The National Weather Service confirmed on Monday that a tornado touched down Saturday night north of St. Paris in Champaign County during severe storms that moved through the area.
The NWS says the tornado was confirmed based on video evidence and damage reports. Additional information on the tornado’s strength and other details is still pending.
The tornado warning for Champaign County was issued Saturday night as a strong storm moved east along Route 36 through the St. Paris area and toward Urbana. Residents reported seeing funnel clouds, while videos and photos from the area captured signs of rotation.
The storm continued through Urbana and north of Mechanicsburg before moving out of the county, with the tornado warning canceled around 9:23 p.m. on Saturday.
The NWS noted that this confirmation applies to Saturday’s storm. Officials are still evaluating Tuesday’s events and continue to collect data and work with local partners as that investigation continues.
