09/25/2024
Tornado confirmed in LaGrange County
The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana was conducting a storm survey of damage for portions of LaGrange, Noble, and St. Joseph counties in Indiana today (Sept. 25).
Thunderstorms developed along a warm front Sept. 24, resulting in the development of four tornadoes, the National Weather Service said.
In LaGrange County, near Oliver Lake, at about 5 p.m., an EF1 tornado with winds of 95 mph and a path length of 1.92 miles had a maximum width of 125 yards.
A storm that caused tornadic damage in Noble County intensified again and moved northeast. After initially dropping down around the intersection of 300 S and 300 E, it continued northeastward damaging barns and knocking down trees. It completely destroyed one barn building and ripped the roof off and knocked the walls down from a chicken housing structure. The tornado dissipated shortly thereafter in a field.
A buggy was blown over in the 2900 block of County Road E 300 S, with two occupants suffering minor injuries.
The Noble County tornado occurred between about 4:15 and 4:30 p.m. with winds as high as 105 mph, a path length of 7.47 miles, and a max width of 230 yards.
This tornado started just east of Engle Lake, knocking down some trees in a residential area. As it continued northward, some of the strongest damage was sustained to a house, which had some of its roofing ripped off and a wall pushed in. Other houses and farm buildings sustained roof damage and more trees were knocked down or snapped as it continued on crossing Highway 6. One large chicken building had its entire outer shell removed. It came to an end just before the Noble/Lagrange county line.
In Mishawaka, an EF0 tornado happened around 5:45 p.m. with winds at 70 mph, a path length of .29 miles and a max width of 260 yards.
The combination of video relayed by local media and an NWS storm survey concluded that a weak tornado occurred. The tornado began in the vicinity of the east side of the Meier store parking lot. Medium sized tree branches were downed near the beginning of the tornado path. The tornado tracked east and affected the La-Z-Boy Furniture store and the Potbelly restaurant where some large tree branches were downed. The tornado crossed North Main Street with some additional medium-sized tree limbs downed near Raising Cane's restaurant. The tornado then dissipated over an adjacent field to the west of the St. Joseph Health System medical facility.
The fourth tornado was near Camden, MI, at about 6:20 p.m. The EF0 tornado had winds as high as 65 mph, a path length of .11 miles, and a max width of 50 yards.
Minor damage occurred to two barns on Austin Road, between S. Edon Road and Gilmore Road there.
