Three Tornadoes Possibly Linked to Derecho Outbreak

Source: WISH-TV / WISH-TV

ELKHART, IND — The National Weather Service reported that three tornadoes struck northern Indiana early Tuesday, one of which impacted residential areas in Elkhart.

A weak tornado with 75 mph gusts touched down at 12:09 a.m. in Marshall County, uprooting trees along a three-quarters-mile path.

At 12:21 a.m., a tornado with 90 mph gusts struck near Hawthorne Elementary School, causing significant damage along Mather Avenue.

Laura Nagel died when a tree fell on her bedroom during a storm in Cedar Lake. Her husband and daughter were unharmed, but their house was destroyed.

As of this year, 42 tornadoes have been reported across the state.

“It’s been a very active year so far for Indiana,” says Lonnie Fisher from the National Weather Service. “I know in our area we’ve been kind of fortunate.”

Six National Weather Service offices serve Indiana, including Louisville and Chicago. Fisher says that three tornadoes this week are part of a strong windstorm system called a derecho, which can produce straight-line winds over 58 mph and is often linked to severe thunderstorms. The system began in Central Iowa.

“As they continued to move east, they grew in intensity and coverage, and eventually, they were gathered in one or more areas as they went through the process,” added Fisher.

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