EF3 Tornado — Greene, Ohio

2014-05-14 · near Xenia Port Xenia Arp, Greene, Ohio

Event narrative

The tornado initially touched down in a field just west of Stringtown Road, where minor tree damage occurred. Damage in this area was consistent with wind speeds around 75 miles per hour. The tornado continued across Highway 35 and Federal Road, where a farmstead was struck. A barn at this location sustained heavy damage, with much of the roof being removed as well as some wall failure. Wind speeds at this location were estimated to be around 85 miles per hour.

The tornado then crossed Highway 72 and damaged a property heavily. At this location, several fences and outbuildings were completely destroyed. The residential home had windows blown out and significant roof damage. Roof damage was also seen on nearby barns, and several large trees on the property were snapped off and broken. A trailer was also tipped over. Wind speeds at that location were estimated to be around 105 miles per hour.

On nearby Turnbull Road near a stone quarry, the tornado heavily damaged another property. Here, a detached garage was completely destroyed. A small pickup was briefly lifted and dragged from its location in the garage to the middle of a field about 75 yards away. Significant roof damage was found to the home at the property, with numerous uprooted trees. A lawn tractor was thrown and deposited several hundred yards away. A convergent pattern in the field debris and bean stubble just to the south of this property showed the path of the actual tornado. Wind speeds at this location were estimated to be 125 miles per hour.

The tornado then crossed the stone quarry and intensified, hitting a farmstead on barrier road directly. Here, complete loss of a residential home built in the 1880's was observed. All exterior walls failed and the home collapsed, which led to very little interior wall integrity remaining. A close inspection of the foundation found very little reinforcement for the exterior walls. Healthy hardwood trees were debarked and reduced to trunks with only stubs of large branches remaining. Several large grain silos were completely lifted and thrown well downstream up to a half mile away. Based on damage surveyed at this location, the maximum estimated wind speed of this tornado was 145 miles per hour. The tornado then hit another residence on Barber Road, where portions of the exterior walls were removed as well as the roof. Extensive mud spatter covered all four sides of the residence.

From there, the tornado weakened considerably as it moved parallel to Townsley Road and debris from upstream locations covered farm fields as it fell out of the weakening circulation. A barn on Townsley Road suffered minor roof damage, with winds estimated here at 80 miles per hour. The tornado then weakened further and lifted very close to the Greene and Clark County line.

Wider weather episode

Numerous thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a slow moving cold front during the afternoon and evening. These storms were capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.6808, -83.8480)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 517945. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.