Tornadoes · United States · Indiana · 2017
EF1 tornado, Livonia to Canton, Indiana, November 5, 2017
From Livonia to Canton, this EF1 tornado ran 0.3 miles across Washington County on November 5, 2017, touching down at 11:16 PM EST and reaching 35 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $250,000 of property damage.
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 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
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
- EF1
- Date
- November 5, 2017
- Touchdown
- 11:16 PM EST (04:16 UTC)
- Lifted
- 11:17 PM EST (04:17 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.3 miles (0.4 km)
- Path width
- 35 yards (32 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $250,000
- County
- Washington County
- Touchdown point
- 38.603, -86.102
- Lift-off point
- 38.604, -86.100
- Record number
- 1711052216-01
The damage survey
17 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS LMK, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 95 mph.
- propane tank, 500 gallon slid to south 3 feet and mud pushed cyclonically
- snapped and bent power poles and severely bent bird house poles
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
Unseasonably warm and humid air collided with a strong cold front during the evening hours on November 5. An outbreak of severe weather, including multiple tornadoes, took place across the lower Ohio Valley from portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. As the line of storms moved into southern Indiana, 3 tornadoes were confirmed in Washington County, in and around the town of Salem.
The National Weather Service in conjunction with Washington County|Emergency Management Agency conducted a storm survey in central|Washington County and determined there were three distinct|touchdowns near and around the Salem, Indiana area Sunday evening|November 5. The first touchdown occurred approximately 5 miles west|of Salem on SW Washington School Rd. The touchdown occurred along a|forested area which threw branches and large portions of maple and|cedar trees over the road approximately 300 yards. The most|concentrated damage was at 1630 SW Washington School Rd. There was|an uprooted tree, along with shingle, gutter, roof and barn damage.|Several toys and pumpkins were turned and thrown cyclonically|towards the west. A trampoline was thrown approximately a mile from|the house along with lots of playground toys being thrown several|hundred yards. There were some trees down further along the|farmer's field, but the tornado lifted after traveling approximately|0.6 miles where a few trees were topped where it lifted. The peak|wind speed was estimated at 80 mph and most of the damage was at the tree top|level.
The National Weather Service in conjunction with Washington County|Emergency Management Agency conducted a storm survey in central|Washington County and determined there were three distinct|touchdowns near and around the Salem, Indiana area Sunday evening|November 5. The second tornado touched down in downtown Salem at the Salem Feed|Mill on South Water Street. There was significant damage on the|upper portion of the feed mill approximately 70 feet off the ground|along with some power poles being severely bent. A multi-business|building was hit by the tornado with a large portion of its roof|lifted and dropped on the Dinner Bell restaurant. There was|extensive damage from falling brick. The tornado then hit a house|on the corner of Cherry and South High Street resulting in roof and|siding damage along with several sections of Cleveland Pear trees|snapped. The tornado lifted quickly at the intersection. The|tornado had estimated peak winds of approximately 90 to 95 mph with a width of|approximately 30 to 40 yards.
The National Weather Service in conjunction with Washington County Emergency Management Agency conducted a storm survey in central Washington County and determined there were three distinct touchdowns near and around the Salem, Indiana area Sunday evening November 5. The third tornado touched down near the intersection of Canton Road and Howell Road. Severe damage was sustained to several barns, street signs, bird houses, and metal poles that were bent or snapped. A 500 gallon propane tank moved to the south 3 feet and became lodged against a grain storage building. There was an excellent signature of mud and dirt spattering cyclonically on a grain silo. The tornado was extremely narrow and mostly at tree top level with several power poles snapped near the top. The tornado had estimated peak winds of 90 to 95 mph and width of 50 to 70 yards.
