EF-0 tornado with wind speeds up to 80 mph touched-down in Warren, Clinton counties, NWS says

WARREN COUNTY — UPDATE @ 1 p.m.:

Wind speeds in an EF-0 tornado that touched-down in parts of Clinton and Warren counties had wind speeds that reached up to 80 mph, according to a National Weather Service storm survey.

>> Photos: Storms move through the Miami Valley

The tornado was on the ground for a total of three minutes, from 3:42 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and traveled 1.5 miles. The maximum width of the tornado was measured at 50 yards wide.

While the tornado was on the ground a barn collapsed near Todd’s Fork Creek, uprooted trees, flipped a pop-up camper, and caused some minor damage to a house before it lifted in a wooded area, according to the NWS survey team.

An EF-0 is considered a weak tornado with wind gusts remaining under 85 mph.

The National Weather Service is surveying a second area of damage in Miami County Thursday also caused by Wednesday’s severe weather. Yesterday’s storms prompted multiple tornado warnings across the area.

We’ll update this story as we learn more.

UPDATE @ 10:50 a.m. (March 24):

The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado that touched-down in part of Clinton and Warren counties near Clarksville was an EF-0 tornado.

An EF0 tornado is classified as being a weak tornado with light damage and wind speeds up to 85 mph.

More information is expected later Thursday.

UPDATE @ 8:30 a.m. (March 24):

Storm survey teams with the National Weather Service have confirmed a tornado touched-down and caused damage in parts of Clinton and Warren counties during Wednesday’s severe weather.

”Based on video and photographic evidence, a tornado has been confirmed in this area. The National Weather Service ground survey team will work with emergency management officials to determine the details regarding the magnitude and location of damage,” the NWS said in a updated public information statement.

The final assessment of the tornado’s strength, path, and damage is expected to be released Thursday afternoon.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

FIRST REPORT

The National Weather Service is reporting storm damage in part of Warren County after severe weather moved through the region Wednesday.

The NWS reported storm damage outside of Clarksville. The damage was reported to have occurred while a tornado warning was in effect, however, they have not determined if it was the result of a tornado.

Captain Bradley Burton, of the Clinton Warren Joint Fire District, said they were notified of a power line down just after 4 p.m. He told News Center 7′s James Rider that calls like that are typical following a tornado warning.

Burton said when they arrived on scene, they found an empty trailer that had overturned and had been destroyed, as well as a vehicle that had been destroyed.

He said that there was a lot of trees down and branches were broken off from the tops of trees. A bridge on State Route 350 was damaged due to a large tree falling on it.

“[It] appeared like we had tornadic damage,” Burton said.

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We spoke with Burton on SR 350 near the Todd Fork stream and he said they were lucky that the damage wasn’t worse because of the large children’s camp that was about a mile away from where this reported damage was.

“[It] has 162 souls staying at it tonight,” Burton said. “So, dodged a bullet.”

Burton said the NWS will be out in the area tomorrow to conduct their initial investigation.

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