CLEVELAND — The state of Ohio has established a new record for the most tornadoes in a single year.
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's EF-0 tornado that touched down in Huron County was the 63rd that has been reported in Ohio this year, surpassing the previous high of 62 set back in 1992.
The tornado was reported to have touched down in Willard at 11:02 a.m. Its estimated peak wind was 80 miles per hour. No injuries were reported.
About 30% of Ohio's tornadoes happened in the first week of May when 19 twisters mostly hit southwestern and central Ohio. Another eight tornadoes struck Ohio on March 15. One of the tornadoes, a powerful EF3, killed three people in Logan County.
On average, Ohio sees 19 tornadoes a year. Since the 1990s, the average number of tornadoes has almost doubled, and this year we’ve seen more in the spring than any other year on record.
For tornadoes to form, the atmosphere has to be warm and humid – conditions becoming increasingly common because of climate change.
Scientists have noticed an eastward shift in "Tornado Alley" which could be impacting the Buckeye State as evidenced by three record-breaking tornado seasons in Ohio in the last 15 years.