JEFFERSONVILLE, Ohio — A tornado touched down in Fayette County late Sunday night, leaving a trail of destruction but no reported injuries or fatalities, the National Weather Service confirmed Monday.
The twister, classified as an EF1 with estimated peak winds of 90 miles-per-hour, struck near Jeffersonville, carving a 3.91-mile path and reaching a maximum width of 250 yards. The National Weather Service in Wilmington conducted a damage survey, pinpointing the tornado’s start at 9:35 p.m. EDT, about 2 miles west of Jeffersonville, and its dissipation four minutes later, just east of the town near Interstate 71.
The tornado first formed along State Route 734, east of West Lancaster Road NW, where it caused minor tree damage. It intensified as it crossed Jeffersonville-West Lancaster Road, destroying one outbuilding and stripping significant roofing from two others. Several hardwood trees were snapped, and debris was scattered across fields for more than half a mile. Near the Jefferson Industrial Park, power poles were damaged, and a service station lost metal roof panels. The storm’s final blow came at Jefferson Crossing, where numerous RVs were flipped at a local RV business before the tornado dissipated.
It ripped away the town’s “Welcome to Jeffersonville” painting.
“We’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” said Fayette County Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth. “The quick response from our community and the fact that no one was hurt is what matters most.”
The EF1 rating places the tornado in the second tier of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which ranges from EF0 (65-85 mph) to EF5 (over 200 mph). Winds between 86 and 110 mph are typical of EF1 storms, capable of causing moderate damage to structures and vegetation.
The NWS noted that the survey results are preliminary and could be revised in the agency’s final Storm Data report. The Wilmington office thanked Fayette County’s emergency crews, particularly the Jefferson Township Fire Department for their support in assessing the damage.
Cleanup efforts began Monday, with local officials urging caution around downed power lines and debris. The tornado was part of a broader weather system that swept through the Midwest over the weekend.