Click on the photos to learn about the storms which caused the damage,
and how to report the damage to the NWS.



Straight-Line Wind Damage: 55-70 mph

This is the minimum amount of damage which the NWS classifies as severe.
Damage in this category includes small trees down and large limbs broken (generally 3" in
diameter or lager), some weak large trees snapped or uprooted, heavy objects such as
newspaper stands, large patio furniture and light trailers toppled over, and portions of metal
roofing torn off mobile homes, sheds and barns.

New Knoxville, OH August 9, 2007	New Knoxville, OH August 9, 2007	Peebles, OH July 15, 2007	Huber Heights, OH January 29, 2008
New Knoxville, OH August 9, 2007	Eaton, OH February 6, 2008	Wapakoneta, OH May 2, 2008	Wapakoneta, OH May 2, 2008
Beavercreek, OH May 31, 2008	Aberdeen, OH June 4, 2008	Oxford, OH June 3, 2008	Columbus, OH June 12, 2008
Oxford, OH June 25, 2008	Cridersville, OH September 14, 2008	St. Marys, OH September 14, 2008	Dayton, OH September 14, 2008
Russells Point, OH September 14, 2008	Hamilton, OH September 14, 2008	Wilmington, OH September 14, 2008

Straight-Line Wind Damage: 70-90 mph

Winds of this speed are often referred to as hurricane force.  Damage in this category includes
large healthy trees uprooted or snapped, awnings blown down, sheds and barns significantly
damaged or destroyed, severe damage to mobile homes, moderate roof damage to homes
and businesses, power poles and antennas snapped, heavy damage to signs and billboards
and semi-trailers blown over.

Mercer County, OH June 22, 2006	Lebanon, OH October 24, 2001	Castine, OH January 29, 2008	New Marion, IN August 10, 2006
Cottage Grove, IN February 6, 2008	Cottage Grove, IN February 6, 2008	Bellefontaine, OH August 20, 2007	Beavercreek, OH May 31, 2008
Mount Olivet, KY June 3, 2008	Mount Olivet, KY June 3, 2008	Goshen, OH June 4, 2008	Cridersville, OH June 9, 2008
Auglaize County, OH June 9, 2008	Hamilton, OH September 14, 2008	Columbus, OH September 14, 2008	Columbus, OH September 14, 2008
Lockbourne, OH September 14, 2008	Cincinnati, OH September 14, 2008	Cincinnati, OH September 14, 2008	Columbus, OH September 14, 2008

Straight-Line Wind Damage: Over 90 mph

Straight-line winds of this speed are rare and result in widespread significant damage
to trees and structures. Damage includes numerous large trees snapped or uprooted, mobile
homes significantly damaged or destroyed, significant roof damage to well-built homes and
businesses, windows blown out, garage doors blown in and large signs and power poles
snapped or toppled.

The most common cause for wind damage of this magnitude is a severe bow echo.
Learn about this type of storm by clicking the photo below.

Mason, OH September 27, 2003

EF0 Tornado Damage: 65-85 mph

This is the lightest of tornado damage, but the most common in the Ohio Valley. 
Damage in this category is similar to straight-line winds, including large tree
limbs broken off, small trees uprooted, moderate damage to poorly built structures, and
light damage to well-built homes and businesses.

Macon, OH April 26, 2007	Peach Grove, KY June 4, 2008	Aurora, IN June 4, 2008	St. Henry, OH September 4, 2006
Xenia, OH September 20, 2000

EF1 Tornado Damage: 86-110 mph

Damage in this category includes heavy roof damage to homes and businesses, significant
damage to mobile homes, poorly-built sheds and barns destroyed, power poles snapped,
large trees uprooted and large limbs snapped off. 

Peebles, OH April 26, 2007

Peebles, OH April 26, 2007

Andersonville, IN November 24, 2004

Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

EF2 Tornado Damage: 111-135 mph

Significant damage occurs to homes and businesses when tornadic winds reach this intensity.
Damage includes roofs torn off, some exterior walls collapsed, and some homes shifted
off the foundation. In addition, cars are lifted off the ground, mobile homes are destroyed,
cell phone towers collapse, and large trees snapped at the base.

Circleville, OH October 14, 1999

Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

EF3 Tornado Damage: 136-165 mph

Damage to homes and businesses is severe, including complete removal of roofs and the collapse
of most exterior walls, leaving only interior walls standing.  Mobile homes are completely destroyed
and may be thrown some distance.  Large retail centers may totally collapse.  Trees are
debarked, trains are overturned and cars are rolled over and may be thrown.  

Xenia, OH September 20, 2000	Xenia, OH September 20, 2000	Xenia, OH September 20, 2000	Xenia, OH September 20, 2000
Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

EF4 Tornado Damage: 166-200 mph

Well-built homes are totally destroyed and concrete buildings are severely damaged with
only a few interior walls left standing.  High rise buildings suffer significant damage to
exterior and interior structure. Cars and trucks are thrown like toys, and objects like sticks and straw
become missiles.  Trees are stripped of all small branches and bark.    

Blue Ash, OH April 9, 1999

Blue Ash, OH April 9, 1999

Xenia, OH September 20, 2000

Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

EF5 Tornado Damage: Over 200 mph

This is the most extreme, and rarest, type of damage.  Homes are completely destroyed
and swept off their foundations.  Steel-reinforced concrete structures are completely destroyed
 across all or most of the building.  High-rise buildings are significantly damaged beyond repair.

There has only been one instance of F5 or EF5 damage in Wilmington's warning area:

Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

Xenia, OH April 3, 1974

Lightning Damage

Franklin, OH April 11, 2007

Franklin, OH April 11, 2007