"Near" F5/EF5 Tornadoes

Based on official records, Indiana has experienced three F5 tornadoes since 1950, all of which occurred on the infamous date of April 3, 1974.  But there are other tornadoes that have been deemed "near-F5" or actually rated F5 by non-official sources.  Here are the tornadoes from 1880-present that are rated F5 by another source or were said to be near-F5 by Tom Grazulis (note that the list below does not include those three official F5s).


April 1, 1884 - Henry/Delaware (rated F5 by Grazulis)

May 26, 1917 - Monroe:  about 15 homes were destroyed, some with near-F5 damage

March 28, 1920 - Jay/Adams/Mercer OH/Van Wert OH:  homes were entirely swept away east of Geneva and south of Ceylon in possible F5 fashion

March 18, 1925 - MO/IL/Posey/Gibson/Pike (Tri-State Tornado, rated F5 by Grazulis)

May 21, 1949 - Crawford IL/Sullivan:  restaurant leveled and cars carried 100-300 yards  (recognized as F5 by Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC)

April 17, 1963 - Kankakee IL/Newton/Jasper/Pulaski:  near-F5 damage occurred in IL and seven homes were swept away (near-F5) in Jasper county

April 11, 1965 - Elkhart/LaGrange:  a dozen homes were leveled in the Rainbow Lake area and intensity was near-F5

April 11, 1965 - St. Joseph/Elkhart/LaGrange - Sunnyside and Kingston Heights housing developments in Dunlap were devastated  (rated F5 by Grazulis)

April 11, 1965 - Montgomery/Boone/Hamilton:  cars were thrown over 100 yards  (recognized as F5 by NRC)

April 3, 1974 - Bartholomew/Decatur/Franklin:  near-F5 damage occurred on a Decatur county farm, 3 miles southwest of New Point


A recent interesting case is the Henryville tornado of March 2, 2012.  The tornado is officially rated EF4, but thick sections (6" thick or greater) of concrete were ripped up and thrown some distance at one point along the damage path.  There is no damage indicator on the EF scale to account for this type of damage but it would likely take incredible wind speeds to do that.  The fast forward speed of this tornado means that very strong winds would have impacted any particular spot very briefly, so it is not a case of the wind gradually weakening the pavement. 

Recap Of The November 17 Tornado Outbreak

The surveys are in, and what an outbreak it was.  As of this writing, a total of 28 tornadoes have been confirmed across the state, which makes it the third largest outbreak on record.  Impressively, 13 of the 28 tornadoes were rated EF2 or greater.  Instead of posting survey information for 28 tornadoes, I will just provide a list at the end of this post.  But first, here are some quick historical tidbits...


Previous largest November tornado outbreak:
November 22, 1992 - 15

Previous largest number of F2/EF2+ tornadoes in a November tornado outbreak:
November 22, 1992 - 10

There had only been 48 tornadoes in Indiana in November from 1950-2012, or an average of 1 every 1.3 years.

There had only been 27 F2/EF2+ tornadoes in Indiana in November from 1950-2012, or an average of 1 every 2.3 years.


November 17 Tornadoes:

EF1:  Newton/Jasper
EF1:  Jasper
EF2:  Benton/White
EF2:  White
EF1:  Pulaski
EF1:  White
EF3:  Tippecanoe/Clinton/Carroll/Cass
EF0:  Cass
EF1:  Miami
EF1:  Kosciusko
EF2:  Grant/Wabash
EF2:  Wabash/Kosciusko
EF1:  Kosciusko
EF0:  Grant
EF2:  Vermillion/Warren
EF2:  Fountain/Tippecanoe
EF1:  Montgomery
EF2:  Tippecanoe
EF0:  Tippecanoe
EF1:  Tippecanoe
EF2:  Knox
EF2:  Clinton/Howard
EF2:  Howard
EF2:  Daviess
EF2:  Boone
EF1:  Boone
EF1:  Lawrence
EF1:  Hamilton/Tipton

NWS Confirms Tornado In Miami County

The NWS in North Webster has confirmed an EF1 tornado struck Peru on July 10.


