Tornadoes · United States · Indiana · 2011
EF0 tornado, Francesville, Indiana, May 25, 2011
This EF0 tornado ran 0.8 miles across Pulaski County on May 25, 2011, touching down at 10:45 AM EDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- May 25, 2011
- Touchdown
- 10:45 AM EDT (14:45 UTC)
- Lifted
- 10:46 AM EDT (14:46 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.8 miles (1.3 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Pulaski County
- Touchdown point
- 40.983, -86.894
- Lift-off point
- 40.987, -86.874
- Record number
- 1105250845-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A warm front was located from southwestern Indiana into northwestern Ohio through the 25th and into the early morning hours of the 26th. Several waves moved along the front, with each one generating thunderstorms. Numerous hail reports were received, with pockets of wind damage as well as an isolated tornado.
A survey of damage in the Francesville area found indications of a brief circulation touchdown. The circulation touched down just west of U.S. 421 and tracked quickly east northeast across 421, knocking over five power poles. A pole barn was destroyed near the intersection of Bill and James Street with trees blown down in the 400 block of East Montgomery. The width of the tornado was no more than 50 yards with maximum winds estimated between 80 and 85 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 13:50 UTC and running to 19:49 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03:31 UTC | 04:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX |
| 04:28 UTC | 05:14 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX |
| 13:50 UTC | 19:49 UTC | Tornado Watch | IWX |
| 14:22 UTC | 14:51 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX |
| 15:00 UTC | 15:29 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX |
| 18:00 UTC | 08:00 UTC | Flash Flood Watch | IWX |
| 23:13 UTC | 04:02 UTC | Tornado Watch | IWX |
| 01:36 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX |
| 03:14 UTC | 15:15 UTC | Flood Warning | IWX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 12:55 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 12:00Z
2.8 hours before the tornado, 172 km from the path. May 25, 2011.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1832 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -18 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 736 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 561 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 253 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 222 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.6
- Supercell composite
- 10.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.4 K/km
The surface observations
Rensselaer (RZL), 25 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:55 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 130° 13 kt | 16 | 1005.1 | -TSRA |
| 13:15 UTC | 66.2 | 64.4 | 130° 10 kt | 1004.7 | TS | |
| 13:35 UTC | 68 | 64.4 | 120° 9 kt | 1004.7 | VCTS | |
| 13:55 UTC | 68 | 66.2 | 130° 11 kt | 16 | 1004.4 | |
| 14:15 UTC | 69.8 | 66.2 | 140° 10 kt | 1004.4 | ||
| 14:35 UTC | 66.2 | 60.8 | 240° 24 kt | 49 | 1006.4 | VCTSRA |
| 14:55 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 260° 12 kt | 16 | 1005.8 | -VCTSRA |
| 15:15 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 260° 4 kt | 1004.7 | ||
| 15:35 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 230° 4 kt | 1005.1 | VCTS | |
| 15:55 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 1004.7 | |||
| 16:15 UTC | 66.2 | 62.6 | 1004.7 | |||
| 16:35 UTC | 68 | 62.6 | 80° 3 kt | 1004.4 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 14:43 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:49 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | 5 E Lowell | Lake, IN | NEAR I-65 AND STATE RD 2 |
| 14:20 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Mount Ayr | Newton, IN | POSSIBLE TORNADO. STATE ROAD 55 AND 114 |
| 14:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 W Brook | Newton, IN | POLES DOWN AT 500S AND 600E. TREES DOWN AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN NEWTON COUNTY INCLUDING 600W AND 300S, 500W AND 450E, 550S AND 650W, 1125S AND 600W, 350W AND 800S, 600N AND MERIDIAN. |
| 14:20 UTC | TORNADO | 2 S Mount Ayr | Newton, IN | POSSIBLE TORNADO. STATE ROAD 55 AND 600S |
| 14:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Rensselaer | Jasper, IN | TREES DOWN. SR 14 NEAR 200 W. |
| 14:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Brook | Newton, IN | SR 55 AND US 14. POSSIBLE TORNADO. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOUSE...2 FARM SHEDS...AND GRAIN BIN. |
| 14:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Rensselaer | Jasper, IN | TREES DOWN SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. |
| 14:24 UTC | TORNADO | 2 S Mount Ayr | Newton, IN | SR 55 AND COUNTY ROAD 600S. POSSIBLE TORNADO. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOUSE...2 FARM SHEDS...AND GRAIN BIN. |
| 14:24 UTC | TORNADO | Rensselaer | Jasper, IN | POSSIBLE TORNADO. POWER LINES DOWN...SHINGLES LOST...TRUCK OVERTURNED AT 231 AND DREXEL. ALSO TREE LIMBS DOWN ALONG SR114 AND 150E. |
| 14:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Brook | Newton, IN | SHED HEAVILY DAMAGED. UTILITY POLES DOWN. NEAR STATE ROAD 55 AND COUNTY RD 600S. |
| 14:45 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | Otterbein | Tippecanoe, IN | |
| 14:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Francesville | Pulaski, IN | STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED IN FRANCESVILLE. NO FURTHER DETAILS. TIME ESTIMATED. |
| 14:45 UTC | TORNADO | Francesville | Pulaski, IN | EF-0 TORNADO DAMAGE TO POWER POLES ON ROUTE 421...POLE BARN DESTROYED AT BILL ST AND JAMES ST AND TREES DOWN ON 400 BLOCK OF EAST MONTGOMERY. PATH LENGTH WAS 0.8 MILES AND PATH WIDTH WAS 50 YARDS. |
| 15:07 UTC | TSTM WND GST 39 | 4 Nw Lafayette | Tippecanoe, IN | MEASURED WIND AT HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL. |
| 15:10 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 5 Sw Delphi | Tippecanoe, IN | |
