F4 Xenia tornado strikes 15 years ago

An F4 tornado destroyed homes and businesses 15 years ago in Xenia along a several mile path.

The initial tornado touched down two miles southwest of the Greene County Airport at a golf course and continued northeast toward the city of Xenia around 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Several cars were thrown from the U.S. 35 bypass into ditches in the area of Upper Bellbrook Road and just north of the bypass, crops were scoured from a field, the NWS reported.

Several retail stores including a Walmart and Tire Discounters suffered significant damage in the tornado, and a line of 4-5 homes less than a half mile from the retail center appeared to suffer some of the worst damage.

Near the fairgrounds a business across the street was destroyed and four semi trailers near the business were picked up and scattered. One trailer was tossed over 400 yards onto the fairgrounds property, according to the weather service.

Additional homes were also impacted northeast of the fairgrounds and final evidence of tornado damage was found in a field a mile north of Central State University.

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