The Tornadoes and Straight Line Wind Damage of April 7th, 2015

Listed below is the preliminary information on the tornadoes that struck the Ohio Valley in the late

afternoon andevening of April 7th, 2015.  In all, three tornadoes touched down in the NWS

Louisville area with two in Madison County, KY and another in Perry County, IN.  A concentrated

area of straight line wind damage was found in northern Meade County, KY.

...NWS Preliminary Damage Survey for the 04/07/15 Perry County
Indiana Tornado...

Tornado Information:

EF Scale Rating:           EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:       90-95 MPH
Path Length        :       2.6 miles
Path Width/Maximum :       100 yards
Fatalities:                0
Injuries:                  0

Start Date:                Tue, April 7, 2015
Start Time:                4:27 PM EDT
Start Location:            2.5 miles NNW of Branchville, IN

End Date:                  Tue April 7, 2015
End Times:                 04:30 PM EDT
End Location:              2.6 miles NNE of Branchville, IN

Survey Summary:
The tornado first touched down just east of Lake Celina where one
tree was uprooted and others were snapped.  The tornado then
continued east across IN-37 where it uprooted and snapped several
dozen trees along Old IN-37.  The damage continued east towards
Ottoman Road where a carport was destroyed, along with additional
trees that were snapped and uprooted.  From there, the tornado took
a jog to the northeast across Orchid and St. Croix Roads where it
caused substantial tree damage, uprooting and snapping the trunks
15-20 feet high on approximately 100 trees.  The tornado then lifted
just east of Saint Croix Road.

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 MPH
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 MPH
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 MPH
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 MPH
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 MPH
EF5...Violent...>200 MPH

...NWS Preliminary Damage Survey for 04/07/15 Madison County 
Tornadoes...

.Two tornadoes touched down in Madison County...

Tornado 1:

EF Scale Rating:           EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind:       80-85 MPH
Path Length        :       0.6 miles
Path Width/Maximum :       35 yards
Fatalities:                0
Injuries:                  0

Start Date:                Tue, April 7, 2015
Start Time:                06:57 PM EDT
Start Location:            About 5 miles south of Richmond along     
                           Jessica Circle

End Date:                  Tue April 7, 2015
End Times:                 06:58 PM EDT
End Location:              Just before Cherokee Lane about 5 miles   
                           south of Richmond

Survey Summary:
The tornado first touched down near a ravine just northwest of 
Jessica Circle where it snapped a few trees. It then moved 
southeast, destroying two outbuildings. One of the outbuildings was 
fully packed, weighing several thousand pounds, and another larger 
outbuilding was pushed off its foundation. The tornado also did some 
damage to the roof and shingles of a residence at 326 Jessica 
Circle. The tornado then continued on an intermittent path to the 
southeast where it did some additional roof damage to another home 
and snapped several other trees. The tornado lifted just west of 
Cherokee Lane.

Tornado 2:

EF Scale Rating:           EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:       90-95 MPH
Path Length        :       2.0 miles
Path Width/Maximum :       215 yards
Fatalities:                0
Injuries:                  0

Start Date:                Tue, April 7, 2015
Start Time:                07:03 PM EDT
Start Location:            Just southeast of the Blue Grass Army     
                           Depot at 1235 Crooksville Road or Highway 499

End Date:                  Tue April 7, 2015
End Times:                 07:06 PM EDT
End Location:              2 miles ESE of the Blue Grass Army Depot 
                           along Walter Lakes Road

Survey Summary:
The tornado first touched down on a farm at 1235 Crooksville Road 
where it snapped and uprooted several trees, spreading them in 
several directions. It then continued southeast across Gumbottom 
Road, where a large oak tree was uprooted. Sporadic tree damage 
continued southeast towards Walter Lakes Road. Just before the 
tornado lifted, it did minor shingle and porch damage to a residence 
along Walter Lakes Road.  

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 MPH
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 MPH
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 MPH
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 MPH
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 MPH
EF5...Violent...>200 MPH

The National Weather Service would like to thank Bo Tate with 
Madison County Fire, and Carl Richards with Madison County Emergency 
Management for their help in conducting this survey.

...NWS Damage Survey for Meade County, Kentucky 04/07/2015 
Thunderstorm Wind Event...

.Meade County Kentucky Severe Thunderstorm Wind Damage Survey...

Peak Wind Estimated :      75-80  MPH
Path Length:               4.0 miles
Path Width/Maximum/:       1.5 miles
Fatalities:                0
Injuries:                  0

Start Date:                Apr 7 2015
Start Time:                4:33 PM EDT
Start Location:            0.3 mile E of Concordia

End Date:                  Apr 7 2015
End Times:                 4:38 PM EDT
End Location:              4.4 miles NE of Concordia


Survey Summary:

The NWS damage survey revealed two distinct areas of 75-80 mph wind 
damage in an otherwise broad area of lesser winds that caused minor 
tree damage east of Concordia in northern Meade County. Though 
initial observations appeared to indicate the possibility of a small 
tornado, when plotted, these damage areas - approximately 1/3 mile 
apart - exhibited the type of divergent damage patterns typically 
associated with microbursts, and appear to have occurred 
concurrently.