Cleveland, OH

Weather Forecast Office

April 8 Tornadoes and Severe Thunderstorms

April 7-8, 2020 - Overnight Severe Storms; Hail, Damaging Winds, and 3 Tornadoes

Discrete supercells formed across Lake Michigan/western Lower Michigan Tuesday evening ahead of surface low pressure and an attendant cold front. The initial storms formed on the northern periphery of a destabilizing warm sector that extended northeastward into the southern Great Lakes and across most of the local forecast area, where 1000-1500 J/kg of Most Unstable CAPE built northeastward across the region. The initial convection produced large hail, aided by a northeastward advancing Elevated Mixed Layer (EML), with mid-level lapse rates of -8 to -8.5 °C/km across the area. The storms developed a cold pool and raced east-southeast from southeast Lower Michigan across Lake Erie into northern Ohio by 04Z (midnight), coincident with a 65-75 kt 500 mb jet streak. Effective shear values of 45-55 kts helped to maintain Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) organization through the forecast area, with widespread wind damage reported. Large hail was also reported across the area within the stronger cores of the MCS, as well as some initial discrete convection that formed just ahead of the MCS. Several mesovortices were observed along the leading edge of the MCS, most notably across Medina county, where rotation quickly tightened and a prolonged hook echo was observed as the storm moved southeast through the county. This feature is coincident with some enhanced damage reports from southeast Lorain County to Stark County. Ultimately, three tornado damage paths were identified: an EF-1 tornado in portions of Lorain and Medina Counties, another EF-1 in portions of Summit County, and an EF-0 tornado in portions of Stark County.

Confirmed Tornadoes

Grafton/Medina, Lorain/Medina Counties Ohio EF-1

Lorain/Medina EF1 track

An EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 100 mph, a maximum width of 100 yards, and path length of 11.48 miles touched down several miles southeast of Grafton in Lorain County at 11:30 PM EDT. A barn was destroyed at around 11:31 PM EDT in Grafton Township. The tornado path then became intermittent along the Lorain and Medina County line where damage consistent of an EF-0 was found. The tornado finally continued southeast into the city of Medina where both EF-0 and EF-1 damage was found. Extensive damage to trees and power lines was found in the city of Medina. The tornado lifted just south of the city of Medina at 11:40 PM EDT.

East Sparta Tornado, Stark County Ohio EF-0

East Sparta EF0 track

Intermittent path starting 2 miles west of Massillon around 12:11 am and continuing southeast toward Kamary Ave where a barn was damaged. The tornado touched down again NW of Sparta and continued south-southeast to the the Stark County line near OH-800 at 12:30 am. Uprooted or damaged trees were observed along the intermittent path. Some of the trees did fall onto homes. A few homes had minor to moderate roof damage. A roof was also lifted off a barn with some of the walls collapsing.

Thanks to the Stark County Emergency Management for their assistance with this survey.

Barberton/Green Tornado, Summit County Ohio EF-1

An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph, a maximum width of 100 yards, and a path length of 10.1 miles touched down in the town of Barberton in Summit County at 11:52 PM EDT. There was extensive damage to trees and power lines as well as numerous trees uprooted and blown down along the path. Some trees were snapped. Several trees fell on to homes, outbuildings, and cars. The tornado path then became intermittent between Barberton and Green as it tracked southeastward. The tornado finally lifted west of the Akron-Canton Regional Airport at 12:03 AM EDT on 04/08/2020.

Radar Loop

Pictures of Storm Damage From Grafton/Medina Tornado

storm damage Grafton/Medina

Pictures of Storm Damage From Barberton/Green Tornado

storm damage Barberton/Green

LSR Map

Summary of Local Storm Reports

Here is a summary of the Local Storm Reports. For an interactive map, click http://nwschat.weather.gov/lsr/#CLE/202004080210/202004080430/0100

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
747 AM EDT THU APR 9 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1112 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 3 NNW ERIE              42.17N 80.10W
04/07/2020  M38 MPH          ERIE               PA   C-MAN STATION    

            38 MPH AT ERIE EREP1. 

1212 AM     TSTM WND DMG     DALTON                  40.80N 81.70W
04/08/2020                   WAYNE              OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN, GARAGE DAMAGED. 

