National Weather Service releases data on tornadoes in Jay, Delaware counties

MUNCIE, Ind. — The National Weather Service has released data on tornadoes Sunday evening that damaged Jay County Junior-Senior High School and homes in the Portland area and a business building in western Delaware County.

The tornado that hit the Jay County school between 7:45 and 7:51 p.m. Sunday was classified as an EF-1, described as a “moderate” tornado, with estimated peak winds of 110 mph.

Its path was 2.74 miles long and 75 yards wide.

According to the NWS report, the storm did “considerable roof damage” to Jay County Junior-Senior High School, which will remained closed this week, with students participating in online and remote learning.

The storm also damaged roofs of homes east of the high school and in west Portland and to a portion of the roof of the Portland American Legion. “Considerable tree damage” was also noted.

A second tornado was confirmed as developing in a cornfield east of the Salamonie River and south of Jay County Road 75 West between 7:42 and 7:44 p.m.

That storm dissipated, but the “same circulation continued east and produced a stronger tornado,” the National Weather Service reported.

More: ‘It’s kind of a mess in there,’ after tornado strikes Jay County High School

It was rated as an EF-Unknown, with maximum wind speed not estimated because of a lack of damage and evidence.

Listed as an EF-0 storm was the land spout tornado that damaged a building belonging to TK Constructors in Cammack, an unincorporated community along Jackson Street near Delaware County Road 600 West. It was reported at 7:39 p.m. Sunday, with estimated peak winds of 60 to 65 mph.

The NWS reported damage to the pole barn was “mostly sheet metal that was blown inward into the building and outward back to the west.”

No other damage was found nearby.

No injuries were reported as a result of any of Sunday’s storms in East Central Indiana.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.