EF2 Tornado — Monroe, Indiana

2025-05-16 · near Elwren, Monroe, Indiana

Event narrative

The episode's third tornado was the last of three tornadoes spawned from a rotating supercell that crossed southern central Indiana. This long-track circulation crossed southern Monroe County and Brown County before tracking into west-central Bartholomew County for its final 3 miles. The tornado produced mainly EF1 damage, although EF2 intensity occurred occasionally in Monroe County, especially in the Clear Creek area, as well as an approximate 4-mile length in Brown County near and just north of the Stone Head area.

The tornado touched down about a quarter-mile southwest of the intersection of West Elwren Road and West Elwren Lane and tracked eastward, producing minor structural damage while damaging many trees up until it crossed Indiana Route 45 at West Elwren Road. Here the south and east walls and the entire roof of a large horse barn were removed; the building's main supporting vertical wooden posts were broken, but the walls that were lost were not anchored to the dirt foundation. The circulation continued east into the Clear Creek community, damaging many trees and causing minor damage to homes. The small Clear Creek Post Office's roof was removed and thrown about 50 yards to the east-northeast; this cinder-block building was only anchored by mortar with no reinforcement, with the blocks caving on the eastern wall when the roof was pulled off. Adjacent to the post office, numerous trees were topped or snapped about two-thirds of the way up. A nearly-constant path of EF0 to EF1 damage to trees and structures continued east from the post office. The tornado strengthened to EF2 intensity around Old Indiana Route 37: two unanchored garages/outbuildings were destroyed with debris thrown nearly 100 yards, while a metal storage unit was lifted and tossed nearly 40 yards, landing on top of two cars; single-floor double rental units on the north side of the tornado saw substantial roof damage, and several cars were rolled. The tornado continued east, where an A-frame building was pulled south off its foundation while remaining intact, and an older motel lost its roof and an east side wall while numerous adjacent trees were snapped. The tornado then tracked south of the Knight Ridge community while crossing the northern-most portion of Monroe Lake, maintaining EF0 to EF1 intensity, damaging trees and some buildings. The vortex's width peaked in Monroe County at 350 yards.

The tornado crossed Brown County from west to east, tracking over Crooked Creek Lake, through Brown County State Park and just north of the Stone Head community; the circulation lifted occasionally, yet was on the ground most of the time. Extensive tree damage occurred amid the very dense woods of the county's western half, with isolated structures also occasionally impacted. The vortex intensified and widened substantially within Brown County State Park, with significant tree damage along a long path from well west of Horseman Camp Road, over a ridge and into Horseman Camp where several campers were staying at the time; trees were snapped and uprooted, with very few left standing in the camp. The width was 300-350 yards from the camp through Mount Liberty Road. The tornado then shrank in width in far-eastern Brown County, with remaining damage to mostly trees, and EF0 to EF1 damage to any structures.

The circulation continued into west-central Bartholomew County with a path width of 100-200 yards, producing mainly tree damage, especially through the northern portions of Grandview Lake. The tornado continued to weaken and finally ended about two-thirds of a mile northeast of Grandview Lake. Peak wind gusts were 128 mph.

Wider weather episode

A persistently humid and unseasonably warm air mass provided ample instability late on the 16th. Meanwhile, mid-level forcing streamed into central Indiana from west to east, around the southeastern periphery of a strong mid-latitude cyclone positioned over the Upper Midwest. These ingredients combined to produce rotating storms with damaging winds and tornadoes across southern central Indiana through the late day.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.1060, -86.6783)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1252310. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.