Toledo Area Severe Storms

Circle within 25 miles of Defiance - Severe Weather Climatology from 1980 to 2004

Map of All Severe Storm Reports
Map of Severe Storm Reports that were Tornadoes, 1.5" or greater Hail, or 60 knot or greater Wind Gusts

note about severe weather climatology:
Generally, severe weather reports have been on the increase from 1950 to the present day, not necessarily due to the atmosphere! Many of the "extras" have been low-end hail, F0 tornadoes, and wind reports. For more information:
The Frequency of Large Hail (Schaefer) (PDF)
Severe Thundertorm Wind Report Climatology (Weiss) (PDF)
Tornado Trends over the Past 30 Years (McCarthy) (PDF)

Toledo Area and NW Ohio Severe Storm Events

1980s
1991-1994
1995-1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

March 19, 1948 - "East Toledo Takes Severe Pounding in Gale." Gusts as high as 85mph recorded at Municipal Airport. "4 Dead, 20 Injured in Area Storm." Some evidence of a tornado on the edge of Perrysburg. - Toledo Blade
April 5, 1957 - "Hurricane Force Winds Hit Toledo" - Toledo Blade. An 83 knot (96 mph) wind gust happened at the airport. The wind gusts did damage in Toledo and Defiance. The Fassett St. Bridge in Toledo was ruined by a freighter that crashed into it because of a 90mph wind gust. Storm Reports
April 11, 1965 - Palm Sunday Killer Tornado Outbreak "Tornadoes Kill 13 in City, 34 in Area" "Hundreds Hurt, Homeless" "Guard Units Called Out" "Death Toll 210 in 5 States" The tornado path was "10 miles through north and west Toledo last night..." - Toledo Blade. Storm Reports
July 4, 1969 - July 4 Fireworks Derecho of 1969 - 100mph wind gust, boats sunk on the lake, tornadoes, and severe flash floods in Sandusky and southward Storm Reports
May 10, 1973 - Tornado Outbreak - Deadly Tornado in Seneca and Huron Counties Storm Reports
April 3 and 4, 1974 - Super Outbreak of Tornadoes Storm Reports
June 30, 1977 - Tornado Outbreak Storm Reports
July 4, 1977 - July 4 Derecho of 1977 Storm Reports

1980s

The 1980's were kind of low on total severe weather reports. It's hard to pick out single days that would be considered a severe weather outbreak in the area.
July 5, 1980 - July 4 "More Trees Down" Derecho of 1980 Storm Reports

1981 Storm Reports
June 15, 1982 Storm Reports
May 2, 1983 - Tornadoes in Weston (Wood County,) Henry County, Huron County, Large Hailers Storm Reports
1984 Storm Reports
1985 Storm Reports
1986 Storm Reports
1987 Storm Reports
1988 Storm Reports
1989 Storm Reports
1990 Storm Reports

1991-1994

March 27, 1991 - Nettle Lake Tornado (Steuben County/Williams County), Large Hailers, 5 tornadoes in Michigan Storm Reports
May 17, 1992 Storm Reports
June 17, 1992 Storm Reports
July 12, 1992 - Tornado Outbreak day - a record 28 Tornadoes in Ohio on a single day! Storm Reports Storm Reports-Wider View
July 13, 1992 - Multiple Tornado day Storm Reports
July 14, 1992 - Multiple Tornado day Storm Reports
September 9, 1992 - Tornado in Monroe, tornado near Carey Storm Reports
October 8, 1992 Storm Reports
June 8, 1993 - Large Hailers Storm Reports
June 27, 1993 - Large Hailers Storm Reports
June 28, 1994 - Tornado near Celina (Mercer County) Storm Reports

1995-1999

April 11, 1995 Storm Reports
June 14, 1995 - Large Hail in Toledo area Storm Reports
June 26, 1995 Storm Reports
July 13, 1995 - "Right Turn Derecho" Storm Reports
Comparatively, 1996 was fairly low on storm reports 1996 Storm Reports
May 18, 1997 Storm Reports
Comparatively, 1997 was fairly low on storm reports, but the Detroit F2 tornado (July 2, 1997) was damaging! 1997 Storm Reports
June 24, 1998 - A supercell tracked to the nuclear power plant in Ottawa County, and there was a tornado near Port Clinton Storm Reports  Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity   Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity
August 24, 1998 #1 - Large Hailers: Early Morning Storm Reports    National Radar
August 24, 1998 #2 Storm Reports National Radar
November 10, 1998 - 100mph wind gust near Huron/Sandusky Storm Reports
July 6, 1999 Storm Reports National Radar
July 9, 1999 -Squall line formed south of Toledo in an WSW-ENE orientation Storm Reports National Radar
July 24, 1999 Storm Reports National Radar

2000

May 9, 2000 - Tornado day, tornado in Sylvania, two tornadoes in Wood County Storm Reports Evening Radar Loop (Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity) DTX base reflectivity DTX storm relative velocity    Afternoon Radar Loop (Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity)
June 14, 2000 - A tornado in Wood County Storm Reports   National Radar
August 2, 2000 - Large hail in the Toledo area Storm Reports  National Radar
August 6, 2000 Storm Reports Radar

