Tornado Season Starts In March In Ohio: What To Know

Genesis 1 opens with “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth” and ultimately states, “and it was good.” All my life I have enjoyed learning, watching, and seeing the wonders of God’s creation. I’m condensing everything I’d love to share into a short article that prepares us as we come into the spring transition weather patterns of Ohio and the Midwest. We need to be mindful of the weather and the world around us for our own safety.

I highly recommend you take a moment to pull out a map or pull one up on your phone and look at it. Look at both a map of the United States and a global map that identifies the Tradewinds and wind patterns. These winds switch from season to season and depending on where you live will impact your weather.

Definitions

Lion — unsettled, harsh, cold, windy wintery

Lamb — more stable, calmer, gentler, warmer

Polar Jet Stream — northern arctic colder air pushing south

Subtropical Jet Stream — southern tropic warmer moist air pushing north

Patterns

The fluctuation between the movement of the jet streams vying for dominance determines whether the month of March comes in like a Lion or a Lamb. During the winter months the Polar Jet Stream typically can push into the southern portions of the United States. As spring unfolds, the Subtropical Jet Stream begins to push north. The push and pull between both of these streams create unstable weather.

The Farmers’ Almanac (FA) was first published in the 1790s to inform people and assist in predicting weather for agricultural planning. The FA provided estimated frost dates and planting windows, along with historical weather records. Based upon repeated FA observations of “stormy early Marches and milder late Marches,” an easy memorable slogan emerged, “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb.”

March and Tornado Season

March is only the beginning of the tornado season. Tornado peak activity is May and June. The tornado season is transient to various parts of the United States depending on the dip and rise of the Jet Streams mentioned earlier. March tornadoes often occur in late afternoon or evening, are fast moving, and frequently occur in lines of storms that span the conflicting fronts.

Tornado season often begins in the southern plains and deep south and expands northward as the Polar Jet Stream recedes north and the upward drift of the Subtropical Jet Stream. Tornado season is characterized by strong frontal systems, deep low-pressure systems, powerful wind events, and severe thunderstorms.

Average Tornado Activity in Ohio

Ohio averages 20 tornadoes a year. Prior to 2007 tornadoes were measured by an F-Scale (Fujita). Since 2007, there has been a modification and the scale is now known as the EF-Scale (Enhanced Fujita). Most Ohio tornadoes are weak to moderate (EF0-EF1). There are some strong tornadoes (EF2-EF3), while violent tornadoes (EF4-EF5) are rare, but devastatingly historic. Western and Central Ohio typically have a higher tornado frequency west of the I-71 corridor. The flatter terrain and proximity to advancing warm fronts creates this incubator for tornado development.

Top 5 Historical Tornadoes in Ohio

1. 1974 Xenia Tornado — Xenia & Surrounding Areas

April 3, 1974

F5

34 people died (including 2 Ohio Air National Guardsmen who died in a fire during disaster assistance), 1,150 were injured, and the tornado produced widespread destruction.

This tornado was part of the infamous 1974 Super Outbreak.

2. 1924 Lorain and Sandusky Tornado — Northern Ohio

June 28, 1924

F4

85 people died and this tornado is the deadliest single tornado in Ohio history.

3. 1985 Niles and Wheatland Tornado — Northeastern Ohio & Western Pennsylvania

May 31, 1985

F5

18 people died with 310 people injured.

4. 2019 Dayton Tornado — Dayton Area

May 27, 2019

EF4

Over 160 people were injured as well as massive home and infrastructure damage.

5. 2010 Millbury Tornado — Northwest Ohio

June 5, 2010

EF4

7 people died with heavy damage in Wood County.

5 Ways to Prepare

Ohio storms move fast and you may have only minutes to respond once a warning is issued. Many tornadoes in Ohio occur in late afternoon and evening, and therefore it is important to have alerts that can wake you if you are sleeping.

1. Know Your Safe Place Before the Warning

• Basement (best option)
• If no basement: small interior room on the lowest level
• Stay away from windows
• Avoid mobile homes during warning

2. Have Multiple Ways to Receive Warnings

• A NOAA weather radio
• Emergency alerts enabled on your smartphone
• Local TV or radio broadcasts
• Weather apps with push notifications

3. Prepare a Tornado Emergency Kit

• Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Phone charger or battery pack
• First aid kit
• Bottled water
• Sturdy shoes (debris injuries are common)
• Medications and important documents

4. Be Aware of Ohio’s Seasonal Pattern

• Warm humid air masses
• Strong winds forecasted
• Enhanced or moderate risk warnings

5. Strengthen Home & Family Preparedness

• Secure loose outdoor items
• Review insurance coverage (home and auto)
• Practice a family tornado drill
• Make sure children understand where to go
• Plan for pets

We need to be aware of the weather threats, make preparations, but NOT be in FEAR! Place God’s word in your heart. God wants us to have knowledge and be aware of our surroundings because without that Hosea 4:6a states, ”My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” The Bible speaks against us having fear in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Let’s pray: “Dear God, help us be aware of the upcoming threats while simultaneously believing you have provided knowledge to increase our safety. But, most of all, we pray for your continued protection that covers us as we depend upon Psalm 91 and Psalm 23. You are our Great Shepherd and our Hiding Place. AMEN!”