| 15:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nne Hebron | Porter, IN | POWER POLE DOWN AT 550 W AND 350 S. |
| 15:10 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | Hebron | Porter, IN | NICKEL HAIL. |
| 15:20 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 4 Ne Delphi | Carroll, IN | |
| 15:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Culver | Marshall, IN | LARGE TREE BRANCH BLOWN DOWN |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2011 tornado in IndianaEvery tornado in Indiana since 1950Warnings in force in Indiana nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 25, 2011
93 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Webster, MO | 9.3 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:35 AM CDT | EF1 | Macon, IL | 1.0 | 75 | $165,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:39 AM CDT | EF1 | Macon, IL | 1.5 | 75 | $100,000 | ||
| May 25 | 9:04 AM CDT | EF1 | Kankakee, IL | 5.8 | 50 | $250,000 | ||
| May 25 | 9:13 AM CDT | EF0 | Newton, IN | 0.1 | 20 | $25,000 | ||
| May 25 | 9:19 AM CDT | EF2 | Newton, IN | 1.9 | 300 | $50,000 | ||
| May 25 | 9:24 AM CDT | EF1 | Jasper, IN | 2.9 | 100 | $500 | ||
| May 25 | 9:26 AM CDT | EF1 | Jasper, IN | 1.9 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| May 25 | 10:45 AM CDT | EF0 | Miami, KS | 0.1 | 40 | $5,000 | ||
| May 25 | 11:10 AM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, KS | 0.7 | 60 | $10,000 | ||
| May 25 | 11:22 AM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, KS | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 11:35 AM CDT | EF0 | Cass, MO | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 11:38 AM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, KS | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 12:22 PM CDT | EF2 | Pettis, MO | 2.1 | 500 | 20 | $4.0 million | |
| May 25 | 12:33 PM CDT | EF0 | Clay, MO | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 12:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Clay, MO | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 12:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Pettis, MO | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 1:04 PM CDT | EF0 | Cooper, MO | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 1:07 PM CDT | EF0 | Lafayette, MO | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 2:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Montgomery, MO | 7.1 | 100 | |||
| May 25 | 3:26 PM EDT | EF0 | Van Wert, OH | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 2:56 PM CDT | EF1 | Oregon, MO | 2.5 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| May 25 | 3:49 PM CDT | EF3 | Carter, MO | 47.4 | 1,200 | 2 | $800,000 | |
| May 25 | 4:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson, AR | 5.5 | 500 | $40,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:15 PM EDT | EF1 | Decatur, IN | 0.8 | 600 | $500,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:20 PM EDT | EF1 | Decatur, IN | 0.1 | 400 | $250,000 | ||
| May 25 | 4:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Madison, MO | 5.5 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 4:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Wayne, MO | 17.8 | 150 | $70,000 | ||
| May 25 | 4:44 PM CDT | EF0 | Carter, MO | 0.5 | 50 | $2,000 | ||
| May 25 | 4:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Des Moines, IA | 4.8 | 100 | $250,000 | ||
| May 25 | 4:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Madison, MO | 5.3 | 440 | |||
| May 25 | 4:47 PM CDT | EF1 | Madison, MO | 4.3 | 580 | |||
| May 25 | 4:51 PM CDT | EF0 | Perry, MO | 0.3 | 60 | $3,000 | ||
| May 25 | 4:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Ripley, MO | 0.7 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 6:00 PM EDT | EF1 | Huron, OH | 8.0 | 50 | $250,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Des Moines, IA | 3.6 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:14 PM CDT | EF0 | Butler, MO | 0.7 | 40 | |||
| May 25 | 6:14 PM EDT | EF0 | Hardin, OH | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| May 25 | 5:26 PM CDT | EF1 | Bollinger, MO | 13.0 | 250 | $30,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:06 PM CDT | EF0 | McLean, IL | 0.9 | 25 | $8,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:09 PM CDT | EF1 | McLean, IL | 10.3 | 75 | $10,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:10 PM EDT | EF0 | Montgomery, OH | 0.1 | 25 | $5,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:18 PM CDT | EF1 | Cape Girardeau, MO | 2.1 | 250 | $20,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:18 PM CDT | EF0 | St. Francis, AR | 1.1 | 100 | |||
| May 25 | 6:28 PM CDT | EF2 | Jefferson, IL | 13.5 | 250 | $4.0 million | ||
| May 25 | 6:30 PM CDT | EF0 | Scott, MO | 0.4 | 50 | $1,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:30 PM EDT | EF0 | Summit, OH | 4.2 | 50 | $200,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:39 PM CDT | EF1 | Union, IL | 2.0 | 125 | $150,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:40 PM CDT | EF1 | Pulaski, IL | 5.5 | 250 | $50,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Pulaski, IL | 10.0 | 120 | $40,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:48 PM CDT | EF1 | Crittenden, AR | 2.5 | 100 | $500,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:55 PM CDT | EF2 | Pulaski, IL | 19.9 | 325 | $255,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Champaign, IL | 0.2 | 15 | $5,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:58 PM EDT | EF3 | Lawrence, IN | 6.8 | 300 | $150,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:08 PM PDT | EF1 | Glenn, CA | 21.6 | 120 | $200,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:12 PM PDT | EF1 | Glenn, CA | 26.4 | 120 | $150,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:18 PM CDT | EF1 | Clay, IL | 1.0 | 75 | $510,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Richland, IL | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| May 25 | 7:57 PM CDT | EF2 | Crawford, IL | 5.5 | 200 | $920,000 | ||
| May 25 | 7:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Union Parish, LA | 5.5 | 150 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.