1154 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WNW CLINTON           40.94N 81.66W
04/07/2020                   WAYNE              OH   PUBLIC           

            AREAS OF ROOF DAMAGE AND LOTS OF TREES 
            DOWN/UPROOTED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. 

1202 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E GREEN               40.95N 81.47W
04/08/2020                   SUMMIT             OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN. 

1159 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSE PORTAGE LAKES     40.98N 81.53W
04/07/2020                   SUMMIT             OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES TOPPLED ONTO HOUSES/CARS. 

1152 PM     TORNADO          1 N BARBERTON           41.03N 81.60W
04/07/2020                   SUMMIT             OH   NWS STORM SURVEY 

            THE NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM FOUND AN EF-1 
            TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR BARBERTON AND 
            TRACKED SOUTHEAST TOWARDS GREEN. THE MAX 
            ESTIMATED WINDS WERE UP TO 90 MPH WITH A 
            PATH LENGTH OF ABOUT 8 MILES AND WIDTH OF 
            100 YARDS. THE SURVEY TEAM IS STILL 
            CONDUCTING THIS SURVEY AND ADDITIONAL 
            DETAILS WILL BE ADDED TO THE PNS FOR THIS 
            TORNADO THIS EVENING. 

1146 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE PIGEON CREEK      41.10N 81.64W
04/07/2020                   SUMMIT             OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN COPLEY. 

1222 AM     TORNADO          1 WNW EAST SPARTA       40.67N 81.37W
04/08/2020                   STARK              OH   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            THIS IS THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN OF AN 
            INTERMITTENT TORNADO THAT BEGAN JUST 
            NORTHWEST OF EAST SPARTA AND TRACKED 
            SOUTHEAST OF THE STARK/TUSCARAWAS COUNTY 
            LINE. DAMAGE INDICATIVE OF AN EF-0 TORNADO 
            HAS BEEN FOUND. 

1220 AM     TSTM WND DMG     EAST SPARTA             40.67N 81.36W
04/08/2020                   STARK              OH   PUBLIC           

            ROOF RIPPED OFF, GARAGE BLOWN OFF 
            FOUNDATION. 

1215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     NAVARRE                 40.72N 81.52W
04/08/2020                   STARK              OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL DOWNED/UPROOTED PINE TREES. 

1215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE HILLS AND DALES    40.82N 81.44W
04/08/2020                   STARK              OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN/UPROOTED. 

1214 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW MASSILLON         40.79N 81.54W
04/08/2020                   STARK              OH   NEWSPAPER        

            SEVERAL ROADWAYS CLOSED DUE TO DOWNED 
            TREES/POWER LINES. DAMAGE TO SIDINGS AND 
            AWNINGS ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST SIDE OF 
            MASSILLON. 

1208 AM     HAIL             1 W CANAL FULTON        40.89N 81.60W
04/08/2020  M1.00 INCH       STARK              OH   PUBLIC           

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL VIA PICTURE. 

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE CLINTON           40.91N 81.62W
04/08/2020                   STARK              OH   PUBLIC           

            PRESS BOX AT FOOTBALL STADIUM TOPPLED AND 
            DESTROYED VIA TWITTER. 

1048 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 NNW MARBLEHEAD        41.54N 82.73W
04/07/2020  M44 MPH          OTTAWA             OH   C-MAN STATION    

            44 MPH AT MARBLEHEAD MRHO1. 

1148 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SW WADSWORTH          41.02N 81.75W
04/07/2020                   MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN. 

