Tornado outbreak of August 24, 2016

The Tornado outbreak of August 24, 2016 was a six-hour tornado outbreak in which a total of 24 tornadoes touched down in Ontario, Indiana and Ohio. Several of these tornadoes were strong and caused significant damage, including a high-end EF2 that struck Windsor, Ontario, Canada and an EF3 that struck Kokomo, Indiana. This particular tornado outbreak was unusual for multiple reasons, including the fact that it was largely unexpected. The Storm Prediction Center had issued only a slight risk for severe weather that day, with the threat for a tornado or two limited to parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. Despite this, the outbreak unfolded entirely outside of the outlined threat area as numerous supercell thunderstorms developed unexpectedly across parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, producing numerous tornadoes. Tornado outbreaks of this size and intensity are also not commonly seen during the late summer months across the Ohio Valley region. Despite the damage, few injuries and no fatalities occurred.

Tornado outbreak of August 24, 2016

Farm machinery mangled beyond recognition by a high-end EF3 tornado near Woodburn, Indiana.
Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	August 24, 2016
Tornadoes confirmed	24 confirmed
Max. rating^1	EF3 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak^2	6 hours, 28 minutes
Damage	>$100 million
Casualties	Unknown
Areas affected	Indiana, Ohio, Ontario
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale ^2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating

EFU	EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5	Total
0	12	6	4	2	0	0	24

List of confirmed tornadoes on Wednesday, August 24, 2016[note 1]

