Tornadoes · United States · Indiana · 2016

EF0 tornado, Ridgeview, Indiana, August 24, 2016

Name: EF0 tornado, Ridgeview, Indiana, August 24, 2016
Start: 2016-08-24T22:13:00.000Z
End: 2016-08-24T22:14:00.000Z
Location: Ridgeview, Indiana

This EF0 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Miami County on August 24, 2016, touching down at 6:13 PM EDT and reaching 20 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: August 24, 2016
Touchdown: 6:13 PM EDT (22:13 UTC)
Lifted: 6:14 PM EDT (22:14 UTC)
On the ground: 1 minutes
Path length: 0.1 miles (0.1 km)
Path width: 20 yards (18 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
County: Miami County
Touchdown point: 40.774, -86.080
Lift-off point: 40.774, -86.079
Record number: 1608241613-01

The damage survey

8 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS IND and NWS IWX, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 107 mph.

north side of hospital. partial loss of roof covering

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A unique combination of extreme low level moisture and a passing upper level disturbance provided the trigger for severe storms. Even though the clouds remained in place for most of the day and it did not get very warm, there was just enough instability to allow storms to develop. There was also a high degree of shear in the lowest levels of the atmosphere, which allowed multiple tornadoes to form. No other forms of severe weather occurred during the event.

A storm survey and eyewitness reports indicated a brief touchdown on the north side of Peru, IN. Damage to shingles and sheeting of a roof was noted at a medical center along with downed large tree limbs.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Aug 24, 3:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 24, 3:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
359 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 350 PM EDT Wed Aug 24 2016

Showers and thunderstorms are possible through Thursday ahead of
a slow moving cold front as weak upper level systems move across
the area. Tornadoes are possible over the southern portion of the
area into early this evening, south of a line from Huntington to
Decatur. In addition to these storms, there is also the chance for
severe storms over part of the area Thursday. Locally heavy rain
will also be a concern. Highs will be in the low to mid 80s each
dasy.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Thursday)
Issued at 351 PM EDT Wed Aug 24 2016

Factors have become favorable for tornado development over the
southern portion of the area; south of the area of the ongoing
showers and isolated storms. This includes the area south of a
line from Grissom to Plum Tree to Monroe. An upper level
disturbance along with a low level jet has aided in low level
shear with Helicity values of 350 with shear of 30 m/s. Daytime
destabilization of the airmass with LCL heights below 750 meters
have allowed storms to produce tornadoes in the Kokomo area. The
Storm Prediction Center has included part of our forecast area in
a tornado watch until 8 PM this evening. Otherwise, the tornado
threat should end by late evening, More storms are possible
tonight, with another good chance for storms Thursday afternoon
with daytime heating. Localized flooding is possible with any
training storms, especially over areas that received extremely
heavy rainfall last week.

&&

.LONG TERM...(Thursday Night through Wednesday)
Issued at 351 PM EDT Wed Aug 24 2016

There should be a break from the storms from Friday through Saturday
before the moist air returns to the area early next week. Storms are
possible again starting Saturday night through the middle of next
week. High temperatures should be in the low to mid 80s each day.

 &&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday Afternoon)
Issued at 135 PM EDT Wed Aug 24 2016

Shortwave currently moving across the area and supporting some
decaying showers and storms along leading theta-e ridge. Increased
low level moisture supporting some low MVFR ceilings along and
immediately behind line of showers with some brief IFR not out of
the question at KSBN. Weak instability is keeping thunder very
isolated so far but a secondary area of convection is forming
across northern Illinois and could bring a few SCT storms to the
terminals this afternoon. Confidence in thunder is not high so
kept just VCTS for now. Timing also a bit uncertain, though best
chances should be during late afternoon and early evening. Expect
low clouds to scatter late this evening but another round of MVFR
possible toward daybreak, especially at KSBN.

&&

.IWX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
IN...NONE.
MI...NONE.
OH...NONE.
LM...NONE.
&&

SYNOPSIS...Skipper
SHORT TERM...Skipper
LONG TERM...Skipper
AVIATION...AGD

Visit us at www.weather.gov/iwx

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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 24, 5:47 PM EDT, 26 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
547 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016

INZ003>009-012-014-016-017-MIZ077>081-252200-
LA PORTE-ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-
MARSHALL-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-BERRIEN-CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-
HILLSDALE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...SOUTH BEND...
MISHAWAKA...NEW CARLISLE...WALKERTON...ELKHART...GOSHEN...NAPPANEE...
LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...SHIPSHEWANA...ANGOLA...FREMONT...KENDALLVILLE...
LIGONIER...ALBION...AUBURN...GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...
BASS LAKE...PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...CULVER...WARSAW...WINONA LAKE...
SYRACUSE...MENTONE...COLUMBIA CITY...TRI-LAKES...SOUTH WHITLEY...
NILES...BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...FAIR PLAIN...BENTON HEIGHTS...
BUCHANAN...PAW PAW LAKE...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS...MARCELLUS...
STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...WHITE PIGEON...MENDON...COLDWATER...
BRONSON...HILLSDALE...JONESVILLE...LITCHFIELD
547 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016 /447 PM CDT WED AUG 24 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN INDIANA
AND SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. STRONG GUSTY WINDS
AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE.

HAZARDOUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS DUE TO HIGH WAVES AND RIP CURRENTS ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG THE LAKESHORE AREAS OF BERRIEN COUNTY TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT WITH STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ALSO POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX

LMZ043-046-252200-
NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-
547 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NEARSHORE
WATERS OF SOUTHEASTERN LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING. THE STORMS MAY
CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN THURSDAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX

INZ013-015-018-020-022>027-032>034-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-
025-252200-
PULASKI-FULTON IN-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-
WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-HENRY-
PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE...MEDARYVILLE...
ROCHESTER...AKRON...FORT WAYNE...NEW HAVEN...MONTICELLO...MONON...
BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...ROYAL CENTER...PERU...GRISSOM AFB...
MEXICO...WABASH...NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...ROANOKE...
BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...BERNE...MARION...GAS CITY...UPLAND...
HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...DUNKIRK...BRYAN...EDGERTON...
WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD...SWANTON...DELTA...DEFIANCE...SHERWOOD...
HICKSVILLE...NAPOLEON...DESHLER...LIBERTY CENTER...PAULDING...
ANTWERP...PAYNE...OTTAWA...LEIPSIC...COLUMBUS GROVE...CONTINENTAL...
PANDORA...VAN WERT...OHIO CITY...LIMA...SPENCERVILLE
547 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016 /447 PM CDT WED AUG 24 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO AND
NORTHERN INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE
TORNADOES EARLY TONIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT WITH STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ALSO POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 24, 5:44 PM EDT, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
544 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0541 PM     TORNADO          3 SE CUBA               41.15N 84.90W
08/24/2016                   ALLEN              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS WITHIN THE AREA. HOUSES
            TORN APART.

&&

CR

Local storm report, Aug 24, 5:52 PM EDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
552 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0551 PM     TORNADO          3 N BERNE               40.70N 84.97W
08/24/2016                   ADAMS              IN   PUBLIC

            TORNADO CONFIRMED ON THE GROUND. .

&&

CR

Local storm report, Aug 24, 6:01 PM EDT, 12 minutes before

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Local storm report, Aug 24, 6:04 PM EDT, 9 minutes before

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Local storm report, Aug 24, 6:05 PM EDT, 8 minutes before

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Local storm report, Aug 24, 6:12 PM EDT, 1 minute before

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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

10.2 hours before the tornado, 224 km from the path. August 24, 2016.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 550 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -64 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 503 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 741 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 255 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 267 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 3.0
0-3 km lapse rate: 4.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z

1.8 hours after it, 224 km from the path. August 25, 2016.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.

Hodograph

Mixed-layer CAPE: 1614 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -40 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 3027 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1132 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 116 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 4.1
0-3 km lapse rate: 6.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Grissom Afb/Peru (GUS), 15 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:14 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.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2016 tornado in Indiana Every tornado in Indiana since 1950 Warnings in force in Indiana now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of August 24, 2016

21 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
August 24	2:38 PM EDT	EF2	Montgomery, IN	5.4	125		$75,000
August 24	3:20 PM EDT	EF3	Howard, IN	8.6	300	20	$10 million
August 24	4:18 PM EDT	EF0	Marion, IN	0.4	100		$15,000
August 24	4:59 PM EDT	EF0	Wells, IN	0.0	20
August 24	5:27 PM EDT	EF3	Allen, IN	5.2	500
August 24	5:40 PM EDT	EF1	Carroll, IN	17.1	100		$57,000
August 24	5:49 PM EDT	EF1	Adams, IN	7.6	50
August 24	5:53 PM EDT	EF2	Paulding, OH	4.4	250
August 24	6:28 PM EDT	EF2	Defiance, OH	2.6	400
August 24	6:30 PM EDT	EF1	Van Wert, OH	5.5	75
August 24	6:41 PM EDT	EF0	Van Wert, OH	1.5	25
August 24	6:48 PM EDT	EF1	Henry, OH	2.8	150
August 24	6:51 PM EDT	EF0	Van Wert, OH	4.7	40
August 24	6:58 PM EDT	EF0	Howard, IN	0.7	75		$10,000
August 24	7:00 PM EDT	EF1	Howard, IN	1.5	50		$20,000
August 24	7:04 PM EDT	EF0	Van Wert, OH	2.5	20
August 24	7:16 PM EDT	EF0	Howard, IN	3.0	75		$16,000
August 24	7:19 PM EDT	EF0	Henry, OH	0.0	20
August 24	7:26 PM EDT	EF0	Putnam, OH	1.2	25
August 24	7:48 PM EDT	EF0	Putnam, OH	0.6	15
August 24	9:06 PM EDT	EF0	Wood, OH	0.0	20		$35,000

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.