High Wind — Athens, Ohio

2000-08-09 · near Athens, Athens, Ohio

Event narrative

Thunderstorm wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph caused tree damage and collapsed a county fair tent. The tent collapsed during the swine judging, with as many as 400 people inside. Many of those caught in the tent, appeared stunned, but calm. Eight people received minor injuries. No animals were hurt. One witness said., " It was the best example I've seen of everyone working together." The nearby anemometer at the Scalia Lab on the Ohio University campus reported a wind gust of 41 mph. In a related incident, an indirect death occurred while a 74 old man lost control of his tractor and it overturned. He was trying to take shelter from the midday storm. He was 60 feet from his residence on Hooper Ridge Road, near Amesville.

Wider weather episode

This midday event was the first of 2 rounds of tall thunderstorms that affected southeast Ohio on the 9th. The high heat and humidity created a very volatile atmosphere.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5171196. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.