CINCINNATI -- There's something about Nov. 17 here in the Tri-State. It is a day that has been quite the weather day across our area. Thursday's forecast features above-average warmth as temperatures surge into the low 70s this afternoon. We typically see high temperatures in the low to mid-50s this time of year. Thursday's forecast of warmer weather is pretty calm compared to the last few years in our communities.
Last year, the weather was pretty calm. We saw highs near 60 with a just a little bit of rain. Low temperatures only fell into the low 50s. No severe weather or winter weather was recorded. That was not the case in 2013 and 2014.
WCPO meteorologist Jennifer Ketchmark marvels at the snow on Nov. 17, 2014.
Let's go back to two years ago. Nov. 17, 2014, brought a record snowfall to Cincinnati. An early season snowstorm brought winter storm warnings to the area as the forecast for snow called for 4 to 6 inches through much of the area. CVG recorded 4.9 inches of snow after it initially started as rain, and that was and still is the record for Nov. 17 as far as the most snowfall for that day.
Now let's go back to three years ago. It was an entirely different story. Instead of wintry weather in the forecast, it was more like a May forecast. Severe thunderstorms were forecast to be pretty widespread, and pretty bad. Much of the area was under a major threat for severe thunderstorms.
The Storm Prediction Center had our area in a MODERATE and HIGH risk of severe thunderstorms, with a good chance for several tornadoes within that outlook area. In Cincinnati, winds tore through the metro area taking down trees and power lines. Wind gusts measured between 59 and 75 mph, which resulted in power outages and damaged homes and businesses.
While our area was spared from tornadoes, areas northwest of Indianapolis were not so lucky. Indiana saw its largest tornado outbreak in November (30 tornados) and the second largest outbreak in state history at that time during that severe weather day. Severe weather was observed in communities from Iowa and Missouri, all the way to the East Coast, as well as from northern Michigan all the way south to southern Tennessee.
