Tornado touches down at Leesville Lake

By Carol McIntire
Editor
A tornado that lasted just under a minute destroyed boats and boat docks at Leesville Lake May 17.
Carroll County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Tom Cottis said the tornado began developing at 1:33.55 p.m. and lifted and dissipated less than a minute later.
“Security camera footage from South Fork Marina shows the tornado beginning to develop over Leesville Lake in Orange Twp. south of South Fork Marina,” Cottis told The Messemger. “It started out over the water, hooked back inland and picked up six kayaks, docks and two pontoon boats. The pontoons were flipped upside down.”
Fifty-six seconds later, the tornado lifted near pine trees across the lake and dissipated.
“This one came out of the blue,” Cottis said, noting there were no tornado warnings or watches given as it was not picked up on weather radar.
“Our office was notified by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District at 2:28 p.m. Cottis said. “Assistant Director Dustin Lucas and I immediately responded. Dustin and a MWCD ranger took off to view the damage.”
Cottis is awaiting word from National Weather Service on the strength and speed of the tornado, but he expects it to be in the EFO, EF1 category.
It is the first tornado reported in Carroll County this year.