 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
124 PM EDT FRI JUL 12 2013 /1224 PM CDT FRI JUL 12 2013/
   
 
..TORNADO /MIAMI COUNTY/

RATING: EF-1
MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 3.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH: /MAXIMUM/ 200 YARDS
TIME: 128 PM EDT JULY 10...2013
LOCATION: 2.3 MILES WSW OF PERU TO 1.4 MILES SE OF PERU
DESCRIPTION: AN EF1 TORNADO WAS CONFIRMED ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF
THE TOWN OF PERU. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN A CORN FIELD JUST TO
THE WEST OF COUNTRYMARK REFINERY SOUTH OF US HIGHWAY 24. DAMAGE
CONTINUED IN AN EAST...SOUTHEAST FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES. THE
TORNADO PATH ENDED ACROSS STATE ROAD 19 BETWEEN ASTRUP DRIVE AND
PARKWAY TERRACE. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED ALONG THE PATH WITH
NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED OFF. MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO
HOMES WAS NOTED FROM FALLING TREES. SEVERAL BUSINESSES SUSTAINED
MINOR FACADE OR ROOF DAMAGE.

NWS Confirms Tornado In Perry County

The NWS in Louisville has confirmed an EF1 tornado struck the Tell City area on June 26.  Here are the survey details:


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED PATH WIDTH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
0512 PM EDT THU JUN 27 2013   
..DAMAGE REPORT

DAMAGE TYPE: TORNADO

DATE: JUN 26 2013
BEGIN TIME: 8:29 PM CDT
END TIME: 8:38 PM CDT

EF SCALE: 1 
WIND SPEED: 60-95 MPH

PATH LENGTH: 5.15 MILES
PATH WIDTH: 100 YARDS 


NARRATIVE: THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN SOUTHWEST OF TROY AND 
PROCEEDED SOUTHEAST THROUGH TELL CITY, FINALLY LIFTING JUST NORTH OF
CANNELTON. SEVERAL LARGE TREES WERE FELLED ALONG THE PATH WITH MINOR 
ROOF DAMAGE AND SMALL OUTBUILDINGS DAMAGED. DAMAGE ALSO INCLUDED A 
CARNIVAL SITE AT 10TH AND WATT STREET WHERE A LARGE SEMI TRAILER WAS 
OVERTURNED AND A FEW RIDES WERE BLOWN SIDEWAYS. TREE BRANCHES 
WERE SNAPPED ALONG THE ENTIRE PATH.  

NWS Confirms Tornado In Benton County

0730 PM     TORNADO          1 N TEMPLETON           40.53N 87.21W 
05/31/2013                   BENTON             IN   EMERGENCY MNGR   
 
A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR  
COUNTY ROAD 500S AND COUNTY ROAD 600E. THE TORNADO WAS ON 
THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND WAS CAPTURED ON VIDEO.  
THERE WAS NO DAMAGE.   

NWS Confirms Tornadoes In Hendricks And Putnam Counties

The NWS in Indianapolis has confirmed 2 tornadoes occurred during the early morning hours of May 21:


A NWS Indianapolis storm damage survey today identified at least one weak tornado occurring west of Brownsburg near North Salem in the storms early Tuesday morning.  Toppled trees, snapped limbs, and damage to a barn revealed evidence of rotation in the winds and damage consistent with an EF0 tornado with winds up to 85 mph.  The tornado occurred around 2:40 A.M. May 21 and was part of a large line of storms that swept across central Indiana overnight causing sporadic damage in many areas. 

Surveying in the Roachdale area north of Greencastle also yielded evidence of an EF0 tornado.  This occurred around 2:30 A.M. just south of Roachdale where barn, shed and tree damage were observed suggesting rotating winds of up to 85 mph. This tornado was on the ground for less than a quarter mile.

