EF1 Tornado — Ripley, Indiana

2025-05-16 · near Spades, Ripley, Indiana

Event narrative

The tornado developed near the intersection of E County Road 1150 N and N Spades Road, where large limbs were broken off from both softwood and hardwood trees. Similar tree damage was found near the intersection of E County Road 1200 N and N Spades Road.

Numerous trees were downed at properties on the west side of Spades Road, south of E County Road 1300 N. A large cluster of tree damage was then observed at a property located near the intersection of E County Road 1300 N and N Spades Road. In addition to some large hardwood tree limbs broken off, several large healthy trees were either uprooted or snapped. Minor siding damage and missing shingles were observed from a nearby home.

Additional uprooted trees were observed northeast of this property. The tornado continued northeast, where it produced damage at a property near the intersection of E County Road 1500 N and N County Road 1000 E. Here, a well-built outbuilding had a complete collapse of its exterior walls. Additional hardwood tree damage was noted through the field northeast of this property. From here, the tornado moved out of Ripley County, Indiana at 1909EST and entered into Dearborn County, Indiana just southwest of N County Line Road. The tornado then crossed into Franklin County, Indiana and dissipated at 1911EST near the county line.

Wider weather episode

Showers and thunderstorms developed in an unstable airmass ahead of a cold front.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.2500, -85.1300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1250937. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.