May 30th 2004 Peru Tornado

F3 tornado strikes Peru, Indiana

A preliminary storm damage survey by the Northern Indiana National Weather Service office indicates a low-end F3 tornado occurred in Miami County near Peru on Sunday, May 30, 2004. The tornado touched down around 8:55pm. A Tornado Warning had been issued thirteen minutes prior to touchdown, at 8:42pm. A Tornado Watch had been issued by the Storm Prediction Center at 7pm.

The tornado began southwest of Peru and was on the ground for approximately five miles...ending near the intersection of highways 19 and 24. The tornado path was one-eighth to one-fourth of a mile wide. The tornado caused F0 to F1 damage at its onset, then strengthened and caused F2 damage at a trailer park and over the western part of Peru. The tornado then continued to strengthen, causing low-end F3 damage to a large NIPSCO communication tower and tearing the roof off of a factory and knocking down its walls. This damage occurred near the intersection of highways 24 and 19 where the tornado lifted. The tornado had been at F3 strength for about one-third of a mile. Damage also occurred to homes, trees, and other structures.

Wind speeds in an F3 tornado are in the range of 158 to 206 mph. This tornado was on the low end of this range. Damage from an F3 tornado is rated as severe and may include roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses...trains overturned...most trees uprooted...and heavy cars lifted from the ground.

Wind speeds in an F2 tornado are in the range of 113 to 157 mph. Damage from and F2 tornado is considerable and may include roofs torn off framed houses...mobile homes demolished...boxcars overturned...large trees snapped or uprooted...light objects missiles generated...and cars lifted off the ground.

For official storm data, contact the National Climatic Data Center. Please allow 2 to 4 months for the data to be compiled.

Track Map

Radar Pictures