Overview
On the afternoon and evening of October 15, 2021, severe thunderstorms moved through portions of western Kentucky, far southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana. An EF-1 tornado occurred in Spencer County, IN, shortly after 8 p.m. CDT. Wind damage also occurred in Evansville, IN, Hopkinsville, KY, Trigg County, KY, and Pulaski County, IL.Tornadoes:
Tornado - Southeast of Gentryville, IN
Track Map ![]()
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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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Photos & Video
These photos were of the tornado damage that occurred near Gentryville, IN. They were provided by the Spencer County, IN, Emergency Management Agency.![]() |
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Barn damage near Gentryville. (Source: Spencer County Emergency Management) |
Tree on a house near Gentryville. (Source: Spencer County Emergency Management) |
Barn damage near Gentryville. (Source: Spencer County Emergency Management) |
Barn damage near Gentryville. (Source: Spencer County Emergency Management) |
Radar
Radar images from the KVWX radar during the EF-1 tornado that occurred near Gentryville, IN.
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Base reflectivity and storm relatively velocity at 8:05 p.m. CDT. | Base reflectivity and storm relatively velocity at 8:10 p.m. CDT. | Base reflectivity and storm relatively velocity at 8:14 p.m. CDT. | Base reflectivity and storm relatively velocity at 8:21 p.m. CDT. |
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 821 AM CDT SUN OCT 17 2021 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0340 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WNW CADIZ 36.87N 87.83W 10/15/2021 TRIGG KY UTILITY COMPANY A TREE FELL ON A POWER LINE AND BROUGHT DOWN 3 POLES ALONG MARTINDALE DRIVE. REPORT FROM PRECC. 0406 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 W HOPKINSVILLE 36.86N 87.56W 10/15/2021 CHRISTIAN KY LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES DOWN AT HIGHWAY 272 AND PETSCH LANE. 0407 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 NW HOPKINSVILLE 36.91N 87.56W 10/15/2021 CHRISTIAN KY LAW ENFORCEMENT TREES DOWN AT THE 5 MILE MARKER OF PRINCETON RD. 0408 PM TSTM WND DMG HOPKINSVILLE 36.86N 87.50W 10/15/2021 CHRISTIAN KY BROADCAST MEDIA TREES DOWN AROUND THE 2500 BLOCK OF COX MILL ROAD. 0551 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WNW MOUND CITY 37.09N 89.18W 10/15/2021 PULASKI IL EMERGENCY MNGR 1 TREE DOWN OVER OLD U.S. HIGHWAY 51. 0722 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW EVANSVILLE 38.01N 87.63W 10/15/2021 VANDERBURGH IN BROADCAST MEDIA LARGE TREE ON A HOUSE AND ELECTRICAL WIRES DOWN. 0810 PM TORNADO 3 SSE GENTRYVILLE 38.07N 87.02W 10/15/2021 SPENCER IN NWS STORM SURVEY PATH LENGTH 1.1 MILES. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED IN THE LOCATION OF COUNTY ROAD 1250N AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS, ABOUT 1 MILE WEST OF HWY 231. THE TORNADO TRACKED ABOUT A MILE NORTHEAST AND IMPACTED A RESIDENCE ON COUNTY ROAD 275E. AT THIS RESIDENCE A LARGE BARN WAS PUSHED BACK ABOUT 20 FT OFF ITS FOUNDATION. AT THE PROPERTY NEXT TO THIS BARN, A LARGE TREE WAS SNAPPED AT ITS BASE AND FELL ONTO THE HOUSE. THE CORN FIELD NEXT TO THE HOUSE HAD SOME SWIRL MARKS AS WELL. THIS REPORT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO FURTHER INVESTIGATION. 0810 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSW GENTRYVILLE 38.07N 87.05W 10/15/2021 SPENCER IN EMERGENCY MNGR TREES DOWN IN THE AREA OF HWY 62 AND COUNTY ROAD 1250. ELECTRICAL LINES DOWN IN THE AREA AS WELL.
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