The tornado that struck Monroe County late on June 17, 2026, started in Owen County and left a path of destruction a half a mile wide and more than 15 miles long, authorities said.
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has rated the tornado an EF2, with maximum wind speeds of 130 miles per hour, though meteorologist Casey Crosbie said Friday morning that the agency was still analyzing data and may yet upgrade the storm to an EF3.
Crosbie said aerial footage shows a very obvious long track of flattened trees for many miles. The agency is still awaiting additional aerial survey and satellite data to determine the exact end point, but he said the tornado may have gone into parts of Brown County.
Crosbie said the tornado started near U.S. 231 southwest of Gosport and traveled at least 15 miles, but investigators could not actually reach the storm’s end point because of downed trees and lack of roads. More than 80% of the tornado’s track was through forested area, including the Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
The agency determines the strength of the tornado partially on how much of the trees remain, how big the trees are that were flattened and on debarking, or how much bark the wind ripped off the trees. Crosbie said some of the tree damage indicates that the tornado may be upgraded.
He said the wind may have carried some of the debris into Johnson and southeast Morgan counties.
The storm struck about 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, the storm crossed Interstate 69, downing trees that led to the closure of the highway at Mile Marker 130, about four miles south of Martinsville. At least one person was injured.
The Monroe County tornado was one of at least seven tornadoes that the NWS recorded for Indiana this week. Other areas that were hit:
Crosbie said that while the state has had storms that produced more tornadoes, this week’s storms produced a relatively high number of stronger tornadoes.
The area is not done with storms for the week yet. Crosbie said there’s a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms Sunday night into Monday, which could produce heavy rain and increase the risk for flooding.
Some areas may get as much as 3 inches of rain, and with the White River and East Fork already being in minor flood stage, flooding will be a risk, he said.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: EF2 tornado damages south-central Indiana, may be upgraded
Reporting by Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
