Where did the tornadoes hit in Ohio? Here's what you need to know about state's severe weather

[Note: This story has been updated to reflect the current number of known fatalities stemming from the Ohio tornadoes. The Dispatch will update when new information on confirmed tornadoes emerges.]

At least three deaths are being blamed on a suspected tornado in Ohio as another line of severe storms swept across the state on Thursday. The National Weather Service confirmed at least three Ohio tornadoes -- in Mercer and Licking counties, and another in Crawford and Richland counties -- by early afternoon on Friday.

Authorities in Logan County are dealing with a mass casualty incident with at least three deaths from a suspected tornado that struck a trailer park near Indian Lake, northwest of Columbus.

Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds said the number of deaths could increase as rescue efforts continue.

"It's one hell of a mess up there," Dodds said. "It looks like a war zone."

In northern Ohio, a dangerous half mile-wide tornado was reported by the Huron County Emergency Management Agency.

Where did the tornadoes hit in Ohio?

Delaware County, just north of Columbus, took a hard hit from the storms. The NWS has not yet confirmed that it was a tornado.

Siding was ripped from houses and one roof was ripped off at the Pines at Berlin Station, a subdivision by Berlin Middle School. Another house had a gaping hole in its side covered by a flapping tarp.

The middle school was blocked by downed power lines, but residents who’d visited the school said windows were busted out in the building and the field’s scoreboard was missing. At least six electrical transmission towers were knocked down and lay in the field between the subdivision and the middle school.

Tornado touchdowns were also reported near Jenera in Hancock County south of Findlay in northwest Ohio and near Plymouth along the Huron-Richland counties line. Another tornado is suspected in Wapakoneta in western Ohio.

Did tornadoes touch down in Ohio: Did tornadoes touch down in Ohio? How the National Weather Service confirms twisters

How many tornadoes touched down in Ohio yesterday?

The NWS's Wilmington office has confirmed three tornadoes so far. First, an EF1 tornado touched down in far western Mercer County, which is along the Ohio-Indiana border.

A second EF1 tornado touched down north of Johnstown in Licking County, just northeast of Columbus. Additional information, including its maximum wind speed and tracking data, will be available later today.

Thirdly, the NWS has confirmed at least high-end EF2 tornadic damage near Orchard Island, on the shores of Indian Lake in Logan County. Survey teams are currently conducting a storm survey in the area and in locations around Lakeview, where three people were killed.

The NWS's Cleveland office has confirmed two twisters. First, an EF2 tornado touched down in Crawford and Richland counties. That twister had a top wind speed of 120 mph, was on the ground for 10 miles and had a 250-yard width.

It started northeast of New Washington in Crawford County, moving eastward across Auburn Township and into Richland County. The tornado caused extensive damage to homes, outbuildings, trees, and power poles along the path.

Second, the NWS confirmed an EF1 tornado in Hancock County, about 50 miles south of Toledo. It had a maximum wind speed of 105 mph, was on the ground for 3.35 miles and had a maximum width of 100 yards. It started in Orange Township and traveled eastward, damaging several homes and outbuildings along the path.

Ohio tornadoes: National Weather Service confirms twisters from Thursday storms. Find out where

Other surveys for possible tornadoes are still ongoing.

National Weather Service in Wilmington and Cleveland send out crews to survey damage

The National Weather Service is surveying storm damage today to confirm whether tornadoes touched down.

The Wilmington office, which covers Central Ohio, said it dispatched crews shortly after 9 a.m. this morning. Areas it plans to survey for suspected tornadoes include Darke/Miami counties, Mercer/Auglaize counties, Logan County and Delaware/Licking counties.

The Cleveland office, which covers Northeast Ohio, said its survey teams are also out.

Where is Indian Lake, Logan County, Ohio?

Indian Lake is a reservoir in Logan County, about 70 miles northwest of Columbus.

The suspected tornado struck a trailer park -- Lakeview RV Park -- just north of Lakeview, on the west side of the reservoir, according to the Logan County Emergency Management Agency.

An X user who was driving from Lima and passing through Logan took pictures of the extensive damage. In the post on X, he said authorities told him that he had missed a tornado "by about 2 minutes."

Where is Wapakoneta, Ohio?

Wapakoneta is in Auglaize County in western Ohio. It's about 90 miles northwest of Columbus.

The suspected tornado was spotted at 7:43 p.m. Thursday traveling southeast from Mercer County, striking many properties and homes in southeastern Auglaize County and into Shelby/Logan County, according to the Wapakoneta Daily News.

Tornado warnings for Ohio from National Weather Service, Wilmington

The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued 13 tornado warnings Thursday evening, according to a review of posts on X, the former Twitter.

• Tornado Warning including Celina, Coldwater and Rockford until 7:15 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Wapakoneta, Saint Marys and Cridersville until 7:30 p.m.

• Tornado Warning continues for Wapakoneta, Saint Marys and Cridersville until 7:30 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Wapakoneta, Jackson Center and Russells Point until 8 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Bellefontaine, Russells Point and Belle Center OH until 8:30 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Greenville, Union City IN and Union City until 8:30 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Delaware, Richwood and West Mansfield until 9 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Greenville, Versailles and Covington until 9 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Troy, Piqua and Covington until 9:15 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Delaware, Sunbury and Galena until 9:45 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Newark, Granville and Johnstown until 10:15 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Urbana, Saint Paris and Fletcher until 10 p.m.

• Tornado Warning including Mechanicsburg, Woodstock and Mutual until 10:15 p.m.

What’s the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning?

There are six categories to classify the rotational speed of tornadoes (EF0-EF5) but just two levels to warn of tornado activity.

A tornado watch means weather conditions could spawn tornadoes within the watch area. People should stay aware of weather conditions and be prepared to act if watchers spot a tornado.

A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted by a local NWS forecast office or indicated by weather radar and there is imminent danger to life and property.

How are tornadoes confirmed?

The weather service says crews will need to survey possible tornado damage in person to confirm if a tornado touched down.

The pattern of damage, not how much damage was caused, determines whether it was a tornado, according to the weather service. For tornadoes, with their violently rotating columns of air, damage often has a chaotic appearance, with larger uprooted trees often crossing each other. Weather service surveyors often look at larger uproots of trees to get a true idea of where the wind was blowing from.

How are tornadoes rated?

The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

• EF0: Weak, with wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph

• EF1: Weak, 86 to 110 mph

• EF2: Strong, 111 to 135 mph

• EF3: Strong, 136 to 165 mph

• EF4: Violent, 166 to 200 mph

• EF5: Violent, greater than 200 mph

Has there ever been an EF5 tornado in Ohio?

Just four Ohio tornadoes since 1950 have received the most severe EF5 designation. The last time was May 31, 1985, when an EF5 tornado through Portage and Trumbull counties claimed 10 lives. There were 10 other tornadoes in Ohio that day.

Ohio's tornado history: What to do if you're caught in a twister

When is tornado season in Ohio?

Ohio's tornado season considered to be April through June, according to the National Weather Service. However, tornadoes can and have happened in every month of the year.

Bailey Gallion, of the Columbus Dispatch contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ohio tornadoes confirmed as Indian Lake in Logan County, Ohio recovers