Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, June 29, 1998

A large and powerful squall line known as a Derecho originated in Iowa the morning of the 29th, slammed through Central Illinois the afternoon of the 29th and swept across Central Indiana the evening of the 29th. This squall line produced wind gusts of 40 to nearly 80 mph across central Indiana causing damage in nearly every central Indiana County. A weak tornado briefly touched down near Brazil aroun 7 PM while another weak tornado briefly touched down near Edwardsport around 9 PM. These tornadoes caused minor house damage and major tree damage. Otherwise, most wind damage resulted in widespread tree and powerline damage across central Indiana, and in a handful of cases, trees fell on houses and/or cars causing additional damage. Hardest hit areas included the Indianapolis area near Plainfield where hundreds of trees were mowed down by 70 mph straightline winds. Also hard hit was the Bedford area with hundreds of trees being toppled. And the Columbus area also experienced widespread tree and powerline damage in addition to two semitractor trucks being blown off I-65.