1141 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE MEDINA             41.12N 81.85W
04/07/2020                   MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC           

            MULTIPLE TOPS OF TREES RIPPED OFF AND BLOWN 
            100 FEET AT THE INTERSECTION OF 57 AND 
            SMOKERISE. 

1135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 NW MEDINA             41.19N 81.93W
04/07/2020                   MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC           

            PARTS OF ROOF/SIDING RIPPED OFF 
            HOUSE/GARAGE. 

1128 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 SE GRAFTON            41.21N 81.95W
04/07/2020                   MEDINA             OH   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRAIGHT PATH OF TREES DOWN. MULTIPLE TREE 
            TOPS CUT OFF. 

1228 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 S NEW MIDDLETOWN      40.93N 80.57W
04/08/2020                   MAHONING           OH   PUBLIC           

            TREE DOWN ON SHED. 

1215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     6 ENE BELOIT            40.96N 80.90W
04/08/2020                   MAHONING           OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL TREES UPROOTED. 

1212 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W CANFIELD            41.02N 80.86W
04/08/2020                   MAHONING           OH   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            MULTIPLE STRUCTURES DAMAGED AND A COUPLE OF 
            WAREHOUSES HEAVILY DAMAGED. 

1130 PM     TORNADO          3 SSE GRAFTON           41.24N 82.01W
04/07/2020                   LORAIN             OH   NWS STORM SURVEY 

            THIS IS THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN OF A TORNADO. 
            DAMAGE INDICATIVE OF AN EF-1 TORNADO HAS 
            BEEN FOUND SO FAR. A NWS STORM SURVEY 
            CONTINUES. 

1123 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E LAGRANGE            41.24N 82.06W
04/07/2020                   LORAIN             OH   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            BARN DESTROYED IN GRAFTON. 

1115 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSE ELYRIA            41.37N 82.10W
04/07/2020                   LORAIN             OH   PUBLIC           

            TREE DOWN ON HOME. 

1118 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 2 WSW BRATENAHL         41.54N 81.64W
04/07/2020  M38 MPH          CUYAHOGA           OH   C-MAN STATION    



1120 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE      41.86N 80.95W
04/07/2020  E49 MPH          ASHTABULA          OH   C-MAN STATION    

            49 MPH AT GENEVA ON THE LAKE GELO1. 

1124 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 NNW FAIRPORT HARBOR   41.76N 81.28W
04/07/2020  M48 MPH          LEZ147             OH   C-MAN STATION    

            48 MPH AT FAIRPORT HARBOR FAIO1. 

1010 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 2 N LORAIN              41.48N 82.18W
04/07/2020  E40 MPH          LEZ145             OH   C-MAN STATION    

            40 MPH AT LORAIN HARBOR LORO1. 

1110 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 ENE HURON             41.40N 82.55W
04/07/2020  E46 MPH          LEZ144             OH   C-MAN STATION    

            46 MPH HURON HARBOR LIGHT HHLO1. 

1039 PM     HAIL             CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS       41.80N 80.06W
04/07/2020  M1.00 INCH       CRAWFORD           PA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

1155 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SE DOYLESTOWN         40.95N 81.67W
04/07/2020                   WAYNE              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TWO LARGE PINE TREES DOWN. ONE ADDITIONAL 
            PINE TREE SNAPPED 5 FEET FROM BASE. ONE 
            POWER POLE SNAPPED. HAM RADIO TOWER BENT 
            OVER. 

1214 AM     HAIL             2 NE MCDONALD           41.19N 80.71W
04/08/2020  E1.00 INCH       TRUMBULL           OH   PUBLIC           

            LASTED 8 MINUTES. 

1151 PM     HAIL             1 WNW WARREN            41.25N 80.84W
04/07/2020  M1.00 INCH       TRUMBULL           OH   PUBLIC           

            REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

1209 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSW GREEN             40.92N 81.45W
04/08/2020  M68 MPH          SUMMIT             OH   ASOS             

            ASOS STATION KCAK AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL 
            ARPT. 

