EF2 tornado in Mercer County, Ohio

Law enforcement initially observed a funnel cloud near the intersection of Main Street and Schunk Road in Celina. Just to the northeast of this report is where it appears the tornado first touched down, where multiple tree limbs were knocked down between Main Street and W Bank Road.

It is believed that the tornado then skirted Grand Lake St. Marys, producing minor tree and structural damage near the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Elmgrove Avenue. The tornado then likely moved back over a small portion of Grand Lake St. Marys before knocking down a fence and a few small trees at the back parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant on E Market Street. A one story home on Vine Street also had shingles removed from about 10 percent of its roof.

Further east on E Market Street, the tornado intensified as it impacted Lakeshore Auto Sales. This business had its roof completely destroyed. Along Lake Street, several large branches were knocked down on one property, with significant debris splatter on the east-facing side of a home along with some removal of siding.

Further east on E Market Street, another business had a significant portion of its roof removed, and windows at the front of the business were broken. On the 1100 block of E Livingston Street, tree damage was common and several of the homes also exhibited minor roof damage. One of the homes also had one large hardwood tree knocked down onto its second floor, producing significant roof damage.

To the northeast, an outbuilding associated with a business on Grand Lake Road was completely destroyed. On the other side of Grand Lake Road, significant debris wrapped around a fence on Montgomery Field. Trees were also uprooted on adjacent May Street.

The most significant damage was then observed beginning at Crown Equipment Corporation. A significant portion of the roof was removed, and exterior walls on the southwest side of the building also collapsed. Damage was also noted on the east-facing side of the building.

Businesses along Havermann Road were also affected, most notably C-Town Wings, where the front windows were blown out, and the Dollar General store which sustained considerable structural damage, including roof collapse and exterior wall failure. Observed damage from the Crown Equipment Corporation to the Dollar General store was consistent with EF2 tornadic winds.

Several businesses within a strip mall along Havermann Road also sustained some damage, particularly a sports store where the front doors were blown in and a portion of the roof collapsed into the store.

Damage to the northeast of the strip mall became more sparse, however some trees were downed near the intersection of Howick Road and Riley Road. The end of the tornado appears to have occurred near the 8000 block of Riley Road.

Thunderstorms overspread the region during the afternoon and evening hours as a slow moving cold front pushed through the Ohio Valley. The storms produced damaging winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes. The storms continued into the overnight hours with flooding lingering into the early morning hours.