EF2 tornado in White County, Indiana

A survey of damage by NWS officials indicated that a tornado touched down in eastern Benton county and continued northeast into White county, likely reaching a peak intensity of EF2. Exact determination of maximum intensity was difficult due to vastly open country and lack of trees and other objects. The tornado moved into southwestern White county south of County Road 1200 South, where the garage door of a west facing pole barn was pushed in and some minor tree limb damage was noted. The tornado continued rapidly northeast and impacted a residence on 900 West where the chimney (above the roof) was knocked down with shingle damage noted to the home. In addition, a large propane tank and camper were rolled or pushed roughly 150 feet away with the camper being destroyed. The tornado moved into open fields where it remained for roughly four miles, crossing Interstate 65 between mile markers 188 and 190. The tornado briefly strengthened after crossing the interstate, snapping 10 18-24 inch diameter power poles (DI: ETL DOD: 4) at the ground along County Road 500 West, either side of State Route 18. A home on the intersection of these roads suffered minor window and roof damage. Just east of the intersection, a pole barn was destroyed (DI: SBO DOD: 8) with debris thrown upwards of three-quarters of a mile. The tornado finally lifted west of County Road 300 West and north of State Route 18. The tornado was on the ground for a combined distance of 12 miles from eastern Benton county into White county. A maximum width of roughly 1200 yards was determined with maximum wind speeds around 120 mph.

Deep low pressure moved across the northern Great Lakes, with a strong cold front trailing well south into Arkansas. A 50 to 60 knot low level jet aided in advecting in dewpoints greater than 60 degrees. 0-1km storm relative helicity values of 400 to 600 m2/s2 setup the perfect environment for individual thunderstorms to rapidly rotate. Numerous circulations were noted during the event, some significant, which produced swaths of wind damage as well as several weak to strong tornadoes. Given forward speed of 60 mph or more, the convection quickly translated across the area in a matter of hours.