NWS officials tour storm site, ID twister

Van Wert independent/EMA information

OHIO CITY — Officials from the National Weather Service of Northern Indiana met with Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy Tuesday morning to survey the damage caused by Monday night’s storm.

Meteorologists confirmed that an EF-1 tornado with winds estimated at 93 mph struck an area on Walnut Grove Church Road between Alspach and Burris roads to the southwest of Ohio City. The tornado was on the ground for four miles and was 100 yards wide. A second funnel which was observed aloft by weather spotters did not touch the ground but caused wind damage on Wren Landeck Road several miles west of Ohio 118 to Greenville Road south of Wren Landeck.

McCoy advised that the National Weather Service had placed Van Wert County under a severe thunderstorm watch at 2:18 p.m. and, by 5:30 that evening, tornado warnings were being issued for Huntington and Wells counties in Indiana.

The National Weather service then issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Van Wert County at 5:44 p.m. Monday in anticipation that storms coming toward the county would remain severe. The EMA director began activating the local spotter network just before 6 that evening because he was concerned about the storms moving towards Ohio.

At 6:45 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service issued a new severe thunderstorm warning for Van Wert County while, at approximately the same time, Willshire Fire Department spotters reported a rotating wall cloud moving to the east just north of Willshire. The National Weather service then issued a tornado warning at 6:48 p.m. for Ohio City and the area to the east of Ohio City. As the storm moved towards Ohio City, Ohio City Fire Department spotters first reported a funnel aloft near the intersection of Wren Landeck and Liberty Union roads. Within a minute, a second report came in from Ohio City Fire Chief Brandon Bowen reporting another funnel aloft on Walnut Grove Church Road, near Alspach Road. Bowen then watched three funnels come down, merge into one and move east down Walnut Grove Church Road before losing sight of it as it became rain-wrapped. Sirens continued to sound in Ohio City, Venedocia, Elgin and Delphos until the tornado threat was past.

The heaviest damage occurred at the Jeff Smith property, 8803 Walnut Grove Church Road. The barn sustained heavy damage and several outbuildings and a garage were damaged. The house also had roof and siding damage and windows were blown out.

The tornado also damaged 11 other properties along Walnut Grove Church Road, including homes, barns and trees. Power lines were also down in the area, while heavy flooding was reported in the area, with up to 3 inches of rain falling during the evening. Other areas affected by flash flooding included Willshire.

McCoy stated that another round of severe weather is expected Wednesday and reminds the public to remain ready during this very active severe weather season. National Weather Service NOAA weather radios and local media will give severe weather updates, along with the local Emergency Management Agency on scanner frequency 155.805 MHz.

In addition, sirens are sounded for tornado warnings, but are not sounded countywide, only for areas where a tornado is expected to track.