FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Severe weather swept through our area Thursday evening, bringing damaging winds, large hail, and suspected tornado activity that left significant impacts across multiple counties.
Strong Winds, Large Hail Cause Damage
A line of severe thunderstorms moved through the region Thursday evening, producing strong wind gusts. Convoy in Van Wert County recorded the strongest wind gust at 60 mph, with Van Wert measuring 50 mph and Fort Wayne International Airport reporting 43 mph.
Other wind damage reports in the area include:
- Two semis blown over — one on Highway 30 in Van Wert and another on I-69 near Ashley at mile marker 337
- Multiple trees and power lines down in Van Wert County (at the intersection of Walnut and Third streets) and DeKalb County (at the intersection of County Road 10 and 13)
- Two large trees uprooted in Van Buren (Grant County)
- Barn & tree damage in Corunna
The storms also produced significant hail. Mount Etna in Wabash County saw the largest hail of the event at 2.75 inches, with Bryant in Jay County reporting 2.00 inches. Several other communities including Andrews, Warren, Somerset, Poneto, and Gas City all reported hail between 1.50 and 1.75 inches.
Suspected Tornado Causes Structural Damage
The most significant damage occurred south of Mount Etna near the Wabash and Huntington County line around 7 p.m., where a suspected tornado caused considerable structural damage. Large tree limbs were taken down near Lafontaine, and significant damage has been reported to silos and a shead in Banquo (unincorporated community in rural Huntington County).
The National Weather Service will be surveying damage in Wabash and Huntington counties today to determine if a tornado touched down, how long it remained on the ground, and its intensity rating.
What’s Next: Calmer Pattern Takes Over
The cold front that brought Thursday’s severe weather will dramatically change our weather pattern. After yesterday’s high in the low 80s, expect a much cooler Friday with a high of just 44 degrees. Partly to mostly cloudy skies will dominate the day with a northeast breeze gusting up to 25 mph.
The weekend looks quieter. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high of 47 degrees, while Sunday will warm back up to 60 degrees with partly cloudy skies…