Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Louisville, KY
213 PM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024 /113 PM CDT Sun Mar 17 2024/
...NWS Damage Survey for 3/14/24 Tornado Event...
.Overview...On the afternoon of March 14, 2024 an isolated
supercell developed over southern Indiana, strengthened, and then
produced a long-track EF-2 tornado that passed through several
Indiana and Kentucky counties before lifting. This tornado also
crossed the Ohio River 3 different times!
.Havover, IN / Milton, KY / Carrollton, KY EF-2...
Rating: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph
Path Length /statute/: 18.43 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 500 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 2
Start Date: 03/14/2024
Start Time: 01:58 PM EDT
Start Location: 1 N Hanover / Jefferson County / IN
Start Lat/Lon: 38.7359 / -85.4744
End Date: 03/14/2024
End Time: 02:24 PM EDT
End Location: 1 NE Carrollton / Carroll County / KY
End Lat/Lon: 38.6906 / -85.1418
Survey Summary:
The National Weather Service in Louisville, KY in coordination
with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, OH conducted a 2
day storm damage assessment survey for the supercell tornado
across Jefferson and Switzerland counties of Indiana, and Trimble
and Carroll counties of Kentucky from March 14.
The tornado touched down on Paradise Lane off of Highway 256 on
the north side of Hanover, Indiana. the tornado caused shingle and
gutter damage, and a couple of large limbs down. The tornado was
initially 80 mph, EF-0, with a width of 60 yards. It increased to
90 mph, EF-1, on County Manor Boulevard, taking a roof off a home
with sections of the roof twisted around limbs and trees. The
width increased to 80 yards.
In the area by Birch St. and Ash Dr, the tornado did sporadic tree
damage with a few topped and uprooted trees. The width remained at
80 yards and wind speed were EF-0, 80 mph.
Next the tornado did extensive damage in Jefferson Manor
subdivision. Several homes had extensive roof damage and one newer
house had the roof completely ripped off. A 1500 pound brick
mailbox was knocked over. Several garages sustained major damage
and one outbuilding was destroyed. National Weather Service drone
photography showed debris thrown up to an eight of a mile. The
tornado was 110 mph, EF-1, with a width of 150 yards at this spot.
The tornado crossed Indiana 56 and did extensive tree damage on
South Revonah Dr. Trees were snapped, uprooted, and twisted in
multiple directions. Witnesses saw the tornado, had photography,
and heard a "loud wind" and had their ears pop. Wind speeds of 90
mph EF-1, with a width of 200 yards. There were also some uprooted
trees along River Bottom Road. Many thanks to those who shared
some of the most dramatic river tornado video; which shows the
tornado cross the Ohio River, sucking up water, and throwing it in
all directions.
The tornado crossed the Ohio River between River Bottom Road on
the Indiana side and Coopers Bottom Road on the Kentucky side,
just south of the Clifty Creek Power Plant. EF-1 damage continued
to the east along Coopers Bottom Road, and up the steep hillside
just to the south of the road where numerous hardwood trees were
uprooted or snapped. A large portion of the funnel actually
remained on the Ohio River during this stretch (confirmed by video
and damage patterns), roughly paralleling the river as it is
oriented more west to east between Madison, IN and Milton, KY.
The tornado continued to do high-end EF-0 and low-end EF-1 damage
along Coopers Bottom Road and US Highway 421 as the southern
fringes of the funnel scraped the Ohio River shoreline on the
Trimble county side of the river, and snapped trees along the 800
foot cliffside above Milton, KY. Light trailers were flipped over,
but remained intact at the River Park Campground. In addition,
some hardwood trees were snapped.
