(Ripley/Dearborn Counties, IN) – The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touched down in Ripley and Dearborn counties Friday night.
The EF-1 twister began in Ripley County at 8:02 near Penntown and Sunman and was on the ground until ending in Dearborn County at 8:10 p.m.
The path of the tornado was 6.1 miles long and 250 yards wide.
The weather service says peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.
The tornado first developed near the intersection of E. County Road 1150 North and N. Spades Road, broke off large limbs 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 North.
A larger cluster of tree damage then was observed at a property located near the intersection of E. County Road 1300 North 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 to the home was observed, along with missing shingles, some of which were thrown into a nearby tree.
Additional tree damage, including some uprooted trees, continued northeast of this property.
The most extensive damage was observed at a property located near the intersection of E. County Road 1500 North and N. County Road 1000 East, in which a well-built outbuilding had a complete collapse of the exterior walls. The strength of winds required for this kind of damage was estimated around 90 mph, making this an EF-1 tornado at its maximum strength.
Additional hardwood tree damage was noted through the field northeast of this property.
The final damage point of this tornado would occur at a property off of N. County Line Road, where half of the barn roof was uplifted and the home observed shingle and siding damage. This last damage point occurred in the extreme northwest corner of Dearborn County.
There were no injuries reported.
The National Weather Service expressed appreciation to the Ripley County and Dearborn emergency management agencies for their assistance with the damage survey.
