National Weather Service confirms Owen, Monroe, Morgan county tornadoes
The tornado that caused widespread devastation and two deaths in Owen County late Friday began at 11:01 p.m. in McCormick's Creek State Park near Spencer, generating 138-mph winds that traveled in a 400-yard-wide path nearly four miles into the northwestern edge of Monroe County.
Two people who died at the state park were among five fatalities reported after nine tornadoes swept across central and southcentral Indiana between 10:21 and 11:33 p.m. Friday. Three people died in the city of Sullivan, about 60 miles southwest of Spencer.
'I was terrified': Survivors in Owen, Monroe recount living through Friday storm
The National Weather Service tracked nine tornadoes during the one-hour-and-12-minute span of storms that sent residents to basements and safe places in fear for their lives.
A weather service overview indicates the Owen County tornado that started in McCormick's Creek State Park traveled northeast into far northeastern part of the county and into northwestern Monroe County. Homes were badly damaged and destroyed, especially along County Line Road where the path was its widest. Hardwood trees were snapped in two and some trees had bark ripped off.
That tornado and the one at 10:21 p.m. in Sullivan with 155-mph winds were classified as EF-3's, which includes tornadoes with wind speeds between 136 and 165 mph. There are two stronger tornado categories: EF-4 with winds between 166 and 200 mph and F5, with winds surpassing 200 mph.
At 11:21 p.m. Friday, an EF-2 tornado with 130-mph winds hit the city of Martinsville, where it traveled nearly nine miles in a 200-yard-wide swath.
PHOTOS: Martinsville begins clean up after powerful storms sweep through city
The weather service reported that a subdivision near Interstate 69 had numerous homes with roof damage, and an empty grain bin was picked up and carried away by the wind and displaced. On Rolling Hills Drive, a pontoon boat was blown across the lake, flew over a house and landed a quarter of a mile away.
Other tornadoes in Indiana Friday night caused widespread property damage
10:45 p.m. Clinton County near Colfax: an EF-1 tornado with 110-mph winds traveled nearly seven miles in a 100-yard-wide path.
11:11 p.m. Howard County near Russiaville: an EF-0 tornado with 80-mph winds traveled about one mile in a 10-yard-wide path
11:15 p.m. Howard County near Russiaville: a second EF-0 tornado with 80-mph winds was on the ground for about one-tenth of a mile
11:20 p.m. Howard County near Greentown: an EF-1 tornado with 110-mph winds traveled six miles in a 125-yard wide path
11:27 p.m. Johnson County near Bargersville: an EF-0 tornado with 85-mph winds traveled nearly two miles in a 25-yard-wide path
11:33 p.m. Johnson County near New Whiteland: an EF-2 tornado with 135-mph winds traveled about three and a half miles in a 316-yard-wide path
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A fundraising account has been established for the family of Brett and Wendy Kincaid of Rossville, who died from injuries sustained during the tornado while camping at McCormick's Creek State Park. Their bodies were found Saturday inside their camper in the demolished park campground area. For more information, go to: https://gf.me/v/c/whnw/brett-and-wendy-kincaid
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: NWS confirms two tornadoes hit Owen, Monroe and Morgan counties
