INDIANAPOLIS — At least five tornadoes have been confirmed in southern Indiana from Wednesday night and Thursday morning’s severe storms, leading to at least at least one injury, officials say.
The tornadoes in Jackson and Monroe counties have not been ranked on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale as of Thursday morning; the National Weather Service says it will have survey crews in Clay, Franklin, Jackson, Morgan, Monroe, Scott and Vigo counties throughout Thursday.
🌪️ The EF-1 tornado that went through Vigo and Clay counties hit about 9:07 p.m. Wednesday and was on the ground for about 6.64 miles for 10 minutes. Winds hit 110 mph, and the tornado’s maximum width was about the size of three football fields. No one was injured.
The survey said the tornado began in Vigo County, south of Riley, impacting mostly trees along East Dallas Drive before crossing into Clay County and doing the most significant damage of the path at two residences on County Road 200 South. Both homes had their roofs completely lifted and blown away, with a garage also destroyed.
Several outbuildings were also destroyed or damaged, along with tree damage across the properties. There was additional tree and barn damage farther east along County Road 200 South, with another concentrated area of damage along a home along County Road 425 West.
A home had a 100-year old brick barn partially destroyed, along with tree damage on the property. As the tornado continued to the east, it mostly impacted a grove of trees, with another home impacted on County Road 200 South west of County Road 250 West. The tornado then lifted just to the west of 250 West.
🌪️ A EF-2 tornado that was up to nearly a half-mile wide with winds up to 130 mph went through Owen, Monroe and Morgan counties from 9:44-10:07 p.m. Wednesday. One person was hurt in that tornado that traveled 15.35 miles, hitting homes in the Gosport area.
The survey said the rotation in the storm began to strengthen as it approached U.S. 231, and the tornado touched down just east of U.S. 231, where sporadic tree damage was noted with some larger limbs knocked down and a few upper trunks of trees snapped. The tornado crossed the White River and continued to strengthen. Numerous trees were uprooted, and large trunks of trees snapped along Macville Road in Owen County. Some of the trees fell on a house on Macville Road.
The surveyor wrote that the tornado continued east into Morgan County with tree damage along County Line Road. Further east along North Texas Ridge Road, the roof of a single-story building was removed and blown into a field along with two garages that were destroyed. The amount of tree damage increased further to the east, with damage along Moon Road and Brighton Road. Two houses along Brighton Road had portions of the roof panels removed. A metal garage in the same area had a quarter of the roof pulled back. The tornado strengthened further as it approached Bowman Road, where a house with a large attached barn-garage was damaged. The garage was destroyed, and large portions of the roof were removed on the house.
Further, the surveyor wrote, additional damage to houses, outbuildings, and trees was found along Mount Pleasant Road. Some of the most widespread and strongest tree damage was found farther to the east along Buskirk Road, where large swaths of trees were either snapped, uprooted or debarked.
A mobile home along Buskirk Road was destroyed, with all debris blown east. The tornado continued eastward over Interstate 69 where continued widespread tree damage was observed.
“We had to end the survey at the entrance of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest at the intersection of Old State Road 37 and Forest Road where the amount of tree damage prevented the survey team from going any farther. The tornado continued farther east, but we will need to use drone footage and satellite imagery to be able to find the actual ending point of the tornado.”
🌪️ An EF-1 tornado that was up to 325 yards wide hit about 9 miles north-northwest of Brownstown in Jackson County from 12:03-12:14 a.m. Thursday. Based on the damage to homes and snapped trees, the survey team estimated peak winds were up to 110 mph. No one was injured.
The survey said the tornado began northwest of Freetown in Jackson County, impacting mostly heavily wooded areas and a few homes. The homes sustained minor damage, while a pole barn was destroyed as a tree fell onto it. The tornado continued northeastward, causing damage to several homes along State Road 135. One of the homes sustained roof damage, while the other home had some siding damage and a kitchen window blown out.
An attached carport was also destroyed. Power poles nearby were snapped at the base. The tornado continued moving east-northeast, snapping or uprooting many trees along its path. Most homes along the remainder of the path only sustained minor damage, but there were a few homes along State Road 58 just east of North County Road 375 West that sustained more significant damage. One home had much of the roof torn off, with a large tree fallen over onto the garage, causing significant damage as well. The garage for another home across the street was destroyed.
The tornado then moved along mostly open fields and rural properties, causing mostly tree damage before dissipating near North County Road 100 West.
🌪️🌪️ The weather service was surveying an EF-1 tornado in Scott County, and an EF-2 in Franklin County.
In southern Indiana, emergency management officials in Dearborn County say a tornado warning was in effect for the southern part of the county, leading to a “significant weather event that likely resulted in a tornado.” One victim reported injuries, but officials say they denied treatment.
Clay County and Owen County were put under a “yellow” travel advisory due to flooding and debris impacting roads. A “yellow” travel advisory means routine travel might be impacted due to hazardous situations. People on the roads on Thursday should use caution and avoid damaged areas.
*Some counties are under a travel advisory Thursday*
See map: DHS: Travel Advisory Map
- Owen County
- Clay County
- Warren County
- Laporte County
- Harrison County (under travel WARNING)
Owen County
Indiana State Police say a tornado was confirmed to have touched down in northern Owen County on Wednesday.
ISP reported trees and power lines were knocked down, blocking multiple county roads. Storm damage also led to a road blockage on US 231 north of Spencer, where debris made the highway impassable. Downed power lines in northern Owen County resulted in a loss of power for some Gosport residents.
Troopers responded to several homes that had sustained damage to check for injuries to residents. There were no injuries reported, according to state police.
Monroe County
Storms also caused extensive damage in northwest Monroe County late Wednesday night.
The Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch Center began receiving calls around 10:45 p.m. on reports of a very powerful storm that had passed through the area. Callers reported severe damage to homes and properties and requested welfare checks on family members they could not reach.
Authorities say the hardest-hit areas include:
- The 9300 block of N Buskirk Road
- The 9400 block of Spradling Road
- The 500 to 2400 block of Burma Road
Residents are also asked not to travel outside of Stinesville near Gosport and the southern border of Morgan County until further notice.
One woman is believed to have suffered a broken ankle and a possible broken or dislocated hip when the storm hit her mobile home.
An emergency shelter is open at the Stinesville Community Center (Old Elementary School) for disaster survivors until further notice.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is temporarily closed due to the extensive storm damage in the area.
Jackson County
Jackson County Emergency Management shared a confirmed tornado alert from theNational Weather Service early Thursday.
The National Weather Service said that at 12:07 a.m. a confirmed tornado was located near County Road 375 W and State Road 58. The storm was about 9 miles northwest of Brownstown, or 13 miles west of Seymour, moving east at 45 mph.
Bartholomew County
The same tornado warning issued by NWS covered parts of Bartholomew County.
The radar prompted a warning for a damaging storm capable of producing dangerous flying debris, destruction of mobile homes, structural damage and tree damage.
Areas listed in the warning included Jonesville, Azalia and Waymansville, along with the stretch of I-65 between mile markers 47 and 60.
