Overview
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A large outbreak of severe weather took place on November 17, 2013. In Indiana alone there were 30 tornadoes, with dozens more in other states. In central Indiana the strongest tornado was rated an EF-3. There were 8 EF-2 tornadoes, 6 EF-1 tornadoes, and 1 EF-0 tornado in central Indiana. This number of tornadoes for the entire state is the largest outbreak for November in recorded history for Indiana, and the second largest outbreak in state history for any month (June 2, 1990 is first with 37 tornadoes). For a summary of all tornadoes in one place, please see this document. |
![]() Overview of Tornado Paths |
Tornadoes
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Tornado - Near Covington
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Tornado - Mellott
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Tornado - Near New Richmond
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Tornado - Rural Tippecanoe County
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Tornadoes - Near Romney & South Raub
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Tornado - Lafayette to Young America
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Tornado - Near Stockwell
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Tornado - Near Decker
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Tornadoes - Kokomo
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Tornado - Washington
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Tornadoes - Near Lebanon
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Tornado - Near Bedford
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Tornado - Atlanta
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
| EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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Radar
Below are overview radar images from the event. Additional radar images are in the tornadoes tab.
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| Radar at 2 PM EST | Radar at 3 PM EST | Radar at 4 PM EST |
Storm Reports
Below is a list of preliminary storm reports received during the event.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
642 AM EST MON NOV 18 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0233 PM TSTM WND GST COVINGTON 40.14N 87.39W
11/17/2013 E55 MPH FOUNTAIN IN EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES ARE DOWN. POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES.
0233 PM HAIL COVINGTON 40.14N 87.39W
11/17/2013 E0.25 INCH FOUNTAIN IN EMERGENCY MNGR
0233 PM TORNADO PERRYSVILLE 40.05N 87.44W
11/17/2013 VERMILLION IN TRAINED SPOTTER
TORNADO REPORTED AT I-74 AND IN 63. TREE LIMBS DOWN.
0245 PM TSTM WND GST 3 E VEEDERSBURG 40.11N 87.20W
11/17/2013 U0 MPH FOUNTAIN IN TRAINED SPOTTER
SEMI BLOWN OVER ON I-74 MILE MARKER 17
0247 PM TORNADO 8 S LAFAYETTE 40.30N 86.87W
11/17/2013 TIPPECANOE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES AND POWER POLES SNAPPED. SEVERAL STRUCTURES
PARTIALLY OR TOTALLY DESTROYED. TIME ESTIMATED.
0249 PM TSTM WND GST DAYTON 40.38N 86.78W
11/17/2013 M82 MPH TIPPECANOE IN AMATEUR RADIO
NO DAMAGE REPORTED
0300 PM TSTM WND GST LAFAYETTE 40.41N 86.87W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH TIPPECANOE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
US 231 AND SR 26
0300 PM TSTM WND DMG RUSSIAVILLE 40.42N 86.27W
11/17/2013 HOWARD IN AMATEUR RADIO
480 W AND SR 26 - ROOF OFF HOUSE
0300 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW DECKER 38.56N 87.58W
11/17/2013 KNOX IN CO-OP OBSERVER
REPORT OF BARN PARTIALLY DESTROYED NEAR 1000 W CHIMNEY
PIER ROAD. TIME WAS ESTIMATED.
0303 PM FUNNEL CLOUD ROCKVILLE 39.77N 87.23W
11/17/2013 PARKE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED
0305 PM TORNADO VINCENNES 38.68N 87.51W
11/17/2013 KNOX IN EMERGENCY MNGR
TORNADO ON THE GROUND BETWEEN VINCENNES AND DECKER. NO
DAMAGE REPORTED.