2001

April 9, 2001 - Some large hailers in a few locations Storm Reports
June 19, 2001 - Large hail in the Toledo area Storm Reports National Radar Storm Total Precip to 11:35PM
July 29, 2001 - Michigan north to south severe storm Storm Reports Radar Loop
October 24, 2001 - Tornado day, Tornado near Ottawa (Putnam County) , tornado north of Pioneer, in Hillsdale County. A multiple-bow squall line or LEWP developed in Indiana. Storm Reports radar loop - Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity (0.9 MB) IND LOT ILN DTX

2002

March 9, 2002 - A long low-topped squall line/derecho that was thunder-less. It was 55 to 60 degrees, then, after the front, the temperature dropped to the 30's quickly Radar local surface weather map at 5:00PM
May 25, 2002 - Large Hailers Storm Reports Radar Storm Relative Velocity VIL
July 22, 2002 Storm Reports Radar
November 10, 2002
IWX page on November 10, 2002

2003

March 20, 2003 - Large Hail in the Toledo area Storm Reports Radar
April 4, 2003 - Severe storms hit the area when Toledo was at 34 degrees (F)! Storm Reports DTX Radar IWX Radar 9:29PM DTX Radar 9:00PM local surface weather
April 20, 2003 - Easter Sunday scattered severe storms Storm Reports Radar
May 5, 2003 - two to four Supercells in SE Michigan Storm Reports Radar Supercell Composite 5:00PM
July 4, 2003 #1: Morning-Early afternoon derecho Storm Reports Radar Radar Loop CAPE at 11:00AM
July 4, 2003 #2 and #3: Afternoon and Night - the thunderstorms kept coming and coming for central and eastern Indiana, and western Ohio. Storm Reports Radar Radar Radar Radar Supercell Composite 6:00PM Energy-Helicity Index at 6:00PM
July 6, 2003 - the storm train of July 2003 was still on track Storm Reports Radar Radar
July 7, 2003 - Derecho Storm Reports Radar Energy-Helicity Index
July 8, 2003 #1 - Wind damage: Early Morning Storm Reports Radar Loop - 1.25MB Energy-Helicity Index
July 8, 2003 #2 - Bowling Green 100mph wind and major tree damage: Afternoon Storm Reports Radar Loop - 2.5MB Energy-Helicity Index Lifted Index
July 20, 2003 #1 - Afternoon - Supercell in Calhoun and Hillsdale Counties, MI Storm Reports Radar Storm Relative Velocity 2 Radar 2:00PM Supercell Composite
July 20-21, 2003 #2 - Night to Morning - Squall line developed west to east from Chicago to Toledo, and moved slowly, eventually did some wind damage Storm Reports Radar Radar Radar Radar Composite Energy-Helicity Index CAPE
August 1, 2003 - Back-building Mesoscale Convective System/Squall line Storm Reports Radar composite loop - 0.8MB Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity zoomed in near Fort Wayne Energy-Helicity Index
August 21, 2003 - squall line in Michigan weakened as it moved south, new cells developed Storm Reports Reflectivity/Storm Relative Velocity Loop (1.3 MB) Energy-Helicity Index
August 26, 2003 - Derecho Storm Reports Radar loop (0.2 MB) Energy-Helicity Index CAPE
November 12, 2003 - Scattered severe thunderstorms, a tornado in the Cleveland area Storm Reports Radar Energy-Helicity Index CAPE Helicity

2004

April 17, 2004 Storm Reports Radar Radar Energy-Helicity Index CAPE/Helicity/Shear Composite (NARR) Surface wind/SLP (NARR) Toledo skew-T (NARR)

May 21, 2004 - The "Dark-Sky" or "Green-Sky" Derecho Storm Reports Radar Loop (1.1MB) VIL Loop (0.7MB) Reflectivity-zoomed on Fort Wayne VIL-zoomed on Fort Wayne Energy-Helicity Index CAPE Helicity CAPE/Helicity/Shear Composite (NARR) Surface wind/SLP (NARR) Toledo skew-T (NARR)

May 23, 2004 - "Thunderstorm" Wind Damage but no thunder near Toledo Storm Reports Radar Radar Energy-Helicity Index CAPE CAPE/Helicity/Shear Composite (NARR) Surface wind/SLP (NARR) Toledo skew-T (NARR)

June 13, 2004 - Small bow in squall line/Derecho Storm Reports IWX DTX CLE Storm Relative Velocity Radar Composite Energy-Helicity Index CAPE Helicity 0-6km Shear CAPE/Helicity/Shear Composite (NARR) Surface wind/SLP (NARR) Toledo skew-T (NARR) Findlay skew-T (NARR)

June 14, 2004 - Derecho Storm Reports Radar CAPE/Helicity/Shear Composite (NARR) Surface wind/SLP (NARR) Toledo skew-T (NARR)

