MOUNT VERNON — Severe weather rolled through Knox County on Wednesday afternoon, bringing high winds, dropping temperatures and hail, primarily in the northern half of the county. Although there were scattered reports of funnel cloud sightings in the Fredericktown and Butler areas, “Nothing was confirmed,” according to Matt Sturgeon, Deputy Director of Knox County Emergency Management Agency.
A tornado watch was issued for Morrow and Knox counties by midafternoon, effective until 9 p.m.
“We usually get a few reports when a tornado watch is issued,” said Sturgeon. In cooperation with the National Weather Service, a statewide testing of tornado sirens was scheduled for yesterday, but many of them ended up being canceled. “Because there was potential, we didn’t want people to think [siren testing] was a false alarm. We thought it was the most prudent action to take.”
Sturgeon stated there were no reports of damage, although some reports did include instances of golf-ball sized hail. “The reports were kind of sporadic,” said Sturgeon.
With most of the reports coming from the Fredericktown area, one report from an individual at a high elevation near Fredericktown reported no problems. A report on WCMH4 Wednesday evening included a Brinkhaven resident sighting golf-ball sized hail as well.