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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Nov 5, 9:48 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 5, 9:48 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 5, 3:31 PM EST, 7 hours 45 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 331 PM EST Sun Nov 5 2017 KYZ035>037-039>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082-062045- Franklin-Scott-Harrison-Anderson-Woodford-Fayette-Bourbon-Nicholas- Nelson-Washington-Mercer-Jessamine-Clark-Larue-Marion-Boyle-Garrard- Madison-Butler-Edmonson-Hart-Green-Taylor-Casey-Lincoln-Logan-Warren- Simpson-Allen-Barren-Monroe-Metcalfe-Adair-Russell-Cumberland- Clinton- Including the cities of Frankfort, Georgetown, Cynthiana, Lawrenceburg, Versailles, Lexington, Paris, Carlisle, Bardstown, Springfield, Harrodsburg, Nicholasville, Winchester, Hodgenville, Lebanon, Danville, Lancaster, Richmond, Morgantown, Brownsville, Horse Cave, Greensburg, Campbellsville, Liberty, Stanford, Russellville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Providence, Scottsville, Glasgow, Tompkinsville, Edmonton, Columbia, Jamestown, Burkesville, and Albany 331 PM EST Sun Nov 5 2017 /231 PM CST Sun Nov 5 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A cold front will push into the region tonight bringing showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be strong to severe. The main severe weather hazards will be damaging winds, brief heavy rainfall, and lightning. Secondary threats include an isolated tornado and large hail. Keep in mind that severe weather at night is more dangerous, so don't go to bed without a way to receive watches and warnings. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to report any severe weather tonight. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville. INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>034-038-062045- Orange-Washington-Scott-Jefferson-Dubois-Crawford-Perry-Harrison- Floyd-Clark-Hancock-Breckinridge-Meade-Ohio-Grayson-Hardin-Bullitt- Oldham-Trimble-Henry-Shelby-Spencer- Including the cities of Paoli, Salem, Scottsburg, Madison, Jasper, English, Tell City, Corydon, New Albany, Jeffersonville, Lewisport, Hawesville, Hardinsburg, Brandenburg, Hartford, Leitchfield, Elizabethtown, Shepherdsville, Louisville, La Grange, Bedford, Milton, New Castle, Shelbyville, and Taylorsville 331 PM EST Sun Nov 5 2017 /231 PM CST Sun Nov 5 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A cold front will push into the region tonight bringing showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be strong to severe. Damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes will all be possible. Some minor flooding or ponding of water may affect some areas as well. Keep in mind that severe weather at night is more dangerous, so don't go to bed without a way to receive watches and warnings. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to report any severe weather or flooding tonight. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found, at weather.gov/louisville. EER
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Nov 5, 7:49 PM EST, 3 hours 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 749 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017 INZ076-060115- Orange- 749 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN ORANGE COUNTY... At 749 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles northwest of Paoli, moving east at 45 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Paoli, Orleans, French Lick, Stampers Creek, Orangeville, West Baden Springs, Bromer, Leipsic, Woodlawn Grove and Braxtons Siding. LAT...LON 3869 8631 3856 8631 3850 8668 3869 8668 TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 249DEG 39KT 3863 8661 DM
Special weather statement, Nov 5, 8:20 PM EST, 2 hours 56 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 820 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017 INZ076-077-060145- Orange-Washington- 820 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN ORANGE AND NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... At 820 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was located near Paoli, moving east at 40 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Salem, Paoli, Stampers Creek, Campbellsburg, Livonia, Saltillo, Bromer, Kossuth, Trotter Crossing and Smedley. LAT...LON 3875 8598 3852 8606 3850 8653 3869 8632 TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 257DEG 34KT 3859 8635 DM
Special weather statement, Nov 5, 9:15 PM EST, 2 hours 1 minute before
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</html>Special weather statement, Nov 5, 10:24 PM EST, 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Louisville KY 1024 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017 INZ076-060345- Orange- 1024 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN ORANGE COUNTY... At 1024 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles northwest of Paoli, moving east at 30 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Orleans, Orangeville and Leipsic. LAT...LON 3869 8631 3860 8631 3861 8660 3869 8659 TIME...MOT...LOC 0324Z 272DEG 24KT 3867 8655 DM
Special weather statement, Nov 5, 10:55 PM EST, 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1055 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017
INZ076>078-083-084-060430-
Crawford-Orange-Washington-Dubois-Scott-
1055 PM EST SUN NOV 5 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN DUBOIS...
NORTHERN CRAWFORD...WEST CENTRAL SCOTT...ORANGE AND WASHINGTON
COUNTIES...
At 1055 PM EST, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Salem to 7 miles north of Dale.
