Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

A cold front pressing east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms my bring damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes while excessive rainfall may lead to areas of flooding. Heat will build across the western U.S. with heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories issued. Read More >

Overview

An unstable atmosphere combined with unseasonably strong wind shear allowed for isolated supercells to develop across southern Indiana on the evening of May 7, 2024. The environment was favorable for brief tornadic activity and resulted in a short-lived EF-0 tornado in Clark County, Indiana.

This webpage is under construction. Check back regularly for updates.

EF-0 damage to a home near Perry Crossing, IN

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Perry Crossing, IN
CLARK COUNTY

Date	May 7th, 2024
Time (Local)	9:23 - 9:26 PM
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	1.19 miles
Max Width	60 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The National Weather Service in Louisville confirmed an EF-0 tornado in Perry Crossing (near Sellersburg) in central Clark County, Indiana...(click HERE for more)

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Sulphur Springs, IN
CRAWFORD COUNTY

Date	May 7, 2024
Time (Local)	8:42 - 8: 43 PM EDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	78 MPH
Path Length	0.18 Miles
Max Width	80 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The National Weather Service in Louisville, in coordination with Crawford County Indiana Emergency Management, concluded that a brief EF-0 tornado touched down a mile south of Sulphur Springs, IN on the evening of May 7, 2024. (Click HERE for more info...)

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

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

Photos


NWS Louisville drone photo showing damage (NWS Louisville)	A small shed was damaged and fence was destroyed (NWS Louisville Damage Survey)	Damage to a home consistent with 80 MPH winds (NWS Louisville Damage Survey)

Radar


KLVX Base Reflectivity (left) and Storm Relative Velocity (right) at 916 PM EDT, 7 minutes before the tornado touched down	KLVX Base Reflectivity (left) and Storm Relative Velocity (right) at 919 PM EDT, 4 minutes before the tornado touched down	KLVX Base Reflectivity (left) and Storm Relative Velocity (right) at 923 PM EDT, as the tornado touched down

Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1040 AM EDT Wed May 8 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0923 PM     Tornado          1 ENE Bennettsville     38.44N 85.78W
05/07/2024                   Clark              IN   NWS Storm Survey

            The NWS in Louisville conducted a storm
            survey and found EF0 85 mph wind damage. The
            tornado was 0.41 miles long with a width of
            60 yards. For more information, please see
            the associated Public Information Statement
            survey summary.

0841 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW Sulphur Springs    38.21N 86.48W
05/07/2024                   Crawford           IN   Emergency Mngr

            On Old Union Church Rd just south of East
            Rainforth Rd, trees and power lines down,
            and carport blown in the road. Time
            estimated from radar.

0925 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ENE Bennettsville     38.45N 85.76W
05/07/2024                   Clark              IN   Trained Spotter

            Trees down on US-31.

Environment


Figure 1: Mixed Layer CAPE around the time of the tornado. Values around 3000 J/KG indicate a strongly unstable environment	Figure 2: Effective Shear around the time of the tornado	Figure 3: Effective Storm Relative Helicity around the time of the tornado. Values over 200 M2/S2 are considered favorable for tornadoes


Figure 4: 500 mb winds indicating the exit region of a strong mid level jet. This contributed strong deep layer shear, and a favorable supercell setup	Figure 5: Strong low level jetting at 850 mb was also added to strong and turning deep layer shear.	Figure 6: Surface analysis showing a frontal boundary draped near the region


Figure 7: Supercell Composite Parameter peaking at more than sufficient values right where tornado occurred	Figure 8: Significant Tornado Parameter signaled a very favorable environment for tornadoes