Tornado warnings issued around 9:30 p.m. for parts of central Ohio expired at 10:15 p.m., but a severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service remains in effect until 11:15 p.m. for areas east of Columbus.
At 10 p.m., in a post on X, the National Weather Service in Wilmington said “the line of storms with embedded circulations will move through central OH and the Columbus metro area through the next 60-90 minutes. Strong/damaging straight-line winds on the order of 60+ MPH remain the primary threat. Some brief tornado potential also exists.”
An earlier watch, issued at 9:10 p.m. Sunday, includes Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties along with other counties in south central Ohio and northern Kentucky. It is in effect until 1 a.m. Monday.
The storms are part of a band of severe weather that spread across the South and Midwest Sunday from the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys. The storms are expected to move on to the East Coast on Monday.
The NWS said storms could include large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and frequent lightning with heavy rainfall.
What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a warning?
The National Weather Service issues three levels of tornado alerts: watch, warning and emergency.
A tornado watch is the lowest level of severity and means tornadoes are possible. The conditions are there for possible tornadoes. Watches are usually large and can cover multiple counties or even states.
A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or is imminent based on weather radar in a small area. If a warning is issued for your area, you should seek shelter.
A tornado emergency indicates a tornado has touched down in a watch area and damage has been confirmed. Immediately seek shelter.
What to do during a tornado warning
A tornado warning means there is imminent danger. You should seek shelter in a sturdy building on the lowest floor, preferably a basement. Avoid windows.
If you are outside, seek the closest available shelter.
How to track power outages in central Ohio
AEP Ohio serves Columbus and most of Eastern and Southern Ohio. Customers can view its power outage map here. You can report a power outage online or by calling 800-672-2231.
As of 9:35 p.m., AEP Ohio was reporting 10,000 customers without power, including 7,183 in Franklin County and 2,300 in Delaware County. South Central Power had 400 customers out in Pickerington.
Columbus Division of Power customers can view an outage map here. DOP customers are encouraged to report outages not shown on the map by calling 614-645-7627.
FirstEnergy and its affiliates cover parts of Central Ohio to the north and west of Columbus. You can check FirstEnergy’s power outage map here. You can also report an outage online here or by phone at 888-544-4877.
This story has been updated to add new information. It will continue to be updated.
