Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
606 PM EDT Fri Jun 19 2026

...NWS Damage Survey for 06/18/26 Tornado Event...

..An EF2 Tornado has been confirmed near Elm Grove in 
Pike County, Ohio...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    115 mph
Path Length /statute/:  8.9 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   250 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             06/18/2026
Start Time:             04:05 AM EDT
Start Location:         5 S Kincaid Springs / Pike County / OH
Start Lat/Lon:          39.0283 / -83.2876

End Date:               06/18/2026
End Time:               04:20 AM EDT
End Location:           7 WSW Piketon / Pike County / OH
End Lat/Lon:            39.0396 / -83.1283

Survey Summary:

The first evidence of tornadic damage occurred on Union Hill Road
in Pike County about six tenths of a mile north of Appalachian
Highway where a few hardwood trees were snapped and multiple
limbs were broken off trees. The tornado then moved through a
heavily forested area towards the intersection of Lansing Road
and Chenoweth Fork Road where more tree damage was noted. Tree
damage continued in a concentrated path to the east northeast
along Chenoweth Fork Road before crossing Appalachian Highway and
causing a fair amount of tree damage at a rest station on Meads
Road. The damage noted in the first third of the tornado's path
consisted of broken branches, snapped trunks, and uprooting of
mature trees. This is consistent with EF0 and EF1 damage. 

After the damage occurred at the Meads Road rest station, the tornado
continued east through a forest with a large hillside that was
not reachable by ground survey. This coincided with the first
evidence of a Tornadic Debris Signature on the Wilmington, OH
radar. When the tornado came down the ridgeline just west of Elm
Grove, the most significant damage indicators were noted. An
entire section of hardwood forest, about 200-250 yards wide, was
blown down. Drone photography and ground survey confirms all
hardwood trees in this location were snapped with none left
standing. The estimate for this type of tree damage is around
115 mph, which is consistent with low end EF2 damage.  

Some higher-end EF1 damage was observed as the tornado moved northeast
off the hillside into Elm Grove where complete collapse of out
buildings and barns, 70% removal of a roof off a house, and
snapping of large power transmission lines occurred. After Elm
Grove, the tornado turned southeast causing additional damage
near the intersection of SR 772 and Appalachian Highway. The
final evidence of tree damage was located on Sun Fish Creek Road
about a half mile south of Tennyson Road. 

The National Weather Service would like to thank The Pike County 
Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio Emergency Agency 
for their assistance and support with this damage survey. 

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

$$

Campbell/JEG