A warm front moved through northern Ohio on the evening of January 7th, allowing for an unseasonably warm day on January 8th with temperatures reaching the mid 50s by mid-morning. This allowed for thunderstorms to develop over north central Ohio by daybreak on the 8th, which produced widespread hail over the Cleveland and Akron metro areas. These storms continued east into Trumbull County where a rare January tornado formed. This EF-1 tornado damaged portions of Bazetta Township and the city of Cortland and moved over Mosquito Creek Lake. This tornado is the first January tornado in northern Ohio since January 5, 1997, when an F1 tornado hit portions of Wayne County. A second round of showers and thunderstorms developed over the region ahead of a cold front on the afternoon of the 8th. Widespread hail was observed with these thunderstorms, including several reports of hail one inch or greater in diameter. A couple of thunderstorms produced some wind damage in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.

Hail in LORAIN, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:20:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELYRIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There were several reports of quarter-sized hail in the Elyria area from trained spotters and social media. Quarter-sized hail was reported near the Lorain County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security building.

Hail in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:26:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: (CGF)CUYAHOGA CO ARP
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Half dollar sized hail was observed north of Cuyahoga County Airport.

Hail in LORAIN, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:30:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: LA GRANGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Quarter-sized hail was reported in the LaGrange area. This report was via a photo on social media.

Hail in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:51:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:51:00 (EST-5)
Location: STRONGSVILLE ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An NWS Employee and a member of the public reported one inch hail in Strongsville.

Hail in SANDUSKY, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 14:30:00 to 08-JAN-19 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: LINDSEY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported penny-sized hail on the Ohio Turnpike between mile markers 86 and 89.

Hail in SUMMIT, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:24:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:24:00 (EST-5)
Location: AKRON MAYFIELD ARPT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter observed penny-sized hail east of the intersection of Interstate 77 and Ohio State Route 241 in Green.

Hail in STARK, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 16:08:00 to 08-JAN-19 16:08:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported penny-sized hail and estimated a 50 mph wind gust in Massillon.

Hail in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:46:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:46:00 (EST-5)
Location: MIDDLEBURGH HGTS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to three-quarters of an inch in diameter was observed by a trained spotter in Brook Park.

Hail in LAKE, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:44:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLEASANT VLY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A social media user reported quarter-sized hail in Willoughby Hills.

Hail in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 16:10:00 to 08-JAN-19 16:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEACHWOOD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Penny-sized hail was reported in Beachwood. This report was submitted via a picture on social media.

Thunderstorm Wind in GEAUGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 16:22:00 to 08-JAN-19 16:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: RUSSELL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Geauga County Sheriff Dispatch reported several downed trees in the southern part of the county due to thunderstorm winds, including trees downed on Music Street in Russell Township, Quinn Road in Auburn Township, and Stone Road in Newbury Township.

Hail in HURON, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 08:12:00 to 08-JAN-19 08:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: FITCHVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to the size of pennies covered the ground about 3 miles northwest of New London.

Tornado in TRUMBULL, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 10:20:00 to 08-JAN-19 10:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAZETTA
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado touched down in the far northeast corner of Champion Township near the intersection of N Park Avenue and Airport Road NW. This tornado continued east along Everett Hull Road in Bazetta Township, where it brought down numerous trees and power lines, including near the Trumbull County Fairgrounds. The tornado emerged over Mosquito Creek Lake and continued moving east returning over land at Hillside Cemetery in Cortland. At the cemetery, a storage shed was destroyed, shingles were blown off a chapel roof, and 36 headstones were overturned. Dozens of trees and bushes were also knocked down and the cemetery did not reopen until mid-February 2019 due to storm damage. From Hillside Cemetery, the tornado continued east into Cortland where damage to buildings, vehicles, and trees was noted. The tornado lifted before it reached High Street (Ohio State Route 5). The tornado was on the ground for about 4.5 miles and had a maximum width of 75 yards.

Hail in SENECA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 14:49:00 to 08-JAN-19 14:49:00 (EST-5)
Location: FLAT ROCK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail in Flat Rock in northeast Seneca County.

Hail in LORAIN, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:20:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELYRIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:50:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEACHWOOD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

This hail report was a picture from Facebook.

Hail in STARK, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 16:10:00 to 08-JAN-19 16:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 20:26:00 to 08-JAN-19 20:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: (CGF)CUYAHOGA CO ARP
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in GEAUGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:48:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWBURY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees were blown down on Stone Road in Newbury Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in GEAUGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 16:25:00 to 08-JAN-19 16:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAINBRIDGE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A large tree was blown down on Quinn Road in Auburn Township.

Hail in SANDUSKY, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 14:50:00 to 08-JAN-19 14:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: BELLEVUE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail on the west side of Bellevue in Sandusky County.

Hail in GEAUGA, OHIO
From 08-JAN-19 15:50:00 to 08-JAN-19 15:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHARDON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Penny-sized hail was reported northwest of Chardon. This report was via a photo on social media.