Movement was east at 50 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Scottsburg, Salem, Paoli, English, Huntingburg, Austin, Blue River,
New Pekin, Stampers Creek and Marengo.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3869 8637 3869 8631 3873 8631 3875 8627
3874 8590 3873 8588 3874 8584 3874 8568
3842 8607 3842 8626 3839 8625 3827 8638
3823 8707
TIME...MOT...LOC 0355Z 271DEG 50KT 3867 8613 3826 8694
DMSpecial weather statement, Nov 5, 11:14 PM EST, 2 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
1014 PM CST SUN NOV 5 2017
KYZ026-027-061-060445-
Grayson-Butler-Ohio-
1014 PM CST SUN NOV 5 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN BUTLER...WEST
CENTRAL GRAYSON AND SOUTHERN OHIO COUNTIES...
At 1013 PM CST, a strong thunderstorm was located near Central City,
moving east at 55 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hartford, Beaver Dam, Centertown, Mchenry, Rockport, Horse Branch,
Steff, Tousey, Windy Hill and Eden.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3736 8712 3738 8709 3745 8710 3752 8654
3723 8673 3724 8695 3726 8696 3726 8697
3727 8698 3732 8699 3737 8704 3737 8707
3733 8711 3733 8712 3734 8714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0413Z 267DEG 48KT 3736 8709
SCHOETTMERThe 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.
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 00:00Z
4.3 hours before the tornado, 219 km from the path. November 6, 2017.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 175 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -41 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 231 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 966 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 441 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 595 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 1.5
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.3 K/km
The surface observations
Louisville/Bowman (LOU), 56 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 Louisville radar (KLVX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 04:15 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 trackEvery 2017 tornado in IndianaEvery tornado in Indiana since 1950Warnings in force in Indiana nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of November 5, 2017
23 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 5 | 1:20 PM EST | EF1 | Lawrence, IN | 2.9 | 150 | $125,000 | ||
| November 5 | 1:24 PM EST | EF2 | Blackford, IN to OH | 38.7 | 600 | 1 | $11 million | |
| November 5 | 2:18 PM EST | EF1 | Sandusky, OH | 1.3 | 50 | $200,000 | ||
| November 5 | 2:40 PM EST | EF2 | Mercer, OH | 5.4 | 200 | 8 | $5.0 million | |
| November 5 | 2:42 PM EST | EF1 | Erie, OH | 1.2 | 50 | $125,000 | ||
| November 5 | 3:09 PM EST | EF1 | Delaware, IN | 0.1 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| November 5 | 4:51 PM EST | EF2 | Seneca, OH | 0.6 | 150 | $150,000 | ||
| November 5 | 4:53 PM EST | EF1 | Seneca, OH | 0.4 | 180 | $200,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:00 PM EST | EF2 | Crawford, OH | 1.1 | 200 | $750,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:02 PM EST | EF0 | Huron, OH | 0.6 | 100 | $200,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:08 PM EST | EF1 | Huron, OH | 3.0 | 200 | $200,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:10 PM EST | EF0 | Huron, OH | 3.3 | 100 | $125,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:21 PM EST | EF1 | Huron, OH | 1.8 | 100 | $250,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:23 PM EST | EF0 | Ashland, OH | 0.6 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:29 PM EST | EF1 | Ashland, OH | 2.0 | 100 | $150,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:52 PM EST | EF1 | Wayne, OH | 0.2 | 50 | $75,000 | ||
| November 5 | 6:07 PM EST | EF0 | Erie, PA | 1.9 | 100 | $500,000 | ||
| November 5 | 6:16 PM EST | EF1 | Clark, OH | 6.6 | 200 | $125,000 | ||
| November 5 | 5:24 PM CST | EF1 | Richland, IL | 6.8 | 50 | $70,000 | ||
| November 5 | 6:51 PM EST | EF2 | Ashtabula, OH | 6.7 | 200 | $1.5 million | ||
| November 5 | 7:18 PM EST | EF1 | Columbiana, OH | 0.8 | 176 | $10,000 | ||
| November 5 | 11:04 PM EST | EF0 | Washington, IN | 0.6 | 325 | $100,000 | ||
| November 5 | 11:20 PM EST | EF1 | Washington, IN | 0.5 | 60 | $200,000 |
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.