The severe wind outbreak of July 18, 2012

325 wind reportsPennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and 26 more states

325 damaging wind reports across 29 states between 9:45 AM and 12:00 AM the next day CDT, 4 of them 65 knots (75 mph) or stronger; the strongest measured gust was 81 mph in Lake County, IN. 141 hail reports and 2 tornadoes the same day.

Watch the day unfold

Severe wind day · July 18, 2012

How the day unfolded

Every damaging wind report of the day at its logged time, with the day's hail reports and tornadoes, and the counties they reached.

About this replay

Central time—Historical replay — logged report times

Wind reports—of 325 that day

Strongest gust—measured, so far

Largest hail—so far

The day’s milestones

Wind reportsLarger and brighter with speed; filled when measured, a ring when estimated

Hail and tornadoesHail reports as diamonds; the day's tornado paths in green

Counties reportingLit at their first report, brighter with a 65-knot gust or 2-inch hail

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database (wind, hail and tornado reports with their logged times and places). Each report is a damage or measurement report, not a separate storm; several can describe one gust front. Tornado paths are drawn at a typical forward speed of 35 mph. Times are Central Daylight Time.

The day in numbers

Wind reports: 325; on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
75 mph or more: 4; 1 of 86 mph (75 knots) or more
Strongest measured gust: 81 mph; 70 knots, Lake County, IN
Measured: 20; reports with an instrument reading; the rest are estimates from damage
Killed by wind: 0; 6 injured
Counties reporting: 186; in 29 states

Hour by hour

Damaging wind reports in each hour, Central Daylight Time.

The strongest winds

The 100 strongest reports with a speed. Measured gusts come from an instrument; estimated speeds are judged from damage.