0307 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N WEST LAFAYETTE 40.47N 86.91W
11/17/2013 TIPPECANOE IN AMATEUR RADIO
US 29 AND MANCHESTER ROAD - BARN DAMAGED... TREES DOWN
0309 PM TORNADO 13 NW LAFAYETTE 40.54N 87.05W
11/17/2013 TIPPECANOE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
POSSIBLE RAIN WRAPPED TORNADO. SHEET METAL CAUGHT IN A
FENCE. NEAREST BUILDINGS ACROSS A FIELD A FEW ACRES
AWAY.
0309 PM TSTM WND DMG LEBANON 40.05N 86.47W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN AMATEUR RADIO
I-65 MILE MARKER 60 - OVERTURNED SEMI
0310 PM TORNADO ROSSVILLE 40.42N 86.60W
11/17/2013 CLINTON IN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
TORNADO REPORTED AT CR5 1000 W AND 713 N
0310 PM TSTM WND GST COLFAX 40.19N 86.67W
11/17/2013 E65 MPH CLINTON IN AMATEUR RADIO
ROBOY RD AND LINDON ROAD. NO DAMAGE REPROTED.
0315 PM TORNADO S VINCENNES 38.68N 87.51W
11/17/2013 KNOX IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
HOUSE DAMAGED ON ST THOMAS ROAD
0315 PM TSTM WND GST BURLINGTON 40.48N 86.39W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH CARROLL IN AMATEUR RADIO
NO DAMAGE REPORTED
0315 PM TSTM WND DMG WASHINGTON 38.66N 87.17W
11/17/2013 DAVIESS IN NWS EMPLOYEE
OLD US 50 ON WEST SIDE OF WASHINGTON. EITCINES FARMERS
MARKET DESTROYED. MULTIPLE TREES DOWN
0319 PM TSTM WND DMG BURLINGTON 40.48N 86.39W
11/17/2013 CARROLL IN AMATEUR RADIO
2 FOOT TREES UPROOTED.
0319 PM TSTM WND DMG DARLINGTON 40.11N 86.78W
11/17/2013 MONTGOMERY IN AMATEUR RADIO
TELEPHONE POLES DOWN AT 1350 E AND 850 W
0320 PM TORNADO RUSSIAVILLE 40.42N 86.27W
11/17/2013 HOWARD IN EMERGENCY MNGR
TORNADO ON THE GROUND AT 13172 E CR 500 N. HEADING NE
TO RUSSIAVILLE.
0320 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SE DELPHI 40.54N 86.62W
11/17/2013 CARROLL IN TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES... POWER LINES AND SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
OBSERVED
0325 PM TORNADO WASHINGTON 38.66N 87.17W
11/17/2013 DAVIESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TORNADO ON THE GROUND SEVERAL HOUSES DAMAGED
0325 PM TORNADO 4 SE DELPHI 40.54N 86.62W
11/17/2013 CARROLL IN TRAINED SPOTTER
THREE HOMES REPORTEDLY HIT BY TORNADO
0330 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E JAMESTOWN 39.93N 86.55W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN AMATEUR RADIO
TREE LIMBS DOWN ON SR 136
0331 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 N KOKOMO 40.55N 86.13W
11/17/2013 HOWARD IN AMATEUR RADIO
US 31 AND 600 N - SNAPPED TREES
0336 PM TSTM WND GST NEW ROSS 39.96N 86.71W
11/17/2013 M60 MPH MONTGOMERY IN AMATEUR RADIO
SR 136
0337 PM TSTM WND GST THORNTOWN 40.13N 86.61W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH BOONE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
NO DAMAGE REPORTED
0340 PM TORNADO LEBANON 40.05N 86.47W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN AMATEUR RADIO
CARS OVERTURNED AND SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE NEAR US 52
AND I65
0340 PM TSTM WND GST 5 E KOKOMO 40.48N 86.04W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH HOWARD IN AMATEUR RADIO
0341 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 E ADVANCE 40.00N 86.60W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN EMERGENCY MNGR
SPOTTER SAW ROTATION BUT NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING ON THE
GROUND.
