NWS reports preliminary info on Saturday evening tornado outbreak
The National Weather Service (NWS) sent storm survey crews out on Sunday, June 16, and is expected to conduct additional surveys today, Monday, June 17, to assess the damage from a widespread tornado outbreak that occurred Saturday evening, June 15. This post contains the public information statement released by NWS late Sunday on their preliminary findings and damage survey on all five tornadoes. According to NWS, the Greene County Tornado was an EF-2 with wind speeds up to 130 mph, a path up to 400 yards wide that touched down in a 3.52 mile swath. It touched down at an estimated time of 6:56 p.m. and ended at 7 p.m.
Scene of tornado damage. Photo snapped during a drive along State Road 54 east of Bloomfield. Photo by Virginia Goodman.
In Greene County, the NWS says the tornado started west of North Crowe Road causing significant damage to a newly-built building on Crowe Road. The owner verified it was well-built and in very good shape. The track continued across State Road 54 and left a wide swath of tree damage with a resident stating over 100 acres of trees were snapped. The storm crossed State Road 43 and dissipated in a field to the east.
This information is preliminary and may change after the additional assessments.
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
551 PM EDT Sun Jun 16 2019
...FIRST NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 06/15/2019 ...
A widespread tornado outbreak occurred the evening of June 15th
as a remnant MCV from earlier storms interacted with a warm front
in southern Indiana. This is the first PNS that covers the
surveys that were completed today, Sunday June 16th with additional
surveys to be completed tomorrow, Monday June 17th.
Tornado #1 Freedom Tornado...
Rating: EF-1
Estimated peak wind: 110 mph
Path length /Statute/: 8.22 miles
Path width /Maximum/: 200 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start date: 06/15/2019
Start time: 6:29 PM EDT
Start location: Freedom/Owen Co/IN
Start Lat/Lon: 39.2038 N/-86.8726 W
End date: 06/15/2019
End time: 6:45 PM EDT
End location: 2 S Spencer/Owen Co/IN
End_lat/lon: 39.2738 N/ -86.7509 W
The tornado began just southwest of downtown Freedom before
moving into the town shearing numerous trees around town.
The tornado continued to the northeast leaving a very clear
path of sheared and uprooted trees in a path about 200
yards wide. The storm crossed the White River several times over
its lifetime and followed the river line to south of Spencer.
This is where a large building had its roof uplifted and walls
collapsed. The building was part of a business that was set to
open for the first time on Monday. The damage ended shortly
after and the storm recycled into the next tornado.
TORNADO #2 Ellettsville Tornado...
Rating: EF-2
Estimated peak wind: 130 mph
Path length /Statute/: 3.7 miles
Path width /Maximum/: 400 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start date: 06/15/2019
Start time: 6:48 PM EDT
Start location: 2 W Ellettsville/Monroe Co/IN
Start Lat/Lon: 39.2739 N / -86.6075 W
End date: 06/15/2019
End time: 6:58 PM EDT
End location: 4 N Ellettsville/Monroe Co/IN
End_lat/lon: 39.2473 N / -86.6671 W
The tornado began in rural countryside northeast of
Ellettsville doing some tree damage before crossing
State Road 46 and doing significant tree damage along
Chafin Chapel Road. A 400 yard wide path of trees was
completely shredded in spots. Additional widespread tree
damage was found on Mount Tabor road and West Cowden Road.
Along West Cowden Road, several barns and outbuildings
were destroyed as well as a loosely anchored garage
completely swept off of its foundation. The tornado
continued into rural forest before dissipating.
TORNADO #3 Greene County Tornado...
Rating: EF-2
Estimated peak wind: 130 mph
Path length /Statute/: 3.52 miles
Path width /Maximum/: 400 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start date: 06/15/2019
Start time: 6:56 PM EDT
Start location: 4 NE Koleen/Greene Co/IN
Start Lat/Lon: 39.0456 N / -86.7965 W
End date: 06/15/2019
End time: 7:00 PM EDT
End location: 5 SSE Solsberry/Greene Co/IN
End_lat/lon: 39.0500 N / -86.7312 W
The tornado started west of North Crowe Road causing significant
damage to a newly built building on Crowe Road. The owner verified
it was well built and in very good shape. The track continued
across State Road 54 and left a wide swath of tree damage with a
resident stating over 100 acres of trees were snapped. The
storm cross State Road 43 and dissipated in a field to the east.
TORNADO #4 Beech Grove Tornado...
Rating: EF-1
Estimated peak wind: 100 mph
Path length /Statute/: 1.86 miles
Path width /Maximum/: 200 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start date: 06/15/2019
Start time: 7:26 PM EDT
Start location: 2 SW Beech Grove/Marion Co/IN
Start Lat/Lon: 39.7071 N / -86.0971 W
End date: 06/15/2019
End time: 7:30 PM EDT
End location: 1 E Beech Grove/Marion Co/IN
End_lat/lon: 39.7160 N / -86.0641 W
The tornado began southwest of Beech Grove causing roof
damage before crossing Emerson Avenue and causing additional
roof damage to a school and house. The tornado continued for
several hundred feet before dissipating.
TORNADO #5 East Marion Co...
Rating: EF-0
Estimated peak wind: 70 mph
Path length /Statute/: 0.9 miles
Path width /Maximum/: 100 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start date: 06/15/2019
Start time: 7:37 PM EDT
Start location: 4 E Beech Grove/Marion Co/IN
Start Lat/Lon: 39.7397 N / -86.0009 W
End date: 06/15/2019
End time: 7:38 PM EDT
End location: 5 E Beech Grove/Marion Co/IN
End_lat/lon: 39.7411 N / -85.9842 W
A brief touchdown near Brookville road and East
Raymond street caused significant damage to several
outbuildings and minor tree damage near Brookville Road.
About the EF Scale
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies
Tornadoes into the following categories.
EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph
NOTE:
The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in
NWS Storm Data.