Strongest wind reports, July 18, 2012

1:45 PM	Fairfield County CT	100 mph	87	Estimated
10:33 PM	Lake County IN	81 mph	70	Measured
5:00 PM	Middlesex County MA	81 mph	70	Estimated
5:50 PM	Sauk County WI	81 mph	70	Estimated
4:47 PM	Crawford County WI	72 mph	63	Measured
6:22 PM	Geary County KS	72 mph	63	Measured
11:54 PM	St. Joseph County IN	72 mph	63	Measured
6:35 PM	Dane County WI	71 mph	62	Measured
2:40 PM	Nassau County NY	70 mph	61	Estimated
3:15 PM	New London County CT	70 mph	61	Estimated
6:22 PM	Geary County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
6:30 PM	Geary County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
7:30 PM	Doniphan County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
7:39 PM	Ottawa County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
7:57 PM	Ogle County IL	70 mph	61	Estimated
8:00 PM	Bullitt County KY	70 mph	61	Estimated
8:00 PM	Ottawa County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
8:05 PM	Nelson County KY	70 mph	61	Estimated
8:32 PM	Ottawa County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
8:32 PM	Ottawa County KS	70 mph	61	Estimated
9:25 PM	Cook County IL	70 mph	61	Estimated
10:43 PM	Lake County IN	70 mph	61	Estimated
2:29 PM	Cerro Gordo County IA	66 mph	57	Estimated
1:15 PM	Westchester County NY	64 mph	56	Measured
4:01 PM	Winneshiek County IA	64 mph	56	Measured
5:35 PM	Brevard County FL	64 mph	56	Measured
12:46 PM	Frederick County VA	64 mph	56	Estimated
12:50 PM	Shenandoah County VA	64 mph	56	Estimated
5:42 PM	Iowa County WI	64 mph	56	Estimated
5:51 PM	Iowa County WI	64 mph	56	Estimated
5:54 PM	Rock County WI	64 mph	56	Estimated
5:56 PM	Shenandoah County VA	64 mph	56	Estimated
6:20 PM	Pendleton County WV	64 mph	56	Estimated
6:45 PM	Calloway County KY	64 mph	56	Estimated
8:06 PM	Winnebago County IL	64 mph	56	Estimated
8:11 PM	Racine County WI	64 mph	56	Estimated
8:50 PM	Platte County MO	64 mph	56	Estimated
9:32 PM	Cook County IL	64 mph	56	Estimated
10:23 PM	Kane County IL	64 mph	56	Estimated
10:40 PM	Lake County IN	64 mph	56	Estimated
1:35 PM	Hartford County CT	63 mph	55	Measured
3:35 PM	Hamilton County OH	63 mph	55	Measured
8:00 PM	Spencer County IN	63 mph	55	Measured
1:45 PM	Pulaski County KY	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:00 PM	Harrison County MS	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:08 PM	Campbell County KY	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:20 PM	Bracken County KY	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:35 PM	Montgomery County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:44 PM	Grant County KY	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:46 PM	Columbia County GA	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:48 PM	Buckingham County VA	63 mph	55	Estimated
4:59 PM	Columbia County GA	63 mph	55	Estimated
5:15 PM	Montgomery County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
5:43 PM	Dickson County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
5:47 PM	Murray County GA	63 mph	55	Estimated
6:00 PM	Humphreys County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
6:20 PM	Davidson County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
6:20 PM	Davidson County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
6:25 PM	Humphreys County TN	63 mph	55	Estimated
7:43 PM	Halifax County VA	63 mph	55	Estimated
7:58 PM	Winnebago County IL	63 mph	55	Estimated
7:58 PM	Winnebago County IL	63 mph	55	Estimated
8:20 PM	Winnebago County IL	63 mph	55	Estimated
9:12 PM	Kane County IL	63 mph	55	Estimated
11:15 PM	LaPorte County IN	63 mph	55	Estimated
11:35 PM	LaPorte County IN	63 mph	55	Estimated
11:55 PM	St. Joseph County IN	63 mph	55	Estimated
12:00 AM	St. Joseph County IN	63 mph	55	Estimated
12:00 AM	St. Joseph County IN	63 mph	55	Estimated
5:37 PM	Kent County DE	62 mph	54	Measured
7:12 PM	Green County WI	61 mph	53	Measured
5:41 PM	Sauk County WI	60 mph	52	Measured
9:15 PM	Kane County IL	60 mph	52	Measured
11:21 PM	LaPorte County IN	60 mph	52	Measured
11:30 AM	Augusta County VA	60 mph	52	Estimated
12:15 PM	Rockingham County VA	60 mph	52	Estimated
12:19 PM	Frederick County VA	60 mph	52	Estimated
12:25 PM	Orange County NY	60 mph	52	Estimated
12:40 PM	Nassau County NY	60 mph	52	Estimated
12:43 PM	Shenandoah County VA	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:00 PM	Hardy County WV	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:10 PM	Sussex County NJ	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:16 PM	Marion County IN	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:26 PM	Hardy County WV	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:28 PM	Frederick County VA	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:29 PM	Bergen County NJ	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:44 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:45 PM	Fairfield County CT	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:45 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:46 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:46 PM	Middlesex County NJ	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:49 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
1:52 PM	Berkeley County WV	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:00 PM	Fairfield County CT	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:10 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:13 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:15 PM	Passaic County NJ	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:20 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:23 PM	New London County CT	60 mph	52	Estimated
2:24 PM	Washington County MD	60 mph	52	Estimated

By state

Severe weather reports by state, July 18, 2012

Pennsylvania	39	—	13	1.75
Ohio	29	63 mph	13	1.25
Kentucky	29	—	4	1.75
West Virginia	23	—	8	1.00
Maryland	22	59 mph	0	—
Indiana	19	81 mph	5	1.00
Virginia	18	—	2	1.75
Illinois	16	60 mph	2	0.88
Wisconsin	15	72 mph	2	2.00
Tennessee	11	—	1	1.75
Alabama	11	—	0	—
Kansas	10	72 mph	6	1.00
Massachusetts	9	—	34	2.00
New Jersey	9	—	8	1.00
Georgia	9	—	0	—
Connecticut	8	63 mph	10	1.75
Iowa	8	64 mph	2	1.75
New York	7	64 mph	8	1.00
North Carolina	5	—	1	1.00
South Carolina	5	—	1	1.00
Mississippi	5	—	0	—
Minnesota	3	—	3	3.00
Delaware	3	62 mph	0	—
Nebraska	2	58 mph	4	1.75
Rhode Island	2	—	4	2.00
Texas	2	—	3	1.75
District of Columbia	2	—	0	—
Florida	2	64 mph	0	—
Missouri	2	—	0	—
Oregon	0	—	7	2.00

