COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A strong line of thunderstorms that woke up central Ohio to tornado sirens Wednesday morning caused damage to numerous areas in the region with those storms producing five tornadoes.
Starting at 4:45 a.m., Franklin, Fairfield, Licking, Knox, Madison, Morgan and Perry counties went under tornado warnings with strong winds creating tornadic conditions. Storm Team 4’s Live VIPIR Radar reported a tornado touched down in West Jefferson.
As of 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes touched down in central and southwestern Ohio:
- An EF-1 in Hilliard, Franklin County
- An EF-2 in Blacklick, Franklin County, which then downgraded to an EF-1 as it traveled into Jersey, Licking County
- An EF-1 in London, Madison County
- An EF-2 near Springfield, Clark County
- An EF1 in Riverside, Montgomery County
A house on Lafayette-Plain City Road near London, Ohio in Madison County takes extensive damage after a strong storm surge on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) 
A house on Lafayette-Plain City Road near London, Ohio in Madison County takes extensive damage after a strong storm surge on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) 
A house on Lafayette-Plain City Road near London, Ohio in Madison County takes extensive damage after a strong storm surge on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) 
A house on Lafayette-Plain City Road near London, Ohio in Madison County takes extensive damage after a strong storm surge on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) 
The Ohio State Agricultural Center in Madison County takes extensive damage after strong storms on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo) 
Trees are uprooted and fall on houses in Blacklick, Ohio on Belangee Road after a strong storm surge early morning on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Delaney Ruth) 
Trees are uprooted and fall on houses in Blacklick, Ohio on Belangee Road after a strong storm surge early morning on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Delaney Ruth) 
Trees are uprooted and fall on houses in Blacklick, Ohio on Belangee Road after a strong storm surge early morning on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Delaney Ruth) 
Trees are uprooted and fall on houses in Blacklick, Ohio on Belangee Road after a strong storm surge early morning on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Delaney Ruth) 
A strong storm system brought damage to a house in Hilliard, Ohio on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Jordyn Dunlap) 
A strong storm system brought damage to a house in Hilliard, Ohio on February 28, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Jordyn Dunlap) 
A house in Hilliard take storm damage after a tornado warning February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/Hilliard Division of Police) 
Crews clean up storm damage in Hilliard, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/Hilliard Division of Police) 
Crews clean up storm damage in Hilliard, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/Hilliard Division of Police) 
AEP Ohio crews work to restore power after storm damage in southwest Columbus, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/AEP Ohio) 
A downed trees covers a fence and power line in Lancaster, Ohio after thunderstorms on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/AEP Ohio) 
An Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser blocks a roadway in Granville, Ohio that has multiple trees on the road after a storm surge on February 28, 2024. (Courtesy Photo/AEP Ohio) 
Multiple people shelter at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio during tornado warning on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/Jacob Olson) 
Multiple power lines block Durrett Road in southwest Columbus after thunderstorms and a tornado warning on February 28, 2024. (Courtesy Photo/AEP Ohio) 
Storm damage at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/U.S. Air Force) 
Storm damage at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/U.S. Air Force) 
Storm damage at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/U.S. Air Force) 
Storm damage at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/U.S. Air Force) 
Storm damage at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/U.S. Air Force) 
Storm damage at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/U.S. Air Force) 
A house in West Jefferson with extensive damage after a possible tornado on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) 
A house in West Jefferson with extensive damage after a possible tornado on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) 
Four trailers fell against each other during Feb. 28, 2024 storms at a Groveport logistics center, overturning one and sending it smashing through the fence. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) 
Four trailers fell against each other during Feb. 28, 2024 storms at a Groveport logistics center, overturning one and sending it smashing through the fence. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
The NWS said more details on the tornadoes would be released over the coming days.
According to the NWS, the EF-2 tornado that hit Blacklick was the strongest February tornado recorded in Franklin County since 1971.
The tornado that started in Blacklick had estimated wind speeds between 65-110 mph. It left a damage line around 8-9 miles, the NWS said.
The Hilliard tornado saw damage occurring across a short path north of Roberts Road. The NWS is continuing to survey storm damage Wednesday in other parts of central Ohio.
In Madison County, a house received significant damage from the straight-line winds that came in well over 60 mph. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said four homes were destroyed.
Click here for the latest central Ohio weather forecast.
Closer to Columbus, the storm in Blacklick and Licking County uprooted massive trees that damaged houses in Blacklick and Hilliard. Hilliard police said no one was injured but one house was destroyed on Hilliard Rome Road north of Roberts Road with houses damaged on Oldwynne Road and in Columbus near Hilliard. Residents around the damaged houses in Hilliard have pitched in to help with the clean-up.
The weather alerts have caused several central Ohio school districts to announce delays Wednesday morning and American Electric Power announced thousands are without power. AEP posted damage photos from southwest Columbus, Granville, and Lancaster. Further away in Dayton, strong winds and storm conditions damaged buildings and planes at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
At John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, passengers were sheltered from 5:25 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the tornado warning in Franklin County. A spokesperson with the airport confirmed no damage was found that would impede airport operations.
