EF1 Tornado — Van Wert, Ohio

2025-04-02 · near Van Wert Circle S Ar, Van Wert, Ohio

Event narrative

A tornado touched down on the south side of Van Wert, OH where a barn was destroyed on US 127 south of Peter Collins Rd. The tornado continued to the northeast through open fields. Tree and shingle damage was then noted on Middle Point Rd near the intersection with SR 116 where the tornado completely destroyed a two-story barn structure. The tornado might have briefly skipped as it traversed to the northeast before causing noticeable damage on Lincoln Hwy. The tornado then caused some minor damage to a deer farm before destroying a pole barn. After crossing into Putnam county north of the intersection of US 224 and Bockey Rd. the last noticeable damage occurred just northwest of Ottoville. As this tornado dissipated, another tornado formed off just to its north. The total track across the two counties was 15.6 miles with maximum winds of 95 mph.

Wider weather episode

The atmosphere was primed for severe weather during the afternoon and evening hours of April 2nd. 0-1 km SRH values of 300 to 500 m2/s2, 60 to 70 kts of shear and MLCAPE of around 1000 J/KG set the stage for numerous thunderstorms. Damage reports were not as widespread, but those that occurred tended to be in swaths related to cold pools from bowing segments or tornadoes. Eight tornadoes (three in northern Indiana, one which crossed from Indiana into Lower Michigan, one in lower Michigan and three in northwestern Ohio). A total of five injuries were reported (three in NW Ohio and two in N Indiana).

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.8124, -84.5830)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1244709. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.