The National Weather Service says the tornado that ripped through Brookville, Trotwood, Dayton and Riverside has been upgraded to an EF4.
The tornadoes were originally deemed EF3.
Characteristics of an EF4 tornado include extreme damage like homes being leveled and cars being tossed.
The NWS says the tornado had estimated maximum winds of 170 miles per hour.
The NWS determined that eight tornadoes ripped through Ohio late Memorial Day.
The areas that were hit were:
- EF4 across much of Montgomery County, including Trotwood across Beavercreek Township
- EF2 in NE Montgomery County south of Vandalia
- EF0 in Miami/Montgomey Counties near Phillipsburg
- EF0 southeast of Circleville OH (Pickaway County)
- EF1 south of Tarlton OH (Pickaway County)
- EF2 near Laurelville OH (Hocking County)
- EF3 in Celina, OH (Mercer County)
The NWS says 20 tornadoes blew through Ohio during a six-hour span late Memorial Day. To put this in perspective, Ohio averages 18 tornadoes over an entire year.
The worst of the tornadoes was the EF4 that hit Montgomery County.
Celina was also hit with a powerful EF3 tornado.
The Red Cross urges everyone to prepare for the risk of severe weather by having a go-kit ready and by always staying aware of the weather.
It is also important to always heed weather alarms and warnings, as officials say this may have limited deaths to one person during the tornadoes.