Ohio’s 2024 tornado season started early.
On Feb. 28, 2024, nine tornados tore through central and southwest Ohio. On March 14, eight tornados moved through the Columbus area and 11 Ohio counties. Three people died when one of those tornados struck a trailer park near Indian Lake, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency.
It marked the worst tornado season in recorded history.
The state saw 74 tornados, breaking the previous record of 62 tornadoes, set in 1992. Three people died, and almost 175 homes were destroyed.
Meteorologists said Ohio’s peak tornado season is from late March to early June, but February tornados aren’t unheard of — Ohio saw some in 2023 as well.
Will 2025 be another big year for tornadoes in Ohio?
In Ohio, tornado season peaks between April and June, according to the National Weather Service.
Chris Hogue, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, says they can form any time of the year under the right conditions.
“You’re never really out of the woods or safe from tornado season,” Hogue said.
Unlike hurricanes, which form one trackable storm due to numerous climate and meteorological variables, it’s much more challenging to determine which of the hundreds of thunderstorms each year will result in a severe tornado.
Hogue said that storms will move through the Columbus area Tuesday night into Wednesday morning could spawn some tornado activity due to warm temperatures and strong winds.
“You could have below-average temperatures and below-average rainfall, but you could have one big storm that produces big problems,” Hogue said.
Hogue said at the start of tornado season, residents should make sure they have plans for storms before they happen and pay close attention to weather alerts and forecasts.
bagallion@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio tornado season started early last year—here’s a look back at 2024
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