EF1 tornado in Defiance County, Ohio

A NWS damage assessment determined that an EF-1 rain-wrapped

tornado was embedded in a line of severe thunderstorms that went

through Defiance during the afternoon of April 4th. Beginning on

the southwest side of town, the tornado produced some minor

shingle/tree damage. At least one home was likely destroyed due

to a fallen tree. Sporadic, significant tree damage was observed

through Riverside Cemetery. The tornado then nearly paralleled S

Clinton St as it moved from southwest to northeast. The most

impressive damage was done near Davidson and S. Clinton St where

several trunks were snapped, a branch lodged into a roof, and

several wooden transmission lines were snapped. The circulation

continued into downtown Defiance, uprooting/snapping trees, and

producing minor to moderate roof damage to numerous businesses

including a large church, bank, and USPS building, among others.

Notable tree damage was done at the Old Fort before the tornado

crossed the river confluence. Video footage from residence

confirms a circulation made it across the river. Widespread

additional tree and roof damage was then noted in the

neighborhoods just north of the Maumee River and west of

Carpenter Rd. Finally, several trunks were snapped or uprooted in

the Eagle Rock Golf Course before the circulation appears to have

dissipated.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms exiting central Indiana encountered a air mass characterized by low instability but high shear. This was enough to produce a tornado that moved through downtown Defiance.