National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Winter Storm Bringing Widespread Hazardous Weather to the Eastern U.S.

A rapidly-intensifying winter storm continues to bring heavy snow, high winds, and blizzard conditions over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes through today. An Arctic front will lead in a period of gusty to high winds and sharply colder temperatures over the entire eastern U.S. Heavy lake effect snow is then expected from Lakes Erie and Ontario through New Year's Day. Read More >

June 2, 2009
Amanda Tornado & Large Hail


A widespread hail producing severe weather event unfolded on Tuesday, June 2nd across east-central Indiana and much of southern Ohio, when a frontal boundary stalled out along and just south of the Interstate 70 corridor. With a moist, unstable air mass and moderate instability, thunderstorms developed rapidly along and south of the boundary. After the initial development, additional severe thunderstorms developed along numerous outflow boundaries. A few of the thunderstorms developed rotational characteristics as they interacted with the boundaries.

Two of the more notable storms from the event dropped large hail over long swaths. The first storm developed in east-central Indiana, moving into Wayne county, and held together for approximately 120 miles before weakening in Fayette county in Ohio. Along its path, numerous reports of golf ball size hail were reported with reports of as large as hen egg (2" diameter). The second storm developed near Dayton and produced hail along its 90 mile path before weakening in northern Hocking county. This storm first produced wind damage in Madison county, and continued on to do damage in Pickaway, Fairfield, and Hocking counties. This storm spawned an EF0 tornado in southwestern Fairfield county. For more information on this event, see the graphics and Public Information Statements (PNSs) below.