EF1 Tornado — Delaware, Ohio

2024-03-14 · near Stratford, Delaware, Ohio

Event narrative

The tornado developed in central Delaware County near U.S. Route 23. As the tornado crossed U.S. Route 23, it strengthened and widened and caused more widespread structural damage as it crossed the Olentangy River. Even more significant damage occurred as it moved along Berlin Station Road and in other areas of Berlin Township. Along this portion of the track, a number of homes sustained siding and roof damage and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Several barns were also destroyed. In the vicinity of Olentangy Berlin High School, parts of the school campus and athletic fields were damaged, signs were bent over, and several free-standing transmission towers were felled. In this area, maximum wind speeds were estimated to be around 110 mph.

The tornado crossed Alum Creek Reservoir and moved into neighborhoods southwest of Sunbury and west of Galena, where it caused widespread and significant tree damage and a large number of homes had windows blown out, roofs partially removed, and power poles snapped. Damage in these areas was consistent with wind speeds from 95 to 105 mph.

As the tornado moved through the Galena area, there was a complex mix of straight-line wind damage through southern parts of the town of Galena with tornadic damage embedded across the north side of Galena. The damage field through this area was notably wide.

The tornado entered Licking County at 2022EST, about 3 miles SSE of Condit, and continued to moved east-southeast across much of northern Licking County before ending at 2050 EST, about 1 mile south-southeast of St. Louisville.

Wider weather episode

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

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.2599, -83.0678)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1167932. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.