New storm does damage Sunday p.m.

VW independent/submitted information

Severe weather created a bit of a stir on Sunday afternoon – and some minor damage just west of Van Wert. Storms that developed rapidly over northeast Indiana Sunday quickly moved southeast, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm warning for northwest Van Wert County.

Winds to 60 mph with hail and heavy rain were predicted. At 5:43 p.m., area spotter Matt Saunier reported a wall cloud at Convoy Heller and Elm Sugar roads and Van Wert County Emergency Manager Director Rick McCoy gave the report to the National Weather Service. As the storm moved south, closer to Van Wert, a new thunderstorm warning was issued for the remainder of the county. Rain from the storm was scattered, with areas of the county receiving no rain, while other areas received up to 3 inches. Half-inch hail was also reported.

The most powerful part of the storm traveled just west of Van Wert, where it produced a microburst of strong downburst winds of between 60 and 70 mph, according to McCoy. These winds created a mile and a half damage path from just northwest of Vancrest Health Care Center to approximately a mile south of Vancrest.

According to McCoy, some trees were snapped off and some very large trees were completely snapped in half along U.S. 224, north of Van Wert-Decatur Road and also along that road.

Four telephone poles were also broken off and lines were downed across U.S. 224, prompting the closing of that highway until late in the evening. A residential property across from Vancrest also had damage to the house siding, with a number of holes gouged in the building’s exterior by flying debris from the high winds. There were also trees down at this location.

Traffic was rerouted around 224 by the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Convoy Fire Department, Van Wert Police Department, and the Ohio Department of transportation.

McCoy also updated information on the tornadoes that hit the county last Wednesday, providing more detailed information on tornado damage.

The EMA director noted that he conducted an additional storm survey, both on the ground and with a drone, which showed that the third tornado to hit the county, in Hoaglin Township, was on the ground two separate times, while fourth tornado, which touched down in Jackson Township, was on the ground a mile longer than was first thought.

The first tornado to strike the county touched down just north of German Church Road in Harrison Township. The funnel traveled a mile before hitting the Troy Childs residence, 11650 Convoy Road, where it damaged the residence’s roof, siding, chimney, and blew out some windows, while also knocking trees down and damaging the barn.

The funnel them damaged a cornfield before knocking down two large power transmission poles, which caused outages in the Wren, Ohio City, and Convoy areas.

The tornado then traveled northeast through several more fields before hitting the Audrey McClure property at 6814 U.S. 224, doing significant damage to the barn and several trees. It then crossed 224 and brought down several power poles, as well as damaged trees at the Steve Baker residence, 6873 U.S. 224.

The tornado then continued northeast for half a mile and hit a cemetery, damaging some headstones and knocking down a tree.

The next property hit, McCoy said, was the Ramon Benavidez residence, 7884 Monmouth Road, where a number of trees were damaged. It then traveled another mile and lifted at Wolfcale Road.

The second tornado came down just west of the first funnel cloud, and then hit the Steve Lichtensteiger residence, 8907 Pearson Road, where it ripped shingles off the roof, blew out a front window, and knocked down a security fence in the yard. It then lifted at U.S. 30 and Richey Road.

The third tornado came down just north of Van Wert in a cornfield south of the Convoy-Giffen Road intersection, just west of Boroff Road, and carved out a half-mile path before lifting again briefly. It then touched down just over a quarter-mile south of the Hoaglin Township house, which had been destroyed by the 2002 tornado. It then struck the Robert Speer residence, 4359 Hoaglin Center Road, and tore off half the garage roof. It then continued northeast for another 1½ mile through fields and dissipated around the Feasby Wisener Road-Slane Road intersection.

The fourth tornado developed in a cornfield between Doner and Dog Creek roads. After traveling northeast, it hit the Randy Baucom residence, 19654 Feasby Wisener Road, doing heavy damage to the house’s roof, blew out three garage doors, did three damage and shifted the unattached garage off its foundation.

The funnel then grew to a quarter-mile in width and flattened 70 percent of a 40-acre cornfield. Fortunately, it didn’t hit another property until it came to the Chris Williams residence, 2233 Miller Poling Road, where it flipped a camper and blew two barn doors off.

The tornado then lifted again at Elm Sugar Church Road as the storm moved into Putnam County.