EF2 Tornado — Jefferson, Indiana

2024-03-14 · near Brooksburg, Jefferson, Indiana

Event narrative

The National Weather Service in Louisville, KY in coordination with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, OH conducted a 2 day storm damage assessment survey. The survey found a 18.6 mile long EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 115 mph occurred on the afternoon of March 14, 2024. The tornado was on the ground for 26 minutes as it touched down 1 mile north of Hanover, IN, and lifted just east of Carrollton, KY. The tornado crossed the Ohio River three times as it started in Jefferson County, IN, crossed the Ohio River into Trimble County, KY, entered Carroll County, KY, crossed the Ohio River back into Jefferson County, IN, crossed into Switzerland County, IN, and crossed the Ohio River for the last time before entering Carroll County, KY. The tornado was 500 yards wide at its maximum.

After exiting Carroll County, KY, the tornado crossed the Ohio River for a second time, and increased significantly at the Route 56 Campground. The tornado snapped dozens of trees. The 400 yard wide twister knocked over several RV trailers, and lifting them in the air and wrapping two around trees. The team looked up owner's manuals to determine that actual weight of the various types of trailers. One trailer in particular was a 46-footer, and weighed about 14000 pounds, and was knocked over and moved 5 inches.

Numerous boat ports, had anchor supports pulled out of the ground, including several buried in a foot of concrete. Debris from the RV park was thrown onto Highway 56 and well beyond into the trees on the north side of the highway. Outbuildings and small barns were destroyed. Wind speeds at the RV Park were 115 mph, EF-2.

The tornado crossed in Switzerland county near Green Valley Road.

Wider weather episode

On March 14, 2024, in the warm sector ahead of a cold front, a supercell formed on the southern side of a convective line moving east through central Indiana. As the supercell moved east across southern Indiana and northern Kentucky, it produced a tornado which formed near Hanover, Indiana, crossed the Ohio River into Milton, Kentucky, and then crossed the Ohio River two more times before ending east of Carrollton, Kentucky. This tornado reached a maximum strength of 115 mph (EF2) and was on the ground for over 18 miles.

Later that night, ahead of the cold front, a line of thunderstorms brought down multiple trees and a few power lines. Multiple reports of severe hail were also received from across the region.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.7072, -85.2263)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1171160. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.