-1 tornado in Windham, Portage County

  • EF-0 tornado in Southington and Champion Townships in Trumbull County

  • EF-1 tornado in Bucyrus,  Crawford County

  • EF-1 tornado in Delaware County

  • EF-0 tornado in Champaign County

On March 15, eight tornadoes ripped through the state, killing three people. According to the NWS, those tornadoes include:

  • An EF-3 tornado in Logan County

  • An EF-2 tornado in Crawford/Richland

  • An EF-2 tornado in Darke County

  • An EF-2 tornado in Union County

  • An EF-1 tornado in Licking County

  • An EF-1 tornado in Hancock County

  • An EF-1 tornado in Mercer and Auglaize County

  • An EF-1 tornado in western Mercy County

Photos: Strong storms damage NE Ohio homes, businesses

Nineteen more people reportedly sustained concussions or fractures, according to a spokesperson from Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine.

Some experts say Tornado Alley could even be shifting east toward Ohio.

“There has been a trend in recent years where Ohio and Indiana are having more confirmed tornadoes,” meteorologists at the NWS told Fox 8 News after the fatal tornadoes in March.

The NOAA/NWS 2024 preliminary tornado report summary shows the bulk of tornadoes so far this year at least have occurred in Ohio, Florida and Illinois.

‘Heard it roaring above us’: Windham homes seriously damaged by reported tornado

“I think that there is more than enough evidence to support that tornado alley is either shifting eastward or at the least widening east,” FOX 8 Meteorologist Dontaé Jones said.

“The shift is a slow one over many, many years. These tornadoes thus far have occurred only over a four week span. It’s very difficult to attribute this year’s tornadoes to a shift in Tornado Alley at this time. If we see this pattern continuing year after year, then we’ll have a better idea,” Fox 8 Meteorologist Scott Sabol said.

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