Tornado with 120 mph winds injures 2 in Northwest Ohio

PAULDING COUNTY, Ohio — Two people had minor injuries and multiple buildings were destroyed when a strong tornado touched down late Wednesday night in Northwest Ohio.

The tornado was one of at least three confirmed tornadoes that were part of a wave of severe weather that moved through the state late Wednesday and early Thursday. It also comes just days after four tornadoes touched down in Ohio.

In Paulding County, the EF-2 tornado touched down near Mandale at about 11:18 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana. It stayed on the ground for only four minutes, but covered 4½ miles and at one point cut a path 375 yards wide. It generated top winds of 120 mph.

The tornado flipped a “well-anchored” mobile home about 60 feet. Two of the three people inside had minor injuries, according to the Weather Service.

The tornado also destroyed a large barn and damaged several buildings in the town of Dupont. It also damaged several large corn silos.

About 15 minutes earlier, an EF-1 tornado touched down near Van Wert, Ohio, in Van Wert County, which borders Paulding County to the south. The NWS says the tornado stayed on the ground for nine minutes and traveled nearly 13 miles. It generated top winds of 95 mph.

The tornado destroyed barns and also caused damage to a deer farm, reports say. There were no reports of injuries.

In Southwest Ohio, an EF-0 tornado touched down at 1:29 a.m. Thursday in Fayette County, WBNS Channel 10 reports. The tornado, which had top winds of 85 mph, destroyed barns and also uprooted and damaged trees, WBNS reports.