Radar shows ‘tornado debris in the air’ near Middletown; storm spares most areas

Schools delayed dismissal across the area, with students hunkered down in hallways as dozens of rare February tornado warnings were issued along the storm’s northeasterly path through the region.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington reported a tornado was confirmed at 2:44 p.m. near Carlisle in Warren County, moving northeast at 45 mph. Tornadoes also were reported from multiple spotters at 2:48 p.m. in Germantown. A tornado was indicated by radar at 3:17 p.m. near New Carlisle in Clark County, and in Greene County at 3:26 p.m. near Cedarville and 3:28 p.m. over Jamestown, the NWS reported.

“Radar confirmed the tornado and showed “tornado debris in the air” in Madison Twp. near Middletown, the NWS said.

Meteorologists are still gathering damage reports from across the area and likely will have storm survey teams on the ground Tuesday.

The storm system that produced damaging winds and tornadoes also dropped hail across the area. Beavercreek and Tipp City reported pingpong-ball sized (1½-inch) hail; Oxford reported half-dollar sized (1¼-inch) hail; Yellow Springs reported quarter sized (1-inch) hail; and Kettering and Oakwood reported penny sized (¾-inch) hail, according to the weather service.

Today will be cloudy and then gradually become mostly sunny. It won’t be as warm with a high near 52 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 41 degrees.

Wednesday will be sunny and the warmest day of the week. The high temperature is expected to reach near 69 degrees.

The chance for rain returns Wednesday night, which will be mostly cloudy with a low around 42 degrees.

Thursday will be mostly sunny but not as warm with a high near 54 degrees. Rain arrives overnight and into the day on Friday. It will be colder with an overnight low around 36 degrees.

Friday will be rainy with a high near 49 degrees. It will be blustery Friday night with a chance of rain and snow.