The tornado first touched down along South 37th Street, just to the south of Backmeyer Road, as indicated by swirl marks in an adjacent field. Two trees were snapped along South 37th Street.
The tornado then moved north-northeast, producing damage at the Brookdale Nursing Home on South A Street. Five to ten percent of the roof was removed. One tree, four inches in diameter, was knocked down and several smaller limbs from trees were also knocked down.
The most significant damage was observed at the Richmond Mall where several air handlers on the roof were removed and one was blown northeast onto U.S. 40. The parking lot was also full of debris and a large store on the southwest side of the mall had fifty percent of the glass blown in. On the east side of the mall, a brick wall seven feet high by thirty feet long was destroyed and some of the facade was starting to peel away from the roof. Around that same area, a garage door was blown in. Overall less than five percent of the roof of the mall was removed. On the inside of the mall approximately eight businesses experienced damage, primarily from windows blown out and merchandise blown around. Winds at the Richmond Mall were estimated to be around 85 mph, which is rated at the highest end for an EF0 tornado.
Some of the roof material from the mall landed in three to five businesses on the other side of US 40. Those businesses also received minor damage, with isolated windows being blown out and also some observed damage to signage and siding. A concrete table was moved several feet from its original position, and there was also minor small tree damage. In the service station at the intersection of US 40 and Hayes Arboretum Rd, an adult and a child were sitting in a car when the windows were blown in, causing minor injuries. They were taken to the hospital, treated and released.
Further northeast along Woodside Drive, a large hardwood tree fell to the southwest onto a house and also a tall metal television antenna fell the opposite direction onto the house. Extensive tree damage was also observed near the house, with several two foot diameter trees blown down. Debris from the signage of businesses was scattered throughout the property on Woodside Drive.
The property next door also experienced some damage, particularly with the garage being shifted and a tree limb also knocked down onto the house. Further down along Woodside Drive, several large tree limbs were knocked down. On Sycamore Drive, isolated two to three foot diameter trees were knocked down.
The last visible damage from this tornado appeared to be along Gravel Pit Road, where an additional one or two trees were knocked down.