Tornadoes touch down in northern Putnam County

Thursday, May 23, 2013
Courtesy of Chris Edwards
An early-morning tornado near Barnard on Tuesday was one of two EF-0 twisters to touch down in Putnam County. The winds heavily damaged a barn and several trees, in addition to overturning an irrigation unit.

While much of the county slept, thinking Tuesday morning's weather was nothing more than storms, a pair of tornadoes touched down in northern Putnam County.

The National Weather Service confirmed two touchdowns of EF-0 tornadoes in the early morning hours, one about two miles south of Roachdale and another east of Barnard along S.R. 236.

Putnam County Emergency Management severe weather specialist Chris Edwards said the two twisters came from the same cell moving in an east-northeast direction.

The touchdown south of Roachdale was mainly over open fields, leaving a damage trail of about half a mile.

Edwards said taller grass in the path showed swirl patterns consistent with a minor tornado.

The Barnard touchdown caused damage to a pair of properties.

A barn suffered significant damage to its roof and exterior walls. A shed and several trees in the area were also damaged.

The final thing in the three-quarter-mile path of the tornado was an irrigation unit overturned by the winds.

Edwards estimated that the second twister was on the ground for 60-70 seconds.

Putnam County was under a severe thunderstorm warning at the time, but had no tornado warning in effect. The nearest tornado warning was for southern Hendricks County.

Winds associated with the two tornadoes are estimated to have been in the 80-85 mph range.

It had been 10 years since the county's last documented tornado.

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  • It is troubling that there were no sirens or warnings given-- I knew nothing of the storms at all until morning. Glad that no one was injured!!

    -- Posted by kellnp on Thu, May 23, 2013, at 11:39 AM
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