Here's what you need to know about tornado season in Ohio
Ohio set a record for tornadoes in 2024. There were 74 confirmed tornadoes that year, according to NWS Wilmington meteorologist Kristen Cassady, more than in any other year.
If you're still reeling from that year of severe weather, you may be eyeing your basement, just waiting for the tornado sirens to sound. If that's you, you should probably know when Ohio's tornado season is.
Here's what you need to know.
Ohio's tornado season is from March through May, according to Cassady.
That doesn't mean tornadoes only occur in those months. They can happen any time of the year, including January and February. Ohio also has a second severe weather season in October and November, according to Cassady.
Southwest and Central Ohio are more susceptible to tornadoes than other areas of the state. That's because these areas have more low-level moisture, which contributes to tornado formation, Cassady said.
One of the state's deadliest tornadoes in history, the 1974 Xenia F5 tornado, occurred in Southwest Ohio.
Tornadoes need atmospheric instability caused by warm, moist air near the ground, and cool, dry air up in the atmosphere, and wind shear to form, according to the National Weather Service.
The instability creates updrafts, which are also strengthened by wind shear, creating the rotation needed for twisters.
Tornadoes most commonly form out of supercells, which are large storms with strong updrafts, according to the NWS.
The National Weather Service issues three levels of tornado alerts: watch, warning and emergency.
A tornado watch is the lowest severity level and means tornadoes are possible. The conditions are there for possible tornadoes. Watches are usually large and can cover multiple counties or even states.
A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or is imminent based on weather radar in a small area. If a warning is issued for your area, you should seek shelter.
A tornado emergency indicates a tornado has touched down in a watch area, and damage has been confirmed. Immediately seek shelter.
Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com and at @NathanRHart on X and at nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is tornado season in Ohio?
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