Counties with the most wind reports

Washington CountyMD · 9 reports
Westmoreland CountyPA · 8 reports
Limestone CountyAL · 7 reports
Brooke CountyWV · 5 reports
Winneshiek CountyIA · 5 reports
Ottawa CountyKS · 5 reports
Bristol CountyMA · 5 reports
Winnebago CountyIL · 4 reports
St. Joseph CountyIN · 4 reports
Kane CountyIL · 4 reports

Hail and tornadoes that day

141 hail reports, 6 of 2 inches or more; 2 tornadoes.

Largest hail, July 18, 2012

12:58 PM	Dodge County MN	3.00
2:18 PM	Providence County RI	2.00
2:40 PM	Bristol County MA	2.00
3:30 PM	Bristol County MA	2.00
5:50 PM	Rock County WI	2.00
8:40 PM	Union County OR	2.00
1:00 PM	Dauphin County PA	1.75
1:04 PM	Middlesex County MA	1.75
1:05 PM	Middlesex County MA	1.75
1:44 PM	Middlesex County MA	1.75
1:45 PM	York County PA	1.75
1:50 PM	Windham County CT	1.75
2:00 PM	Windham County CT	1.75
2:00 PM	Windham County CT	1.75
2:02 PM	Providence County RI	1.75
2:13 PM	Worcester County MA	1.75
2:15 PM	Providence County RI	1.75
2:27 PM	Westmoreland County PA	1.75
2:57 PM	Bristol County MA	1.75
3:28 PM	Winneshiek County IA	1.75
3:44 PM	Bristol County MA	1.75
4:53 PM	Buckingham County VA	1.75
5:43 PM	Uvalde County TX	1.75
5:50 PM	Uvalde County TX	1.75
6:14 PM	Dickson County TN	1.75
6:30 PM	Union County OR	1.75
6:47 PM	Calloway County KY	1.75
7:57 PM	Dawson County NE	1.75
1:15 PM	Essex County MA	1.50
1:26 PM	Worcester County MA	1.50
3:24 PM	Chickasaw County IA	1.50
5:34 PM	Uvalde County TX	1.50
6:25 PM	Union County OR	1.50
1:00 PM	Essex County MA	1.38
12:30 PM	Perry County PA	1.25
1:00 PM	Cumberland County PA	1.25
1:03 PM	Essex County MA	1.25
1:12 PM	Suffolk County MA	1.25
1:15 PM	Essex County MA	1.25
3:15 PM	Hamilton County OH	1.25
6:50 PM	Union County OR	1.25
11:35 AM	Westchester County NY	1.00
12:14 PM	Beaver County PA	1.00
12:23 PM	Middlesex County MA	1.00
12:29 PM	Frederick County VA	1.00
12:31 PM	Huntingdon County PA	1.00
12:53 PM	Allen County IN	1.00
1:08 PM	Dutchess County NY	1.00
1:10 PM	Essex County MA	1.00
1:14 PM	Essex County MA	1.00

EF0 tornado2:42 PM CDT
EF0 tornado3:00 PM CDT

2012 · On this date in other years · The biggest severe wind days

A report is a single damage or measurement report to the National Weather Service. Several reports can describe one gust front, so reports are not storms.
Reporting has grown with population, spotter networks and the internet, so counts from different decades are not directly comparable.
Thunderstorm wind reports start at 50 knots (58 mph). SPC began flagging measured against estimated speeds in 2006; earlier reports are shown as estimated.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1955 to 2025. A day is SPC’s calendar date in Central Standard Time; a severe wind day here has 300 or more damaging wind reports, or 15 or more of 75 knots (86 mph) or more.