1155 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NNE BARBERTON         41.03N 81.60W
04/07/2020                   SUMMIT             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            PINE TREES FELL ONTO CINDER BLOCK GARAGE. 
            GARAGE DESTROYED. 

1230 AM     HAIL             LOUISVILLE              40.84N 81.26W
04/08/2020  M1.00 INCH       STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            NEAR STATE ROUTE 44 AND STATE ROUTE 153 IN 
            LOUISVILLE. 60 MPH WINDS ALSO ESTIMATED. 

1225 AM     HAIL             4 S CANTON              40.75N 81.37W
04/08/2020  M1.00 INCH       STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  



1225 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 S CANTON              40.75N 81.37W
04/08/2020  E60 MPH          STARK              OH   PUBLIC           



1220 AM     TSTM WND GST     CANTON                  40.81N 81.37W
04/08/2020  M60 MPH          STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            12TH AND WOODLAND. 

1220 AM     HAIL             CANTON                  40.81N 81.37W
04/08/2020  M1.00 INCH       STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            12TH AND WOODLAND. 

1217 AM     HAIL             1 N MASSILLON           40.80N 81.51W
04/08/2020  E1.00 INCH       STARK              OH   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: QUARTER (1.00 IN.). 

1155 PM     TSTM WND GST     KENT                    41.15N 81.36W
04/07/2020  M58 MPH          PORTAGE            OH   AMATEUR RADIO    

            58 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED IN KENT. 

1145 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MANTUA                  41.28N 81.22W
04/07/2020                   PORTAGE            OH   AMATEUR RADIO    

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 
            MANTUA. VERY LARGE TREE FELL THROUGH A HOUSE 
            NEAR MANTUA. 

1135 PM     HAIL             4 W BRUNSWICK           41.24N 81.89W
04/07/2020  E1.50 INCH       MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: PING PONG BALL (1.50 
            IN.). 

1135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW MEDINA            41.14N 81.88W
04/07/2020                   MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC           

            SEVERAL REPORTS OF TREES DOWN ACROSS THE 
            MEDINA AREA, INCLUDING SEVERAL ONTO 
            STRUCTURES AND POWER LINES. 

1130 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 W BRUNSWICK           41.24N 81.93W
04/07/2020  M64 MPH          MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC           



1117 PM     HAIL             2 N LORAIN              41.46N 82.19W
04/07/2020  E1.00 INCH       LORAIN             OH   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: QUARTER (1.00 IN.). 

1116 PM     HAIL             1 NW AVON               41.46N 82.04W
04/07/2020  E1.00 INCH       LORAIN             OH   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: QUARTER (1.00 IN.). 

1115 PM     HAIL             1 ESE AVON              41.44N 82.00W
04/07/2020  M1.25 INCH       LORAIN             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            NEAR JAYCOX AND SCHWARTZ. 

1130 PM     HAIL             2 ESE SOUTH RUSSELL     41.41N 81.29W
04/07/2020  E1.25 INCH       GEAUGA             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            FROM COCORAHS OBSERVER. 

1112 PM     HAIL             1 ENE NEWBURGH HEIGHTS  41.46N 81.64W
04/07/2020  E2.00 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   PUBLIC           

            1.5 TO 2 INCH HAIL IN SLAVIC VILLAGE IN 
            CLEVELAND... NEAR FLEET AVE AND E 65TH. 

1059 PM     HAIL             2 E BROOKLYN            41.44N 81.71W
04/07/2020  E1.00 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN OLD 
            BROOKLYN. 

1110 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 NNW AMHERST           41.44N 82.24W
04/07/2020  E70 MPH          LORAIN             OH   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            EMA DIRECTOR ESTIMATED 70 MPH WINDS WITH 
            GUST FRONT NEAR BEAVER PARK MARINA.