NWS: EF-1 tornado in Penntown was on the ground for 6 miles

National Weather Service shares preliminary survey

(PENNTOWN, Ind.) – The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed an EF-1 tornado did touch down in the Penntown area on Friday night. 

NWS surveyors said the tornado developed at 8:02 p.m. near the intersection of East County Road 1150 North and Spades Road. 

It was on the ground for six miles as it also caused damaged in the area of East County Road 1200 North and East County Road 1300 North as it traveled northeast.

“The most extensive damage was observed at a property located near the intersection of East County Road 1500 N and North County Road 1000 E, in which a well-built outbuilding had a  complete collapse of the exterior walls,” NWS officials said. 

That home belongs to Nick and Mariah Schwegman who described the sound of the tornado as being like a low-flying airplane. 

“The tree was on top of Mariah’s car, tin was scattered across the field, the swing set was gone and the barn had collapsed,” Nick said. 

NWS officials said the maximum wind speeds were 90 miles per hour and the final damage point of the tornado occurred at the home of Adam and Lisa Wolf on North County Line Road at 8:10 p.m.

Read about the Wolf's experience and see photos by clicking here. 

The Ripley County Emergency Management Agency and the  Dearborn County Emergency 

Management Agency assisted NWS during the damage survey.