National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

A line of severe storms moved through the Northern Indiana County Warning Area (CWA, Map here) during the afternoon hours on August 11th, 2021, causing widespread straight-line wind damage. Most of the measured and estimated wind gusts ranged from about 50 to 70 mph, but there were pockets of more intense gusts up to 75 mph in Elkhart County, IN (estimated via damage survey in Elkhart/Simonton Lake area) and near Hicksville, OH (measured 73 mph gust). Additionally, we were able to confirm three tornadoes that were embedded within the straight line winds along the main line of storms in northwest Ohio (specifically Van Wert, Allen, and Fulton Counties). The Fulton County tornado in Fayette, OH was rated as an EF-1 with maximum wind speeds of 85 to 90 mph. The tornado that went through both Van Wert and Allen Counties between Venedocia, OH and Southworth, OH, in addition to the tornado two miles west-southwest of Middlepoint, OH were rated as "EF-U", which means the tornado did not cause damage to any qualified damage indicators like trees or structures (it was only crop damage). Unfortunately, in these situations we cannot rate the tornado or provide estimated wind speeds. Thank you to the spotters who submitted photos and reports of wind speeds and damage, in addition to the key eyewitness testimony to the storms. Thank you to our partners at the various EMA offices across the forecast area for sending drone footage and photos, coordinating survey efforts, and gathering input from the community members who saw tornadoes or had damage. Special thanks to the Fulton County, OH Sheriff's office for providing key drone footage in the Fayette Tornado survey. Unfortunately, our phone system went down on August 11th and as of August 14th, 2021 was still out of service (ironically due to storms). As a result, many of our spotters and partners trying to call us reported getting a busy signal (click here for alternative ways to contact us in the meantime). We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. A Public Information Statement for the entire event is here (and on the storm reports tab). Click the tabs below to view the event in greater detail. 

 

 

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