COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Central Ohio experienced another round of strong storms last Wednesday, which came with heavy rain, large hail, damaging winds and several tornadoes.

Five tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service in Ohio, raising the season total to 35 — far more than have been previously recorded in the first four months of the year. Active storm days produced nine tornadoes on Feb. 28 and March 14, 11 tornadoes on April 2, and one on March 5.

The average number of tornadoes in Ohio during an entire year is 22. Last year produced a near-record number of tornadoes (57).

Counties north of the Columbus area were under tornado warnings Wednesday between 4 and 5 p.m. At the time, Bucyrus police confirmed rotation on the ground that caused significant damage to powerlines and trees.

Fifteen minutes after a tornado touched down at Bucyrus, a weak EF0 storm (70 mph) came down in eastern Champaign County north of U.S. 36, causing minor damage to roofs and outbuildings.

As the growing line of strong storms plowed through the Columbus area at rush hour, northern Franklin and southern Delaware counties were under a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:15 p.m., along with portions of Madison and Union counties.

A tornado warning was briefly issued for Licking County for rotation that developed in southeastern Delaware County. An EF1 tornado, with 90 mph winds, was later confirmed along Fancher Road that damaged several homes along a path of a little less than a mile.

The storms also produced quarter-sized hail in northern and eastern parts of Franklin County, and between Circleville and Lancaster. Winds gusted to 65 mph at Marion and 59 mph, at Ohio State University Airport in northwest Columbus with the arrival of the strong cluster of storms.

Five tornadoes confirmed in Ohio

A Cleveland NWS storm survey reported that a tornado touched down on the southwest side of Bucyrus at 4:06 p.m., then strengthened as it moved quickly northeast, with estimated maximum winds reaching 110 mph.

“Several large hardwood trees were uprooted, a garage was destroyed, a small trailer rolled, three chimneys were blown down, several large trees were uprooted, and a shed was destroyed near the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Wise Street,” according to the report.

A house was pushed off its foundation and the post office had roof damage. In the downtown area, the roof of the Family Dollar store partially collapsed, and the wall of an abandoned plant caved in.

Bucyrus Police Chief R. Thomas Walker said areas lost power and residents were forced to seek shelter due to high winds, powerful rain and flying debris. Emergency crews were dispatched to assist residents after multiple reports of downed power wires, fallen trees and property damage. No injuries were reported.

The field survey revealed that the tornado traveled 3.48 miles, with a path width of 100 yards.

Tornadoes were also confirmed in northeastern Ohio in Portage County at Windham (EF1) and Trumbull County at Champion Heights (EF0) during the early evening before the storm line weakened.

This is the second year in a row that Ohio has witnessed significant tornado events in late February and early March, which is unprecedented. In 2023, tornadoes were recorded on Feb. 27 (5) and March 3 (4).

The likely reason for this year’s historic early-season activity is linked to an unusually warm winter, mild ground temperatures, virtually no ice on the Great Lakes (record low extent in the satellite era), and abnormally warm water in the Gulf of Mexico.

All of these ingredients supported unstable air and storm energy farther north aided by low-level southerly winds, coupled with a strong jet stream carrying El Niño-fueled Pacific storm systems eastward, which amplified the early-starting severe weather season in Ohio and Midwest.