NOTE: This article has been edited to include updated information on confirmed tornadoes.
COLUMBUS -The National weather service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in central and southwest Ohio yesterday, including EF-2 twisters east of Columbus and near Springfield.
Warning sirens jolted residents of central Ohio awake as a possible tornado hit near Columbus.
Carole Essex’s family — husband Andy, their infant and a 2-year-old — were asleep at their home in Columbus as the storm approached. When they became aware of the threat, they ran for cover.
“We woke up and went down to the basement. We grabbed the kids and went down,” Essex, 29, told The Columbus Dispatch. “It sounded like our house collapsed. I looked at Andy and said, ‘Oh, my god, we were hit by a tornado.’”
Storms destroyed a hangar and damaged planes at a small airport in Madison County, between Dayton and Columbus. Toppled trees closed roads in the area until the debris could be cleared.
At least five storms in Ohio were confirmed as tornadoes, including EF-2 strength twisters near Blacklick and Jersey and near Springfield.
EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed in Hilliard, east of London in Madison County, and in Montgomery and Greene counties in southwestern Ohio.
February 28, 2024 tornado outbreak:
EF-2 (111-135 mph winds)
- Blacklick/Jersey tornado – Start: near Havens Corners. End: 1 mi. west of Granville. Damage to homes and buildings, trees downed near McOwen Rd. and SW of Granville
- Springfield – Start: South of Shawnee HS (Clark Co.) End: 3 mi. SSE of Choctaw Lake (Madison Co.). Roof loss to 3 homes. Roads N of London impassable
EF-1 (65-85 mph winds)
- Hilliard – Start: Alton Darby Creek Rd near Roberts Rd. (Hilliard). End: W of I-270. Roof and structure damage, trees snapped and uprooted. Garage torn away on Westbreeze Dr.
- London – Start: near SR 665 E of London. End: near Olmstead Rd. 1 mi. W of W. Jefferson. Overturned trailer, damage to home near Wilson Rd.
- Montgomery/Greene Co’s. – Start: 1 mi. S of Riverside (Montgomery Co.) End: 1 mi. SSE of Wright-Patterson AFB (Green Co.)
Source: Natl. Weather Service
Wind gusts as high as 69 miles per hour were reported in several locations.
Tornado warnings expired at 6:45 a.m. and a tornado watch for the area was cancelled just before 7:00 a.m.
The weather service office that covers southwestern and central Ohio has recorded winter tornadoes almost every year since 2012.
Severe thunderstorms with large hail and several possible rare winter tornadoes toppled trees, cut power and damaged homes in parts of the Great Lakes.