NWS confirms 6 tornadoes touched down in Indiana, 4 centered in Lake County
Mar 21, 2025
LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — The National Weather Service has confirmed six tornadoes touched down in Indiana during Wednesday’s storms, with most of the wind power concentrated in Lake County.
Three EF-0 tornadoes clipped through Lake County, specifically in Highland, Griffith, and Gary.
An EF-1 tornado moved through west and southwest parts Gary, officials add.
NWS also confirmed an EF-0 tornado shifted through parts of Miami County, cutting a path from Macy to Akron. Though a tornado was not confirmed for Cass County, high winds caused damage to the Cass County airport and to several structures in Delphi.
Bartholomew County experienced the strongest tornado in the state during Wednesday’s severe weather. NWS announced Thursday an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 112 mph tore through the county, leaving a trail of damage behind. EF-2 tornadoes can experience max wind speeds up to 135 mph.
According to the Enhanced Fujita scale, EF-0 tornadoes have wind speeds ranging from 65 to 85 mph. EF-1 is classified as winds between 86 to 110 mph.
Indiana’s tornado tally for this year now sits at 14 following Wednesday’s weather.
NWS provided the following statements in their official survey reports for each tornado.
Bartholomew County
The tornado began near Interstate 65 in southern Bartholomew County and continued northeast to near Hartsville before disappearing.
Damage was nearly continuous along this path, with damage most in the EF-0 and EF-1 categories. However, there were two areas of more intense damage consistent with a low-end EF-2 category tornado, and max wind speeds of 112 mph.
Damage at both locations consisted of well-built metal farm buildings that had collapsed walls and roofs. Debris at both locations was lofted and thrown anywhere from a quarter to one half-mile to the north and northeast. Most county roads where the tornado crossed had several utility poles broken.
There were also small metal high transmission towers twisted and bent. However, these were small and not the heavier metal structures. There were also wooden double poles alongside that had no damage. Thus, ratings here were lowered to EF-1.
West-southwest Gary, Lake County
Damage surveys confirmed an EF-1 tornado. A tornado touched down near Morton Street between West 23rd Avenue and West 22nd Plaza in Gary.
This brief tornado ripped a portion of the gymnasium roof off of Frankie Woods McCullough Academy, blew out the garage and ripped off the roofs of several homes on West 21st Avenue, as well as bent several power poles and light fixtures.
Officials reported an adult female was injured due to part of the roof collapsing onto them. They were taken to the hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
The tornado dissipated just before the New Revelation Baptist Church on West 21st Avenue, just before Chase Street.
Southwest Highland, Lake County
Damage surveys confirmed an EF-0 tornado. A tornado touched down just northwest of the intersection of US-41 and 45th Street in Highland.
This tornado first caused damage to the roof of a commercial building on US-41, then continued east northeast into a residential area near Merkley Elementary School where damage was mostly small branches broken and a few instances of shingle damage.
The tornado briefly intensified as it neared Forrest Drive and Sac Drive, with a few trees uprooted and multiple large branches broken. One large tree was uprooted onto a house, causing roof damage. Winds were estimated at 85 mph in this neighborhood. Fences were also damaged in the vicinity.
The tornado continued northeast toward the residential area near Southridge Elementary School, where damage was mostly confined to small branches. The tornado dissipated near Wirth Road just west of Kleinman Road.
North-northeast Griffith, Lake County
Damage surveys confirmed an EF-0 tornado. A tornado touched down near West 29th Place, just east of Colfax Street in Gary.
This brief tornado uprooted two large trees with estimated winds of 75 mph, as well as blowing out the glass doors at the entrance of the Hard Rock Casino.
The tornado dissipated shortly after passing the casino before Burr Street.
Southwest Gary, Lake County
Damage surveys confirmed an EF-0 tornado. A tornado touched down near Norton Park, just south of West 13th Avenue in Gary.
This brief tornado blew tree debris across roadways and uprooted several small trees east of the Gary Business District with estimated winds of 73 mph.
The tornado dissipated around MLK Drive, just north of East 7th Avenue before reaching the Dunes Highway.
Miami County
A survey of damage confirmed a EF0 tornado touched down east of CR N 25 W, south of Pleasant Hill Rd where an outbuilding in a wooded area was flipped from north to south against a tree and some debris thrown to the southwest.
The tornado reached peak intensity at the intersection of Meridian and Pleasant Hill Rdwhere one of two older barns suffered extensive damage.
The majority of the barn remained at the site, but roof and siding materials were visible across fields and in trees into Fulton county. Four of eight center pivot spans were flipped near the damaged barn.
The tornado crossed S 1000 E, E 350 S and S 1075 E before dissipating with mainly tree damage observed.
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