PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
735 PM EDT MON AUG 4 2003

...TORNADO CONFIRMED ON AUGUST 1ST IN AUGLAIZE COUNTY...

A TORNADO SKIPPED ALONG A 6 MILE PATH FROM THE SOUTHEAST TIP OF 
GRAND LAKE ST MARYS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE TOWN OF ST 
MARYS TO JUST NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF MOULTON ROAD AND U.S. 
33.  THE TORNADO SKIPPED UP AND DOWN AT LEAST 4 TIMES BETWEEN 1110 
PM AND 1130 PM.  DAMAGE WAS REPORTED NEAR THE SOUTHEASTERN TIP OF 
GRAND LAKE ST MARYS AND IN SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE TOWN OF ST 
MARYS.  THE LAST REPORT OF ITS SIGHTING WAS IN A FIELD NEAR THE 
INTERSECTION OF MOULTON ROAD AND U.S. 33.

AT LEAST TWO TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED A DECENT SIZE FUNNEL IN THIS 
AREA WITH ONE SPOTTER REPORTING THAT THE FUNNEL TOUCHED DOWN IN A 
FIELD EAST OF ST MARYS.  

DAMAGE WITH THIS STORM WAS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH.  THIS 
WOULD PLACE THIS TORNADO IN THE F1 CATEGORY ON THE FUJITA SCALE.

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TIPTON