Friday night storms cause Tornado Warnings across south-central Ohio

Severe storms late Friday night and early Saturday morning that brought rain across the area caused tornado warnings across the south-central part of Ohio and northern Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Based on preliminary damage reports and radar data, the NWS said it is believed tornadoes caused damage near Samantha in Highland County and near South Salem in Ross County.

The NWS will conduct storm damage surveys later today.

Overnight, the NWS received several reports of wind damage from the affected areas, especially branches and trees knocked down, as well as damage to structures.

The earliest warning was issued at 11:35 p.m. in Boone and Kenton counties in Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati, where the NWS said radar indicated rotation in a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.

That warning would end for Boone County five minutes later, and for Kenton County at 11:52 p.m.

As the storm continued north and east, the NWS issued a Tornado Warning in near Hillsboro, Greenfield and Leesburg in Highland County, Ohio at 12:52 a.m.

Another warning was issued at 1:29 a.m. for Ross County, which would expland to include Fairfield and Pickaway counties before first Ross, then Pickaway were removed from the warning area.

The warning for Fairfield County finally ended at 2:43 a.m.

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