Strong Thunderstorms Track Across Northwestern Ohio Counties
Doppler radar tracked thunderstorms with 40 mph winds and hail moving across northwestern Ohio communities Thursday morning.
UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO — Strong thunderstorms moving across northwestern Ohio brought wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail to multiple counties Thursday morning, prompting the National Weather Service to issue special weather statements for affected areas.
The National Weather Service Cleveland office tracked two separate storm systems as they moved eastward across the region. At 10:38 a.m., Doppler radar detected a strong thunderstorm over Forest, located approximately 10 miles west of Upper Sandusky, moving east at 35 mph.
The storm system posed immediate threats to communities in its path. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible,” according to the weather service statement.
Multiple Communities in Storm’s Path
The thunderstorm tracked through numerous communities across the region. Locations impacted by the 10:38 a.m. system included Upper Sandusky, Forest, Sycamore, Nevada, Mount Blanchard, Wharton, Harpster, Kirby, and Williamstown.
Earlier in the morning, at 10:07 a.m., weather service radar had tracked another strong thunderstorm near Rawson, approximately 7 miles east of Bluffton, moving east at 25 mph with similar wind and hail threats.
Broader Regional Impact
The earlier storm system affected an even wider area across northwestern Ohio. Communities impacted included Findlay, Bluffton, Forest, Arlington, Rawson, Vanlue, Carey, Mount Blanchard, Wharton, Benton Ridge, Jenera, Mount Cory, Kirby, and Williamstown.
Both storm systems carried the same hazards, with radar-indicated wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail reported throughout the affected areas. The storms moved at speeds between 25 and 35 mph as they tracked eastward across the counties.
The National Weather Service issued the special weather statements to alert residents in the storm’s path about potential dangers from falling tree limbs and flying debris caused by the strong wind gusts.
