March of 2018 provided a weather pattern that seemed more like the first month of meteorological winter than the first month of meteorological spring. Extended stretches of below normal temperatures, as well as several accumulating snow events, yielded a very wintry feel through most of the month. Read the full summary here.
April 3, 2018 Will Be A day To Be Weather Aware and To Remember A Tragic Day 44 Years Ago.
Stay weather aware Tuesday in Cincinnati and the Ohio valley.
Many of us who have lived in the Ohio valley all our lives remember April 3 as the local poster child for what severe weather can do. April 3, 1974, saw the worst and most horrific tornado outbreak in history in Cincinnati, Read more about that here and here.
This year on April 3 thunderstorms associated with wind damage, large hail and a few tornadoes will be possible across parts of the Ohio Valley southwestward into the lower to mid Mississippi Valley and southern Plains on Tuesday. An enhanced threat for wind damage may occur across parts of the lower Ohio Valley.
April 3, 2018 Severe Outlook:
The map below is from 1974:
On April 3, 1974, there were 148 total tornadoes. There were 7 F5 tornadoes in that one day, the most ever by far in one day or even a single year*! In the Cincinnati area, one F5 leveled western suburbs, including parts of Saylor Park, Green Township, and Mack, killing 3 and injuring 210. Probably the strongest F5 made a direct hit on Xenia, Ohio, killing 37 and injuring 1,150, and laying waste to half of the town.
*In 2007, the EF-scale of tornado intensity replaced the F-scale used in 1971. The F-scale was developed by Dr. Theodore Fujita and implemented in 1971, just 3 years before the 1974 Superoutbreak. Dr. Fujita himself, along with then graduate student Dr. Greg Forbes (now the Weather Channel severe weather expert) did the damage surveys and analysis of the 1974 Superoutbreak. Over time, limitations were identified in the original F-scale and modifications were made based on input from damage surveys and expertise of structural engineers and expert in other fields. Therefore, we use a different measure of tornado intensity today than we did in 1974. For example, it is possible that a few of the tornadoes rated EF4 in the 2011 Tornado Super Outbreak in the south may have been rated F5 under the original F-scale.
Snow Tonight, No Foolin’!
Mostly On Natural Surfaces. Some Slick Driving Possible
From US National Weather Service Wilmington OH:
[7:35 AM] It may be April 1st, but this is no April fools joke. A mix of rain and snow will move into area this evening, eventually changing to wet snow for many locations north of the Ohio River. Several inches of wet accumulation are possible (mainly on grassy and elevated surfaces), particularly near the I-70 corridor. Although roads will be mainly wet, some slick spots may be possible on bridges and overpasses. For an official forecast for your area, please visit weather.gov/iln.