EF#	Location	County / Parish	State / Province	Start Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Max width	Damage[note 2]	Summary	Refs
EF2	SE of Crawfordsville	Montgomery	IN	40.0018°N 86.8735°W	1838–1848	5.37 mi (8.64 km)	125 yd (114 m)	$75,000	This tornado damaged 30 homes, with the most severe damage occurring in the Linnsburg area. Extensive damage to trees and barns occurred as well.	[1]
EF3	Southern Kokomo	Howard	IN	40.4613°N 86.1884°W	1920–1934	8.63 mi (13.89 km)	300 yd (270 m)	$10,000,000	Strong tornado caused major damage in the southern part of Kokomo. 1,000 homes were damaged, 170 of which sustained major damage. 80 of these homes were destroyed, some sustaining loss of roofs and exterior walls. Many large trees and power poles were snapped along the path, and the Park Place Apartments were heavily damaged as well. Vehicles were also damaged, including a large truck that was moved 10 feet from the driveway of a house and flipped over. A Starbucks was completely destroyed, and several people were left trapped inside and had to be rescued. Many sheds and detached garages were destroyed as well, and a receipt from Kokomo was found 30 miles away in Marion. This was the strongest tornado to strike Kokomo since an 1965 when an F4 tornado devastated the area.	[2]
EF0	Indianapolis	Marion	IN	39.8031°N 86.1108°W	2018–2019	0.37 mi (0.60 km)	100 yd (91 m)	$15,000	Tornado briefly touched down in the Brightwood neighborhood of Indianapolis, snapping numerous tree limbs and downing a large but rotten tree. A house had its windows blown out and pieces of its siding removed, while a large commercial building sustained minor roof damage.	[3]
EF0	E of Van Buren	Wells	IN	40.6103°N 85.4249°W	2059–2100	0.04 mi (0.064 km)	20 yd (18 m)	$0	A brief tornado snapped tree branches, pulled metal siding from a pole barn, and dragged an unanchored wellhouse into a pond.	[4]
EF3	NW of Woodburn to E of Harlan	Allen	IN	41.1475°N 84.9187°W	2127–2139	5.16 mi (8.30 km)	500 yd (460 m)	$0	High-end EF3 multiple-vortex wedge tornado damaged several houses, some heavily. One home was swept away with only the subflooring left behind, though the home was poorly anchored and trees in the immediate vicinity sustained only minimal damage. Corn and soybean fields were severely scoured along the path, and many large trees were snapped and uprooted, including a few that were denuded and debarked. Large, well-constructed barns were completely obliterated with debris scattered up to a mile away. Two combines from one of the barns were thrown and mangled, one of which was found 200 yards away. A dump truck from the same location was thrown and had its cab and engine ripped from the frame, while a nearby car was carried at least 585 yards into a field. A large, well-anchored barn was swept away at another location, with three vehicles stored inside being destroyed. Many other small outbuildings were damaged or destroyed as well. Surveyors noted that the extreme vehicle and machinery damage suggests possible EF4 intensity.	[5]
EF1	ESE of Flora to NNE of Kokomo	Carroll, Howard	IN	40.5280°N 86.4309°W	2140–2222	17.06 mi (27.46 km)	100 yd (91 m)	$59,000	Several barns suffered partial wall and roof damage along the path, while a garage slid off its foundation. Trees and crops were damaged throughout the path, and wooden power poles were bent over.	[6][7]
EF1	N of Berne	Adams	IN	40.6832°N 85.0247°W	2149–2203	7.56 mi (12.17 km)	50 yd (46 m)	$0	The tornado followed a skipping path, occasionally touching down in corn and bean fields. Several taller barn structures suffered partial roof loss with debris thrown several hundred yards. Large trees had broken limbs while smaller trees were knocked down or uprooted.	[8]
EF2	NE of Antwerp to SE of Mark Center	Paulding, Defiance	OH	41.2220°N 84.6813°W	2153–2204	4.42 mi (7.11 km)	250 yd (230 m)	$0	Strong multiple-vortex tornado passed near the town of Cecil, causing extensive damage to farmsteads. Homes had their roofs torn off and were shifted off of their foundations, and the newer addition of one farm home was completely destroyed. Two mobile homes were blown off of their foundations. Vehicles, barns, garages, and outbuildings were destroyed, and many large trees were snapped and uprooted along the path as well.	[9][10]
EF0	Peru	Miami	IN	40.7740°N 86.0796°W	2213–2214	0.06 mi (0.097 km)	20 yd (18 m)	$0	The tornado briefly touched down, damaging shingles at a medical center downing large tree limbs.	[11]
EF2	N of Defiance	Defiance	OH	41.3231°N 84.3803°W	2228–2234	2.64 mi (4.25 km)	400 yd (370 m)	$0	Trees and tree limbs were snapped, the roof was torn from a business, and power poles were snapped as well. A house sustained roof damage, a storage building collapsed, and barns and outbuildings were destroyed.	[12]
EF1	W of Van Wert	Van Wert	OH	40.8241°N 84.7257°W	2230–2241	5.45 mi (8.77 km)	75 yd (69 m)	$0	The tornado skipped along its path. Trees were uprooted and snapped. One home suffered roof and siding damage while mud was thrown onto a nearby garage, which suffered minor damage. A large barn lost its roof. Small grave stones were moved.	[13]
EF0	NW of Van Wert	Van Wert	OH	40.8878°N 84.6698°W	2241–2245	1.47 mi (2.37 km)	25 yd (23 m)	$0	A secondary spin-up tornado damaged corn and bean crops.	[14]
EF1	W of Napoleon	Henry	OH	41.3823°N 84.2161°W	2248–2254	2.8 mi (4.5 km)	150 yd (140 m)	$0	A tornado with multiple touchdowns broke tree limbs and caused roof damage to several homes. A storage building was severely damaged, a barn was destroyed, and several silos were moved off their foundations.	[15]
EF0	NE of Van Wert	Van Wert	OH	40.9108°N 84.5538°W	2251–2304	4.65 mi (7.48 km)	40 yd (37 m)	$0	The tornado mainly caused damage to corn and bean crops. The tornado lifted at one point near the middle of the path.	[16]
EF0	Indian Heights	Howard	IN	40.4335°N 86.1217°W	2258–2300	0.67 mi (1.08 km)	75 yd (69 m)	$10,000	Homes and trees were damaged.	[17]
EF1	LaSalle	Essex	ON		~2300		250 m (270 yd)		This tornado touched down over the Detroit River before moving ashore and striking LaSalle. Boats were tossed and damaged at a marina, and trees were toppled in town. Homes sustained damage to roofs, windows, and siding.	[18][19]
EF1	S of Russiaville	Howard	IN	40.3993°N 86.2714°W	2300–2302	1.5 mi (2.4 km)	50 yd (46 m)	$25,000	One garage was damaged, and trees and crops were damaged throughout the path.	[20]
EF0	NE of Van Wert	Van Wert	OH	40.9602°N 84.4437°W	2304–2310	2.46 mi (3.96 km)	20 yd (18 m)	$0	The tornado mainly caused damage to corn and bean crops.	[21]
EF2	Windsor	Essex	ON		~2310		200 m (220 yd)		This high-end EF2 tornado caused major damage to factories and industrial buildings along the E.C. Row Expressway. This included a metal frame warehouse structure that was flattened. Multiple vehicles were severely damaged, including several large cube vans that were dragged through a parking lot. Garbage dumpsters were thrown up to 120 yards away, power poles were snapped, and large amounts of sheet metal was wrapped around guard rails and power lines. Numerous trees were downed, and multiple homes sustained damage in residential areas, at least a dozen of which sustained significant structural damage.	[22][23]
EF0	S of Kokomo	Howard	IN	40.4038°N 86.1562°W	2316–2321	2.95 mi (4.75 km)	75 yd (69 m)	$15,500	The tornado bent a road sign and caused damage to a billboard and trees.	[24]
EF0	SE of Liberty Center	Henry	OH	41.4342°N 83.9518°W	2319–2320	0.01 mi (0.016 km)	20 yd (18 m)	$0	A tornado briefly touched down in a field and damaged crops.	[25]
EF0	Dupont	Putnam	OH	41.0479°N 84.3071°W	2326–2329	1.23 mi (1.98 km)	25 yd (23 m)	$0	The tornado moved directly through Dupont, damaging trees, roofs, siding, and crops and lifted water from the Auglaize River.	[26]
EF0	NE of Continental	Putnam, Henry	OH	41.1678°N 84.1814°W	2348–2350	0.64 mi (1.03 km)	15 yd (14 m)	$0	A very brief tornado caused little damage.	[27]
EF0	SW of Pemberville	Wood	OH	41.3591°N 83.5246°W	0106	0.04 mi (0.064 km)	20 yd (18 m)	$35,000	The tornado touched down and immediately lifted. A storage building lost much of its sheet metal roof, with debris carried into nearby trees.	[28]

Notes

1. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
2. All damage totals are in 2016 USD unless otherwise stated.

References

1. Indiana Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
2. Indiana Event Report: EF3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
3. Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
4. Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
5. Indiana Event Report: EF3 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
6. Indiana Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
7. Indiana Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
8. Indiana Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
9. Ohio Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
10. Ohio Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
11. Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
12. Indiana Event Report: EF2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
13. Ohio Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
14. Ohio Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
15. Ohio Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
16. Ohio Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
17. Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
18. Flooding rains follow 2 confirmed twisters in southern Ont.
19. Tornadoes touch down in LaSalle, Ont. and Windsor
20. Indiana Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
21. Ohio Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
22. Flooding rains follow 2 confirmed twisters in southern Ont.
24. Indiana Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
25. Ohio Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
26. Ohio Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
27. Ohio Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Northern Indiana. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
28. Ohio Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Cleveland, Ohio. 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.