EF-0 and EF-1 damage continued as the southern half of the funnel
entered Milton, doing roof and structural damage to numerous homes
and businesses. In addition, numerous hardwood trees were either
snapped or uprooted. Just east of downtown Milton, a large brick
home under renovation had a large section of its back wall blown
out, with estimated winds of 105 mph, which was a bit stronger
than points to the west. Noted strengthening occurred over the
next mile eastward as more concentrated medium to high end EF-1
damage was noted. Evidence that the center of the tornado was
still out over water at this point was strong, given that the
downed trees were facing toward the river in almost all instances
from Milton eastward until Paradise Point along Highway 36 about 1
mile east of downtown Milton.
The center of the tornado finally came on shore at Paradise Point
and was immediately at low-end EF-2 strength as several large
campers and a motorhome were demolished. One tri-axle camper
weighing well over 10,000 lbs was rolled and thrown over 100 yards
to the ESE, with debris scattered much farther downstream. Just
across Highway 36, a well-built single family residence sustained
major roof damage as half of the structure was removed by the
tornado. This was also rated at EF-2 strength with winds of 115
mph. Just east of that house, a semi trailer was rolled, a large
barn was completely collapsed and shifted, and nearly every tree
was snapped in a grove. This was a notable uptick in intensity
from areas to the west as snapped trees were more sporadic in
those areas. This was more justification for the increase to EF-2.
It was at this point that a clear northern portion of the tornado
track became evident as downed trees along Highway 36 were laying
in a SE direction, pointing inward toward the center of the
circulation. It was unclear just how wide the tornado was as it
crossed through Milton, since half of the funnel was out over
water, however the tornado was around 500 yards wide (rougly a
third of a mile) by the time it reached the Trimble/Carroll county
line at North Spillman Lane. EF-1/EF-2 intensity remained here as
a large span of telephone polls were snapped.
There was extensive tree damage just inside of Western Carroll
county, with the tornado maintaining 115 mph, EF-2, strength
before weakening across the rugged Fairview ridge. There was one
large barn that had extensive roof paneling damage, and a door
blown out, along Hampton Road. Wind speeds were 90 mph, EF-1.
There was a lot of topped tree damage along Locust Creek and
Kentucky State 36. Wind speeds were 85 mph, EF-0.
The tornado crossed the Ohio River for a second time, and
increased significantly at the Indiana 56 RV park and campground.
The tornado snapped dozens of trees. The 400 yard wide twister
knocked over several RV trailers, and lifting them in the air and
wrapping two around trees. We looked up owner`s manuals to
determine that actual weight of the various types of trailers. One
trailer in particular was a 46-footer, and weighed about 14000
pounds, and was knocked over and moved 5 inches.
Numerous boat ports, had anchor supports pulled out of the ground,
including several buried in a foot of concrete. Debris from the RV
park was thrown onto Highway 56 and well beyond into the trees on
the north side of the highway. Outbuildings and small barns were
destroyed. Wind speeds at the RV Park were 115 mph, EF-2.
The tornado crossed in Switzerland county, damaging three barns
along Green Valley Road. All the barns sustained significant roof
panel damage. Some trees were uprooted and had lots of topped and
snapped trees as well.
As the survey team drove east on 56, you could see extensive tree
damage up on the north hillside. The tornado did extensive power
pole and powerline damage, along with tree damage near the
intersection of Patton Hollow Road on Indiana State 56. Wind
speeds were 90 mph, EF-1, with width of 150 yards.
The tornado crossed the Ohio River for a third time, going back
into Carroll county just east of Carrollton on US 42. The tornado
was very narrow and produced some sporadic tree damage before
lifting. Wind speeds were 68-75 mph, EF-0. The Kentucky Mesonet
site 2E of Carrollton measured 68 mph as the weakening tornado
lifted.
The National Weather Service would like to thank Emergency
Management in Indiana and Kentucky, and Carroll county fire chief
Robert Hoffman for all of their assistance. In addition, thanks to
NWS Wilmington, OH and the Kentucky Mesonet for their assistance
with additional data.
&&
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph
NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.
$$
SCHOETTMER/GORDON
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