2005

June 5, 2005 - Derecho Storm Reports   Radar at 8:22PM    Radar - 7:45PM    Supercell Composite 7:00PM    0-6km shear (7:00PM)    surface CAPE (7:00PM)    surface wind and SLP (7:00PM)
June 30, 2005 - Squall line in the morning, weak supercell in the evening Storm Reports   Radar (Morning)   Evening Radar Loop (0.5 MB)   Supercell Composite (1:00PM)    0-6km shear (1:00PM)    surface CAPE (1:00PM)    surface wind and SLP (1:00PM)   Supercell Composite (8:00PM) 0-6km shear (8:00PM)    surface CAPE (8:00PM)    surface wind and SLP (8:00PM)
July 25, 2005 - Expanding squall line/Derecho began south and west of Toledo Storm Reports   Radar    Supercell Composite (1:00PM) 0-6km shear (1:00PM)    surface CAPE (1:00PM)    surface wind and SLP (1:00PM)
July 26, 2005 Storm Reports Radar Radar Radar Supercell Composite at 7:00PM 0-6km shear (7:00PM)    surface CAPE (7:00PM)    surface wind and SLP (7:00PM)
September 22, 2005 - Supercell developed in Branch County/Steuben County Storm Reports Radar Supercell Composite at 8:00PM 0-6km shear (8:00PM)    surface CAPE (8:00PM)    surface wind and SLP (8:00PM)
November 6, 2005 Storm Reports Wind damage generally occurred about 4:40AM in the area. Radar (reflec.) Radar (base velocity) Note: 57 knots toward the radar. US surface map at 7:00AM 850mb map at 7:00AM Strong 60-70 knot winds at 850mb over the region. Sounding from Wilmington (ILN) shows weak but measureable CAPE and very strong winds at all levels at 7:00AM - the CAPE is very unusual for a November morning

2006

March 31 Storm Reports Some scattered wind damage and hail reports and a tornado at Ohio City, about 5 miles south of Van Wert, at 7:38PM. 7:06PM reflec. 7:19PM reflec./storm relative velocity 7:36PM reflec./base velocity 7:36PM reflec. 1+2/storm relative velocity 1+2 7:39PM storm relative velocity 1 Surface CAPE (7:00PM) MUCAPE (7:00PM) Effective shear (7:00PM) Effective helicity (7:00PM) US Surface (7:00PM)

April 7 Storm Reports Some scattered large hail reports and a tornado near the Ohio/Indiana border. 452PM reflec. (Hail in Wood County) 5:13PM reflec. 1/storm relative velocity 1 (Tornado) 5:00PM midwest surface - it was cool with a north wind! Yet, the Supercell Composite, based off the MUCAPE, was above 1 or even 2 near the tornado

April 22 Storm Reports Some scattered large hail reports, one in Sylvania, one north of the border in Petersburg, MI, and a few much later in northern Ohio.

May 25 Storm Reports Everything but the kitchen sink. Something like 50-70 hail and wind reports in western Ohio.

June 21 Storm Reports Prelim storm reports from NW Ohio and SE Michigan 2140z storm relative velocity - only minutes before the tornado report near Addison, MI 2153z reflectivity - minutes after the tornado report near Addison, MI Several reports of golf-ball or larger size hail, a tornado west of Adrian, MI, possible tornado near Lambertville, MI (Toledo suburb) - status on that is still unknown, some reports of significant wind damage, and numerous areas of flash flooding and urban flooding

June 22 Storm Reports Prelim storm reports from Ohio 208pm EDT radar - Holy Crapstorms, Batman! 308pm EDT radar - near the time of the Lima tornado Several reports of wind damage, a tornado and straight line wind damage around Lima, some large hail reports. There was aggravated flooding in Toledo and surrounding areas, numerous areas of flash flooding and urban flooding in north central Ohio, particularly Norwalk.

July 26 Storm Reports

October 2 Strong winds caused one of the two minarets from a local mosque in Perrysburg Township to fall over. (Storm Data)

2007

March 14 Storm Reports some scattered storm reports
May 1 Storm Reports Many hailstorms in the Toledo area
May 15 Storm Reports some wind damage reports
June 3 Storm Reports wind damage in Toledo
June 8 Storm Reports some wind damage reports
June 21 Storm Reports a few wind damage reports

2008

May 30 Storm Reports some wind damage reports near Findlay, tornado(es) near Findlay
June 6 Storm Reports multiple wind damage reports around Toledo, tornado near Van Wert
June 8 Storm Reports multiple wind damage reports around southeast Michigan
June 9 Storm Reports multiple wind damage reports around Toledo, tornado near Van Wert
June 15 Storm Reports some wind damage reports around Toledo
June 21 Storm Reports scattered severe storm reports around northwest Ohio
June 22 Storm Reports some large hail reports
June 25 Storm Reports some wind damage reports around Toledo
June 26 Storm Reports a wind damage report and large hail around Toledo
July 2 Storm Reports some wind damage reports and flash flooding around Toledo
July 8 Storm Reports wind damage reports around the region