318
NOUS43 KIWX 182046
PNSIWX
INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-104-116-203-
204-216-MIZ078>081-177-277-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-
190900-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
446 PM EDT WED MAR 18 2026 /346 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026/
...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY UPDATE FOR 3/10/2026 STARKE COUNTY TORNADO EVENT...
UPDATE
AFTER CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF BOTH SATELLITE AND RADAR DATA, ALONG
WITH STORM CHASER VIDEO, A BRIEF EF-0 TORNADO WITH WINDS ESTIMATED TO
85 MPH WAS CONFIRMED ON THE SOUTHWARD FLANK OF THE MAIN PARENT MESOCYCLONE,
PRODUCING TWIN TORNADOES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. FURTHERMORE, THE EXISTING
PATH FOR THE LONG TRACK EF-2 TORNADO WAS DRAGGED SLIGHTLY FARTHER WEST AND
EXPANDED TO 1200 YARDS.
STARKE, IN TORNADO #1
RATING: EF2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 115 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 15.52 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 1200 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 03/10/2026
START TIME: 09:07 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 3 SW LOMAX / STARKE COUNTY / IN
START LAT/LON: 41.2391 / -86.9185
END DATE: 03/10/2026
END TIME: 09:43 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 2 NW KNOX / STARKE COUNTY / IN
END LAT/LON: 41.3202 / -86.644
SURVEY SUMMARY:
BASED ON RADAR, AN NWS SURVEY AND REPORTS FROM NUMEROUS SPOTTER
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, ONE FINAL TORNADO HAS BEEN
CONFIRMED WITH A CYCLIC SUPERCELL THAT ORIGINATED IN EASTERN
ILLINOIS. THE TORNADO QUICKLY DEVELOPED ABOUT 3 MILES NORTHEAST
OF THE END OF THE WHEATFIELD, IN TORNADO, STARTING SOUTHWEST OF
THE INTERSECTION OF US 421 AND CR W 400 S WHERE 2 LARGE POLE
BARNS SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, AS WELL AS 3 EMPTY GRAIN BINS.
THE DEBRIS WAS CARRIED UP TO A HALF MILE DOWNSTREAM. VIDEOS AND
EYEWITNESS REPORTS INDICATE A LARGE CONE SHAPED FUNNEL CONTINUED
NORTHEAST CAUSING DAMAGE TO TREES, SOME CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION
SYSTEMS AND A FEW OTHER BARNS AND HOMES, EVENTUALLY CROSSING
STATE ROAD 39 NEAR CR W 150 S. IT THEN CONTINUED OVER MAINLY OVER
UNPLANTED FIELDS BEFORE CAUSING SOME ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AT SR
8 AND CR N 250 E. IT LIFTED JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE STARKE COUNTY
AIRPORT. THE TORNADO HAS A FEW AREAS WHICH SUGGESTED SOME MULTI
VORTEX FUNNELS CAUSED DAMAGE IN THE LARGER SWATH. AFTER CAREFUL
ANALYSIS, ALONG WITH STORM CHASER VIDEO FOOTAGE AND HIGH
RESOLUTION SATELLITE DATA, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SECOND WEAKER
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF JACKSON FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME.
THE MAX ESTIMATED WIDTH HAS ALSO BEEN REVISED TO 1200 YARDS.
STARKE, IN TORNADO #2
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.71 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 150 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 03/10/2026
START TIME: 09:35 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 2 W TOTO / STARKE COUNTY / IN
START LAT/LON: 41.2655 / -86.7473
END DATE: 03/10/2026
END TIME: 09:36 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 2 WNW TOTO / STARKE COUNTY / IN
END LAT/LON: 41.2697 / -86.7351
SURVEY SUMMARY:
VIDEO OBTAINED FROM STORM CHASERS CLAIMING TO BE ON THE SOUTH-
SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE PARENT MESOCYCLONE CLEARLY SHOW TWO
DISTINCT TORNADOES OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. ONE LARGER CIRCULATION
WITH NUMEROUS POWER FLASHES, WITH A SMALLER 2ND CIRCULATION OFF TO
THE SOUTHWEST. BASED ON THE UNUSUAL DAMAGE PATH THAT THE NWS DAMAGE
ASSESSMENT UNCOVERED, THIS ALIGNS WITH THE IDEA THAT A SMALL,
SHORT-LIVED CIRCULATION FORMED ON THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE
LARGE WEDGE TORNADO, PRODUCING BRIEF EF-0 DAMAGE BEFORE DISSIPATING.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENTS AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.
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