NWS Confirms Tornadoes In Vigo County

The NWS in Indianapolis has confirmed two EF0 tornadoes occurred yesterday.  Here is their writeup.

A thunderstorm squall line produced two small, brief tornadoes Wednesday evening near Terre Haute. The first touchdown occurred near 815 PM EDT along East Curry Road near Hultz Road about 5 miles south of Terre Haute. The tornado was observed by a storm spotter and caused damage to several trees. The tornado was rated an EF0 with winds around 80 mph. A second tornado from the same storm occurred near 825 PM EDT in Riley, about 5 miles southeast of Terre Haute. This tornado was observed by Riley volunteer fireman in a field just west of their fire station. The second tornado destroyed a small shed and downed several tree limbs. This tornado was rated an EF0 with associated winds also around 80 mph.

NWS Confirms Tornado In Orange County

The NWS in Louisville has confirmed that a second tornado touched down in southern Indiana on Wednesday.  


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY  
130 PM EST THU JAN 31 2013 
  
..EF-1 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN ORANGE COUNTY INDIANA

DAMAGE TYPE: TORNADO

DATE: JAN 30 2013
BEGIN TIME: 1:47 AM EST
END TIME: 1:47 AM EST

BEGIN POINT: 3.10 MILES NORTH OF WEST BADEN SPRINGS, INDIANA
END POINT: 3.18 MILES NORTH OF WEST BADEN SPRINGS, INDIANA

EF SCALE: EF-1
WIND SPEED: 85-95 MPH

PATH LENGTH: 550 YARDS
PATH WIDTH: 75 YARDS

NARRATIVE: AN EF-1 TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN ORANGE COUNTY, 
INDIANA.  SEVERAL TREES WERE TOPPLED IN A FOREST IN THE SOUTHWEST 
PORTION OF THE PATH. THE TORNADO THEN AFFECTED A RESIDENCE, BADLY
DAMAGING THE ROOF AND THROWING THE PORCH OF THE HOUSE SEVERAL YARDS
TO THE NORTHEAST.  SEVERAL SMALL TWIGS WERE DRIVEN THROUGH THE 
SIDING OF THE HOME.    

NWS Confirms Tornado In Harrison County

The NWS in Louisville has confirmed an EF0 tornado occurred in Harrison county on Wednesday.  This tornado then crossed the border into Kentucky.


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1205 PM EST THU JAN 31 2013
 
 
...EF-0 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN HARRISON COUNTY INDIANA AND JEFFERSON 
COUNTY KENTUCKY...

DAMAGE TYPE: TORNADO 
 
DATE: JAN 30 2013
BEGIN TIME: 4:17 AM EST 
END TIME: 4:17 AM EST
 
BEGIN POINT: 3.2 MILES EAST OF ELIZABETH, INDIANA 
END POINT: 2.6 MILES NORTHWEST OF VALLEY STATION, KENTUCKY 
 
EF SCALE: EF-0 
WIND SPEED: 80MPH

PATH LENGTH: 1 MILE
PATH WIDTH: 215 YARDS

NARRATIVE: AN NWS SURVEY TEAM HAS CONFIRMED AN EF-0 TORNADO TOUCH 
DOWN EAST OF ELIZABETH IN HARRISON COUNTY, INDIANA. FOUR HOMES AND
TWO BARNS WERE DAMAGED ALONG HIGHWAY 111. THE PORCH OF ONE HOME WAS 
LIFTED AND THROWN 30 FEET.  THE WALLS OF ONE OF THE BARNS COLLAPSED 
IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS. TREES WERE DOWN AT THIS LOCATION AS WELL.  
THE TRACK OF THE TORNADO EXTENDED EAST OVER THE OHIO RIVER AND INTO 
JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY.  NORTHWEST OF VALLEY STATION MANY 
SOFTWOOD TREES WERE DAMAGED, A PINE TREE WAS SNAPPED, AND A 
TRAMPOLINE WAS BLOWN OVER BEFORE THE TORNADO LIFTED.