An EF-2 tornado tore across a remote stretch of Pike County early Thursday, ripping through the hills near Kincaid Springs and carving an 8.9-mile path along heavily forested ridgelines by Elm Grove. Survey teams clocked peak winds near 115 mph and found whole sections of hardwood forest snapped along a hillside, along with damaged outbuildings and downed transmission lines. Residents across southern Pike County woke to downed trees, scattered debris, and the buzz of utility crews starting damage assessments.
NWS Damage Survey Confirms EF-2 With 115 MPH Winds
In a damage survey, the National Weather Service in Wilmington confirmed the tornado as an EF-2 with estimated peak winds near 115 mph. The agency reported the twister tracked roughly 8.9 miles, reached a maximum width of about 250 yards, and occurred between about 4:05 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. EDT, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Surveyors Document Severe Tree And Structural Damage
Drone and ground imagery showed an entire 200–250‑yard‑wide swath of hardwoods snapped on the ridgeline west of Elm Grove. Survey crews also documented the collapse of outbuildings and barns, about 70% removal of a home's roof, and snapped large power transmission lines, as reported by WSYX.
Warnings, Response And What Residents Should Know
A tornado warning was in effect for parts of southern Ohio overnight. Around 4:12 a.m. EDT, radar showed a tornado-producing storm near Kincaid Springs with a debris signature, according to WSAZ. The National Weather Service said there were no fatalities or injuries and thanked the Pike County Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio EMA for assisting with the survey.
