The Lake Erie Hurricane of 2016 (Sassmaster15)

On August 24, what would be one of the most devastating storms in Ohio history would develop and wreakhavoc for the millions of people who reside in northern Ohio. This storm would even be more destructive than the EF5 tornado that struck Xenia in 1974, and that was considered the most destructive storm in Ohio history until this moment.

Lake Erie has a reputation for producing some very strong thunderstorms in northern Ohio, which is why so many people living along the lakeshore have an acute "sixth sense" for when it comes to sensing trouble stirred up by the lake, and when this storm formed, it was no different.

TO BE FINISHED SOON.

Ohio
On August 24, a low-pressure system had moved eastward, out of Michigan, and arrived over the warm waters of Lake Erie. In Michigan, the low had produced strong winds and severe storms, so emerging over the lake allowed the system to gain strength and be more destructive in the future. Within a few days, the size of the system had almost tripled and winds were sustained at 85 MPH, however, the storm was stalled over Lake Erie, due to low upper-level winds and a high pressure system stalled over Catham-Kent, Quebec. This type of stalling behavior normally kills a storm, but, the warm, moist air over the lake allowed the system to continue strengthening. And strengthen it did. By September 2, the storm was relatively small in size but was deadlier than a Category 5 hurricane. The storm was still stalled near Kelleys Island, but fifteen-foot waves stirred up from the extremely low pressure and damaging winds pounded along the shoreline to Erie, PA, nearly 60 miles away from the islands, causing severe flooding. The next day, the storm started moving again, putting Kelleys Island under twenty feet of water. Later that night, the powerful storm made landfall in Sandusky, Ohio, home of the famed and legendary Cedar Point. However, what was supposed to be a day of fun turned into a day of terror when waves pounded the peninsula, causing much flooding and ground-level destruction. The 190 MPH winds were strong enough to twist and deform metal structures, and a few of Cedar Point's coasters suffered. At the precise moment a train on the Magnum XL-200 roller coaster had finished ascending the lift hill, a 200 MPH gust of wind blew the train straight off the track. The winds also blew down a section of support structure on the 310 FT tall Millennium Force roller coaster, collapsing a section of track on the ride. Finally, one of the Cedar Point's wooden roller coasters, the Mean Streak, which sits right on the beach, collapsed under the intense low-pressure and immense winds and waves from the storm. After this, a Day of Terror at Cedar Point was finished.

The next major target of the storm's fury was Cleveland, Ohio, a major city that sits on the coast of Lake Erie. Knowing the destruction that happened in Sandusky, residents of Cleveland prepared for the worst storm they have ever experienced. The storm hit, having weakened slightly over land, but left a fatal scar on Cleveland. Glass panes on many skyscrapers were blown out, raining sharp shards of glass down onto the streets below. Waves from the lake pounded along I-90, resulting in a complete shutdown of that highway and many others along a stretch of land starting at Sandusky and ending in Ashtabula. Many of the old homes in East Cleveland and in Parma suffered enormous damage, as the powerful winds ripped many right out of their foundations. Most of the stronger brick homes suffered as well; no windows seemed to survive, and roofs were ripped right off of most buildings. Trees were stripped of their leaves and many were completely de-barked. Power outages stretched from Tiffin to North Geneva. All in all, the storm totaled nearly $60 billion in damages and resulted in forty deaths in Cleveland alone.

The third major destination on this storm's march through northern Ohio was a large suburban city named Mentor, just several miles east of Cleveland but west of Painesville. The storm reached Mentor on September 4, having weakened so much it was now a Category 1 equivalent, with a raised pressure of 975 mbar and winds of 95 MPH. However, the storm was stronger than any other severe storm that Mentor experienced. Power was knocked out to the city for three days, most trees had lost giant limbs and roof shingles were peeled off of homes. A lower basin in the southern portion of the city, a rich development named Newell Creek, experienced rapid flash flooding from over 5 inches of rainfall in one day alone. The storm lasted well into the night, producing explosive power flashes in the horizon that dazzled the residents of the city. In the morning, the storm had caused quite a bit of damage. The Newell Creek development was now partially underwater, with the upper floors of the expensive homes sticking out above. Most neighborhoods were without power, and a tornado had ravaged Mentor-on-the-Lake, where a waterspout had been reported during daylight hours. This same waterspout is predicted to be the EF1 tornado that swept through the waterfront community. Yet, the storm was still going strong in the East.

On September 5, the storm had pounded through Painesville, Geneva, and Madison; causing much destruction and havoc, but the storm was continuing to weaken. Winds were still an incredible 85 MPH and the rain was torrential. Driving conditions were next to impossible, so a mandatory shutdown of all roads in Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties was issued. The storm, now referred to as a "hurricane" by some, struck Ashtabula on September 6, wreaking havoc for the many farmers and other people who resided in the rural community. Crop fields were wrecked by heavy winds and mud overflowed from the torrential rainfall. The clapboard houses in the area suffered greatly from the winds and were heavily damaged as a result. The storm left Ohio the same day, leaving the Governor to declare the stretch of land along the Lake Erie coastline to be declared a gigantic disaster area. Communities west of Cleveland suffered the most as the storm hit these areas at peak intensity, obliterating many homes and businesses, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and leaving thousands homeless. Communities east of Cleveland were struck by the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane, resulting in heavily damaged homes; eroded landscapes; and many lower basin areas underwater. However, there was hope for cities like Mentor and Willoughby because rebuilding was short because of how the communities came together in effort to restore their lives. Fortunately, communities east of Cleveland did not suffer as much damage as the West. Coming to reflect on the incident, communities east of Cleveland were only struck by 80-90 MPH winds, which seem to be nothing compared the storm's furious 190 MPH winds that struck the poor souls west of Cleveland. Because some referred to the intense storm as a "hurricane," they affectionately called it James.

Pennsylvania
After exiting Ohio, the rapidly weakening storm's final destination was in Erie, PA, before dying out completely. "Hurricane" James hit the large town on September 9, bringing gusts exceeding 60 MPH, but the main problem was the rain and hail. Yes, hail. A supercell thunderstorm had developed at the very Southwest tail edge of the storm, bringing some of the most catastrophic weather ever. Supercell thunderstorms are commonplace in Tornado Alley, but tend to be rarer in areas outside that region. The supercell was the source of baseball-sized hailstones that pounded the area, making fist-sized dents in cars and cracking windows to the point of shattering. A bystander was reportedly walking into work but was struck by a gigantic stone on the head, killing him before help could arrive. The supercell was also reported to have produced several funnel clouds in Ashtabula and Erie, resulting in a multitude of Tornado Watches and Warnings extending from Cuyahoga County, OH to Ashtabula County, OH. However, no official tornadoes were confirmed, and the storm dissipated September 10 after crossing the border into New York.