A tornado tore through Clermont County on Tuesday, July 21, damaging at least one home and downing trees across Pierce Township. The National Weather Service officially confirmed the touchdown that evening after detecting a debris signature on radar.

The NWS spotted the debris signature around 3 p.m., indicating a tornado was on the ground in the county that includes Loveland and Milford. The agency issued formal confirmation at approximately 8:30 p.m., according to WLWT.

First responders were dispatched to multiple locations in Clermont County, including Pierce Township, where a home on Mott Road suffered roof damage and numerous trees blocked roads and yards, WLWT reported.

Power outages topped 10,000

Duke Energy reported more than 10,000 customers lost power across the Greater Cincinnati region during the storms, with many outages concentrated on Cincinnati's west side and in Clermont County, according to WLWT. By 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, the utility said power had been restored for most customers.

Resident describes tree crashing onto home

Denise Davis, a Clermont County resident, told WKRC on Tuesday that she rushed her grandchildren to the basement when the tornado warning sounded.

"The winds picked up, the lights were flickering and then I heard a real loud bang, which of course was the tree falling onto the house," Davis said.

She said everyone was in a safe position under the basement stairs when the tree struck. Davis told the station she didn't know what to do next after seeing the damage.

NWS survey still pending

The NWS Wilmington office said a full storm survey, including the tornado's official Enhanced Fujita (EF) rating, path length, and peak wind speed, is expected within days of the event. A radar-confirmed tornado was also observed in nearby Brown County, near Hamersville, but the NWS had not officially confirmed that touchdown as of Tuesday night.

The Storm Prediction Center had placed the entire Ohio Valley under an enhanced risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather on Tuesday, warning of damaging gusts and possible tornadoes.

How to report damage

Residents who sustained storm damage can report it to the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency. Those who see downed power lines should stay at least 35 feet away and call Duke Energy at 800-543-5599.