Tornado hits Van Wert, Ohio

National Weather Service | 11/10/02 | Lucas

[Lucas1]

Apparently a number of towns have been hit hard by tornadoes this afternoon. Maybe people can post information from their local areas? One report had FOUR TORNADOES moving into Van Wert, Ohio.

AT 329 PM EST...LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FOUR SEPARATE TORNADOES JUST WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF THE CITY OF VAN WERT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. VAN WERT RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN IN THEIR BASEMENTS OR INTERIOR CLOSETS...AWAY FROM WINDOWS. PEOPLE NORTHEAST OF THE CITY OF VAN WERT SHOULD TAKE SHELTER NOW AS WELL!

Later reports from Emergency Management indicate that the town was hit by the tornado and there is severe damage. Injuries and fatalities are being reported.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html

[Lucas1]

According to NBC affiliate WNWO in Toledo, there were reports of a tornado touching down in Tiffin. The station also reported that Henry County is the worst-hit Ohio location. In Van Wert County, there are reports of silos,
trees and a barn down, possibly with people trapped inside. There are also reports of scattered damage in Fulton County, WNVO reported.

[Republic]

It is 6:21 now in Indiana-a couple of hours ago we were in our basement-with battery operated radio and favorite photographs, coats, boots and water jugs feeling a little idiotic but, safe. The sirens warning of tonadoes were wailing, 1.75 " in diameter hailstones were pounding parts of Indianopolis and in other areas, smaller but nonetheless grusome hail was slinging across the landscape. The rain was torrential and the sky was that weird color that seems to always preclude a tornado warning.

None hit here-but we were dead in the line up of storm cells rolling up, from the south west to the NE-nasty suckers. Evil clouds. Big winds.

Quite a change from the beautiful, if windy, sun shiney morning we had earlier.

Hope everyone in Ohio stays safe. Having seen the Xenia, Oh tornado in 1972, up close and personal-I know tornado warnings are NOTHING to smirk at. Ever.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

What about Mansfield? 3:28 PM PST

[sweetliberty]

How are things where you're at?

[Lucas1]

Lavinia, Tennessee reports of damage to houses from a tornado...

[SuziQ]

That Doppler Radar looks nasty! Hope y'all are keeping safe!

[Slip18]

Glad you're safe, Republic.

[2sheep]

>* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
...
>WHITEHOUSE

[Gemflint]

One of my younger cousins is trapped in his truck by downed power lines. Family, rescue squad and sherfiff are there waiting for the Utility company to show up and shut off the power.

16-y.o. kid was driving the truck when the pole blew over and the lines fell onto his truck. He's scared to death right now, hyperventilating...

[Marie Antoinette]

Here's a link to a radar loop that gives you 5 minute old information:

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/station.asp?ID=CLE19&type=loop

Stay safe everybody.

Mr.M

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

We were not to get hit until a little before 9 PM extreme NE youngstown area/ Pa. border and a storm is moving in now and one on the horizon.

[St. Clair Slim]

Tons of rain here in downtown Cleveland.

[joyful1]

Traficant's curse!

[rdb3]

Keep your eyes and ears open, cuz. Matter of fact, you may want to turn on your radio to WTAM and get offline now.

[BamaBlue]

For everybody in MS, AL, KY, TN and WV you may want to look at this. The NWS has issued a "PDS" Tornado Watch for the above areas. First time I've seen this.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/

Everybody take care tonight.

Bama

[b4its2late]

WOW.... that's enough to blow off the fake hair!

[MissHardihood]

Van Wert, Ohio Tornado

[Pyro7480]

That looks like at least F-3 damage. I hope no one was in the car when the tornado struck. God be with the poor souls of that town.

[Pyro7480]

"Particularly Dangerous Situation" tornado watch...hmmm, that's the first time I've seen that too. It must be a new feature after the OKC outbreak a few years back. It looks pretty bad folks, stay safe.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

PDS Tornado Watches have been around for a while. Usually reserved for a very widespread and/or long duration event.

Here's a meso discussion for Alabama as of 6:56 CST

POTENTIAL FOR LONG TRACK STRONG/VIOLENT TORNADOES EXISTS THIS EVENING. SINCE MOIST/UNSTABLE WARM SECTOR EXTENDS WELL INTO GEORGIA...THESE STORMS WILL BE WITHIN VERY FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY HOURS.

TWO SWATHS OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS WERE
EVIDENT. ONE EXTENDED FROM WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI TO NORTHWEST ALABAMA. THE SECOND WAS JUST AHEAD OF COLD FRONT FROM NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI INTO NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. LEADING SUPERCELL NOW ENTERING FAYETTE COUNTY ALABAMA UNDERWENT A SPLIT IN THE LAST HOUR...AND HAS TURNED MORE TO THE RIGHT AS A RESULT. STORM SHOULD TRACK ACROSS FAYETTE/WALKER COUNTIES AL THROUGH 0200Z AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CULLMAN/BLOUNT FROM 0200-0300Z.