EF3 Tornado — Auglaize, Ohio

2024-03-14 · near Fryburg, Auglaize, Ohio

Event narrative

The tornado began immediately east of Interstate 75, south of Wapakoneta, where it damaged a farm on the west side of Cemetery Road. Video shared on social media showed the tornado rapidly strengthened west of Glacier Hill Lakes RV Resort, causing significant damage to a grove of trees west of the resort. After crossing a field, the tornado moved through the center of the resort, lofting campers and snapping trees. Two individuals at the resort suffered injuries that required hospitalization. The tornado continued eastward toward Wapak-Freyburg Road and caused significant damage to the Resort clubhouse and residential homes on the west side of the road. The collective damage done to the trees and buildings within this corridor of damage justified wind estimates of 140 mph, EF-3. The tornado moved into an open field east of Wapak-Freyburg Road at an unknown intensity.

Three-tenths of a mile south of Pusheta Road, the tornado caused significant tree damage to three separate groves of trees as it neared Town Line Road. Aerial images provided by the Auglaize County EMA/CERT confirmed the tornado was still strong, at least EF-2 strength, south of Pusheta Road. The tornado likely remained fairly strong as it impacted homes and outbuildings along Town Line Road, Ashburn Road, and Geyer Road. A brief weakening period, or narrowing of the tornado was observed near Geyer, where the tornado remained mainly over open fields.

The next period of intensification occurred between State Route 65 and Valley Road. Damage to a few homes and outbuildings, along with significant damage to a few groves of trees confirmed this period of intensification. The tornado began to make a more significant southeast turn between Wrestle Creek Road and Valley Road. The strong, likely EF2 tornado continued to move southeastward and entered Logan County at 1843EST, just north of Santa Fe.

The tornado continued east-southeast across much of Logan County before ending at 1916EST, 3 miles west-southwest of West Mansfield.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms developed in an unseasonably warm and humid airmass ahead of an approaching cold front.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.5193, -84.1664)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1166417. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.