Tornadoes reached 120 mph, caused miles of destruction but no serious injuries
Jun. 10—Four tornadoes in Champaign, Clark, Darke and Miami counties resulted in miles of damage Wednesday evening, but no injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado in Miami County, EF1 tornadoes in Clark and Darke counties and an EF0 tornado in Champaign County. An EF0 tornado was also confirmed in Brown County, and a sixth tornado was confirmed in Hocking County.
An EF2 tornado is classified as "strong" with estimated three-second wind gusts of 111 to 135 mph, according to NWS. Both EF1 and EF0 tornadoes are "weak" and have estimated wind gusts of 86 to 110 mph and 65 to 85 mph, respectively.
The EF2 in Miami County started in West Milton around 5:53 p.m. and ended in Casstown. It reach an estimated maximum of 120 mph and a maximum path width of 150 yards, according to NWS. The tornado path was 13.9 miles.
Initially, the tornado caused only minor tree damage for the first few miles, but as it approached Tipp City it strengthened, damaging utility poles and residences near West Kessler Cowlesville Road and Peters Road, according to NWS. It continued to strengthen as it headed toward Interstate 75, damaging the roof and back wall of the Meijer Distribution Center.
"The damage in this area was consistent with wind speeds of around 120 mph," according to NWS.
Once the tornado crossed the Great Miami River, its intensity decreased and it is believed to have lifted near Casstown.
The EF1 tornado confirmed in Darke County started in Gordon and traveled about 2.5 miles. The estimated maximum wind speed was 100 mph and estimated path width was 125 yards, according to NWS.
The tornado touched down in farm fields around 5:42 p.m. west of Schnorf-Jones Road before damaging barns and outbuildings. Damage was consistent with winds speeds of 100, NWS said. The tornado then went east and hit another farm, causing roof damage to several barns.
The tornado lifted in a field in Potsdam.
The second EF1 was confirmed in Clark County and started around 6:23 p.m. in North Hampton. It reached an estimated maximum wind speed of 90 mph and maximum path width of 200 yards, according to NWS. The tornado path was 17.1 miles, and it ended in South Vienna.
The tornado started as an EF0, causing minor tree and outbuilding damage near Liberty Road before moving east and damaging a barn. It strengthened into an EF1 tornado as it moved through the area of Ballentine Pike, Delrey Road and Fox Hollow Road.
"Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted along this section of the path and several homes suffered damage due to partial uplift," according to NWS.
It continued east, damaging trees at the Springfield Country Club, before causing outbuilding damage at Edgewood Farms. The tornado uprooted multiple large trees, causing the main entrance to Buck Creek State Park to close.
Additional damage was reported to a residence and barn on Mahar Road.
The EF0 tornado in Champaign County started around 6:42 p.m. in Urbana and ended in North Lewisburg. It reach an estimated maximum wind speed of 85 mph and maximum path width of 150 yards, according to NWS. The path traveled 4.6 miles.
The initial damage was reported on West Herr Road near U.S. 68. Large branches were snapped and a home had four large trees downed, according to NWS. The home also had siding ripped from an unattached garage.
Near Kennard-Kingscreek Road and Game Farm Road trees were snapped at the trunk, a barn door was ripped from a barn and a shed rolled onto its side.
The tornado continued east toward Kennard- Kingscreek Road, where a barn roof completely caved in and a support wall was thrown 15 yards, according to NWS. It then went down North Ludlow Road and South Kennard Road, where metal roofing was lifted from a barn.
The damage came to an end near a treeline off Dog Leg Road where branches were snapped and trees were uprooted.