0341 PM TORNADO 1 SSW LEBANON 40.04N 86.48W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN NEWSPAPER
*** 2 INJ *** TWO INDIVIDUAL SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES
WHEN THEIR SEMI FLIPPED AT THE FLYING J PLAZA AT THE
INTERSTATE 65 STATE ROUTE 39 INTERCHANGE.
0344 PM TORNADO SHOALS 38.67N 86.79W
11/17/2013 MARTIN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED 9 MILES EAST OF SHOALS
0344 PM TORNADO LEBANON 40.05N 86.47W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
TORNADO REPORTED BY SPOTTER
0350 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 N LEBANON 40.12N 86.47W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN AMATEUR RADIO
2 FOOT TREES DOWN AT 200 E AND 500 N
0352 PM TORNADO 2 SW LEBANON 40.03N 86.50W
11/17/2013 BOONE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TONADO ON THE GROUND TO THE NE
0353 PM TSTM WND GST INDIANAPOLIS INT`L AIRP 39.72N 86.29W
11/17/2013 M65 MPH MARION IN AIRPORT OPS
WIND GUST MEASURED BY ASOS.
0355 PM TSTM WND DMG KOKOMO 40.48N 86.13W
11/17/2013 HOWARD IN AMATEUR RADIO
SEVERAL HOMES DESTROYED. JC PENNY WINDOWS BLOWN OUT.
0356 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 4 SW BEDFORD 38.82N 86.54W
11/17/2013 LAWRENCE IN AMATEUR RADIO
SR 37 AND US 50
0410 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 W NOBLESVILLE 40.06N 86.05W
11/17/2013 HAMILTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0410 PM HIGH SUST WINDS INDIANAPOLIS 39.78N 86.15W
11/17/2013 M65 MPH MARION IN AMATEUR RADIO
0410 PM HAIL INDIANAPOLIS 39.78N 86.15W
11/17/2013 M0.75 INCH MARION IN AMATEUR RADIO
0411 PM HIGH SUST WINDS JAMESTOWN 39.93N 86.63W
11/17/2013 M65 MPH HENDRICKS IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0411 PM TSTM WND GST MCCORDSVILLE 39.91N 85.93W
11/17/2013 E75 MPH HANCOCK IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0413 PM TSTM WND GST ELWOOD 40.28N 85.84W
11/17/2013 E40 MPH MADISON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0425 PM FUNNEL CLOUD WESTFIELD 40.05N 86.13W
11/17/2013 HAMILTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0426 PM TSTM WND GST TIPTON 40.28N 86.04W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH TIPTON IN AMATEUR RADIO
0432 PM TSTM WND GST 3 E TIPTON 40.28N 85.98W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH TIPTON IN AMATEUR RADIO
SR 213 AND SR 28
0438 PM TSTM WND GST 5 SW BLOOMINGTON 39.12N 86.59W
11/17/2013 E80 MPH MONROE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0439 PM FUNNEL CLOUD SEYMOUR 38.96N 85.89W
11/17/2013 JACKSON IN AMATEUR RADIO
15TH ST AND HIGHWAY 11. NORTH OF SEYMOUR.
