LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio — The National Weather Service released more details about the EF3 tornado that killed three people in Logan County last week.
The NWS said the tornado was on the ground for more than 45 minutes, started in Auglaize County and ended in Logan County, with wind speeds reaching 155 mph.
The tornado killed three people and injured 27 total. The Logan County Sheriff's Office identified the victims as 81-year-old Marilyn Snapp, of Lakeview, 70-year-old Darla Williams, of Lakeview, and 69-year-old Neal Longfellow, of Orchard Island.
There were eight tornadoes across the state on the night of March 14, with one hitting Delaware and Licking counties.
Stats about the tornado
The NWS estimates that the tornado started at 7:29 p.m. just south of Wapakoneta and dissipated at 8:16 p.m. in West Mansfield.
Maximum wind speeds of the tornado hit 155 mph, just 10 mph short of being classified as an EF4. The tornado was also on the ground for about 31 miles with the maximum path width estimated to be about 1,000 yards.
Path of the tornado
According to a report from the NWS, the tornado started south of Wapakoneta in Auglaize County, about 85 miles northwest of Columbus.
The tornado's strength ranged from an EF2 to an EF3 as it moved southeast toward Indian Lake, damaging trees and homes along the way.
The report says the tornado hit Sante Fe as an EF2 and strengthened as hit approached Lakeview. The powerful storm produced significant damage in the area, beginning along Pine Street and Poplar Court. Multiple homes and well-built structures were destroyed with wind speeds estimated to be around 155 mph. NWS believes the tornado was nearly a mile wide at this point of the storm.
Damage continued southeast of Lakeview, mostly along US-33 and state Route 366 before the tornado cross a portion of Indian Lake and into Orchard Island. The tornado, believed to be a high EF2 at the time, destroyed a mobile home park.
The tornado moved to another section of Indian Lake where more roofs were ripped off, but most homes were not destroyed.
Moving southeast, the tornado weakened to an EF1 with damage being more sporadic and weaker across eastern Logan County. The NWS says it's unclear if this tornado ends in eastern Logan County or connects to a confirmed tornado in western Union County.