Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
708 PM EDT Tue Mar 19 2024
...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 03/14/2024 TORNADO EVENT...
...EF3 tornado confirmed in Auglaize County and Logan County OH...
Start Location..........3 N Botkins in Auglaize County OH
End Location............3 WSW West Mansfield in Logan County OH
Date...........................03/14/2024
Estimated Start Time...........7:29 PM EDT
Estimated End Time.............8:16 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating........EF3
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...155 mph
Maximum Path Width.............1000 yards
Path Length....................31.9 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon..............40.5193 / -84.1664
Ending Lat/Lon.................40.3905 / -83.5969
* Fatalities...3
* Injuries.....27
...Summary...
The tornado began immediately east of Interstate 75 south of
Wapakoneta, causing damage to a farm on the west side of Cemetery
Road. Video shared on social media showed the tornado rapidly
strengthened west of Glacier Hill Lakes RV Resort causing
significant damage to a grove of trees west of the resort. After
crossing a field, the tornado moved through the center of the
resort, lofting campers and snapping trees. The tornado continued
eastward toward Wapak-Freyburg Road, causing significant damage to
the Resort clubhouse and residential homes on the west side of
the road. The collective damage done to the trees and buildings
within this corridor of damage justified wind estimates of 140
mph, EF3. The tornado moved into an open field east of Wapak-
Freyburg Road at an unknown intensity.
Three-tenths of a mile south of Pusheta Road, the tornado caused
significant tree damage to three separate groves of trees as it
neared Town Line Road. Ariel images provided by the Auglaize
County EMA/CERT confirmed the tornado was still strong, at least
EF-2 strength, south of Pusheta Road. The tornado likely remained
fairly strong as it impacted homes and outbuildings along Town
Line Road, Ashburn Road, and Geyer Road. A brief weakening period,
or narrowing of the tornado was observed near Geyer, where the
tornado remained mainly over open fields.
The next period of intensification occurred between State Route
65 and Valley Road. Damage to a few homes and outbuildings, along
with significant damage to a few groves of trees confirm this
period of intensification. The tornado began to make a more
significant southeast turn between Wrestle Creek Road and Valley
Road. The strong, likely EF2 tornado continued to move
southeastward into Logan County, causing additional periods of
significant tree damage north of Sante Fe. The tornado continued
southeast across Township Highway 85, Township Highway 84 and
County Road 83. Numerous hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped
and one outbuilding was also destroyed.
The tornado strengthened as it approached the village of
Lakeview, producing severe damage over much of the Lakeview area
and beginning along Pine Street and Poplar Court. On Poplar Court,
one single family residence was destroyed, with all walls
collapsed. A corridor of severe damage continued directly
southeast across Main Street, where wall collapse was noted along
one business building and another well built construction was
destroyed. Another single family home on North Oak Street, just to
the east of US 33 and west of Indian Lake, also had all walls
collapsed from the tornado. The most significant damage occurred
along this stretch of Lakeview, with maximum winds up to 155 mph,
which corresponds to EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The width
of the tornado was a half mile at this point.
Damage, primarily of EF-2 magnitude, continued southeast of
Lakeview, affecting areas near US 33 and State Route 366. The
survey team noted roofs removed from single family homes, several
outbuildings being destroyed and also destruction of numerous
manufactured homes. One business near the intersection of US 33
and Township Highway 239 had total wall collapse, indicative of
140 mph winds, or low end EF-3 damage.
The tornado then crossed a portion of Indian Lake and moved
across Orchard Island. Numerous manufactured homes were completely
destroyed in a mobile home park area at Orchard Island, with the
damage on Orchard Island rated as high end EF-2.
The tornado moved over another section of Indian Lake, producing
damage over a community on the eastern side of the lake, affecting
Park Drive, Maple Street and Walnut Street. Several homes had
their roofs completely removed, although most walls remained
standing.
The tornado continued to move to the southeast, crossing State
Route 366 and Route 177 to the north of Huntsville. The tornado
had weakened to EF- 1 intensity at this point, with hardwood tree
damage and outbuilding damage or destruction noted. Damage became
much more sporadic and weaker across eastern Logan County with
some minor tree damage noted just southwest of West Mansfield. The
tornado is believed to have dissipated near County Road 8, just
east of State Route 292.
The National Weather Service would like to thank the Auglaize
County Emergency Management Agency, the Logan County Emergency
Management Agency, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio
State Highway Patrol Aviation Section, and several other state and
local jurisdictions for providing assistance and support with
this survey.
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Lott/McGinnis/Peloquin/Shobe2/Isaac
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