EF1 tornado in Washington County, Indiana

A NWS storm survey, in conjunction with Washington County Emergency Management concluded that the tornado touched down and was embedded in a larger field of straight-line winds. The path length was 5.8 miles with a max width of 100 yards for the tornado, however the overall straight-line wind path width was close to a mile wide in spots. The most intense tornado damage happened shortly after touchdown, where over 50 healthy hardwood trees had snapped trunks with no foliage. In addition, an outbuilding lost part of a roof, and debris struck a residence causing cracked masonry and dented drywall on the inside of the structure. Maximum wind speeds of 100 mph were estimated in this area. The tornado continued eastward where more homes experienced minor roof damage, trees were uprooted, and a large outbuilding was nearly destroyed. After crossing Cave River Valley Rd and White River Rd, the tornado took out nearly 50 softwood trees. Farther east, over 100 hardwood and softwood trees were uprooted and snapped, and notable convergence was observed. After driving a 4X6 post through the roof of a home near Hunter Rd, the tornado continued east to Prowsville Ridge Rd, where an uptick to 90-95 mph intensity was noted. Another stand of nearly 50 hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped, along with significant damage to a porch and roof of a home. Tornadic damage ceased east of Cox Ferry Rd, however some instances of straight-line winds were noted all the way to Delaney Park Rd. It was also noted that straight-line winds were surveyed south of the tornado damage path, from Saltillo eastward to West Washington School Rd. Eyewitness accounts put this damage at slightly earlier times than when the tornado damage occurred. The straight-line wind damage ranged from 60-80 mph.

The combination of a moist and unseasonably warm air mass and an approaching low pressure system and cold front brought multiple rounds of severe weather to southern Indiana during the early morning hours on March 1. In the end, there were 5 tornadoes across southern Indiana, the strongest being an EF-2 that tracked through portions of Dubois County. In addition to the tornadoes, there were several areas of intense straight-line winds estimated up to 100 mph in places. The impacts included numerous areas of structural damage and downed trees. The widespread heavy rain brought the Muscatatuck River at Deputy into minor flood.