0445 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E INDIANAPOLIS 39.78N 86.07W
11/17/2013 MARION IN BROADCAST MEDIA
BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF WASHINGTON STREET AND RITTER
AVENUE IN THE IRVINGTON AREA COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
0452 PM HEAVY RAIN WINDFALL 40.36N 85.96W
11/17/2013 M1.89 INCH TIPTON IN AMATEUR RADIO
0452 PM HEAVY RAIN SHARPSVILLE 40.38N 86.09W
11/17/2013 M1.40 INCH TIPTON IN AMATEUR RADIO
0454 PM TSTM WND GST 7 NE NASHVILLE 39.28N 86.14W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH BROWN IN AMATEUR RADIO
LOCATION IS ESTIMATED
0454 PM HAIL 7 NE NASHVILLE 39.28N 86.14W
11/17/2013 E0.88 INCH BROWN IN AMATEUR RADIO
LOCATION IS ESTIMATED
0456 PM TORNADO 2 NE ATLANTA 40.24N 86.00W
11/17/2013 TIPTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
HOUSE REPORTEDLY HIT BY TORNADO
0456 PM TSTM WND GST 11 NE NASHVILLE 39.32N 86.09W
11/17/2013 E60 MPH BROWN IN AMATEUR RADIO
0456 PM HAIL 11 NE NASHVILLE 39.32N 86.09W
11/17/2013 E0.25 INCH BROWN IN AMATEUR RADIO
0500 PM TSTM WND DMG INDIANAPOLIS 39.78N 86.15W
11/17/2013 MARION IN AMATEUR RADIO
1 FOOT DIAMETER TREE DOWN
0513 PM TSTM WND GST KENNARD 39.90N 85.52W
11/17/2013 M60 MPH HENRY IN AMATEUR RADIO
SR 109 AND SHIRLEY RD
0523 PM TSTM WND DMG SULPHUR SPRINGS 40.01N 85.44W
11/17/2013 HENRY IN AMATEUR RADIO
30 INCH TREE ON A CAR AT SR 36 AND RAIDER ROAD
0530 PM TSTM WND DMG WESTPORT 39.18N 85.58W
11/17/2013 DECATUR IN AMATEUR RADIO
MULTIPLE TREES DOWN
0545 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 SW BROWNSTOWN 38.78N 86.18W
11/17/2013 JACKSON IN AMATEUR RADIO
FLAG POLES DOWN. 4 INCH TREES DOWN. SHINGLES OFF ROOF.
0555 PM TSTM WND DMG CLARKSBURG 39.43N 85.35W
11/17/2013 DECATUR IN AMATEUR RADIO
POWER LINES DOWN
0557 PM TSTM WND DMG SEYMOUR 38.96N 85.89W
11/17/2013 JACKSON IN AMATEUR RADIO
3 FOOT HEALTHY TREE DAMAGE AT 900 E AND 300 N
Rain Reports
Environment
A potent weather system moved into the Ohio Valley during the afternoon of November 17, 2013. The setup became ideal for severe weather, including multiple tornadoes.
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| Figure 1: The above is a map of jet stream wind speeds (color background) and streamlines showing direction of flow. Warmer colors equal higher speeds. A strong jet stream was approaching central Indiana during the afternoon of November 17. | Figure 2: An upper trough was approaching the area as well. The above is 500 mb heights valid at 3:00 PM. | Figure 3: Not far off the surface, strong winds were flowing north from the Gulf of America. Above is a map of wind speeds at 500 meters above ground (approximately 1600ft). The colors indicate wind speed, with warmer colors indicating faster speeds. Speeds over Indiana at 3:00 PM were over 50 mph. The arrows indicate the wind flow. |
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| Figure 4: At the surface, a cold front was approaching from the west. Plenty of moisture was available, especially for mid-November, with surface dewpoints in the upper 50s and lower 60s. The above plot shows for 3:00 PM: sea level pressure contours, surface observations. The colors represent dewpoint, with warmer colors indicating higher dewpoints. A loop of surface conditions is available (courtesy of WFO Chicago). |
Figure 5: The setup with the system provided the area with plenty of instability for thunderstorms to form on. Above is a map of instability (Mixed Layer CAPE) valid at 3:00 PM. Areas outlined in red are unstable. | Figure 6: The turning of the winds with height set up by the approaching upper trough and winds ahead of the surface cold front set the stage for the potential for tornadoes. The above plot is for Effective Storm Relative Helicity valid at 3:00 PM. The numbers across central Indiana were extremely high for November. |
Forecasts and Links
The Forecast
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| SPC Day 4 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 3 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 2 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 2 Probabilistic Outlook |
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| SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook | SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook | SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook |
Warnings Issued across the USA
Summaries from other NWS Offices
Northern Indiana, Northwest Ohio, and Lower Michigan: NWS Northern Indiana
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