Indiana is grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl as it moves eastward across the U.S. On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued tornado watches for Indiana and neighboring states. At 5:25 p.m., they confirmed a large and extremely dangerous tornado over Mount Vernon, moving north at 25 mph. Video footage from Mount Vernon shows the tornado’s devastating impact, highlighting the severity of the storm.
More than 10 million people across parts of the Midwest are at risk of severe thunderstorms, with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes possible. The greatest risk lies in an area stretching from east-central Missouri to southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and western Kentucky. Cities like St. Louis and Evansville, Indiana, are included in this heightened risk zone.
Meteorologist Michael Estime from FOX Weather emphasized the primary threats of large hail and damaging winds, which could bring down trees and power lines. He also noted a limited tornado threat, particularly in parts of eastern Missouri, Illinois, and western Kentucky. The first part of the day is expected to be calm, but storms are likely to become more active in the afternoon and evening.
The low-pressure system responsible for these storms also triggered 50 Tornado Warnings in Nebraska on Friday. Two people were injured when a tornado hit near Lyon, Nebraska, damaging several homes. Severe weather also impacted South Texas, where a tornado in the Port Isabel area resulted in one death and at least 10 injuries.
In Indiana, a line of storms swept through the Tri-State area early Tuesday, causing significant damage. Trees were knocked over, homes were damaged, and schools were closed. The storms triggered nearly continuous tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings as they moved from Southern Illinois across the Wabash River into Southwestern Indiana and Western Kentucky.
Sheriff Noah Robinson of Vanderburgh County reported no immediate injuries but noted extensive damage. CenterPoint Energy reported over 15,000 customers without power in Southwestern Indiana, with earlier reports indicating more than 22,000 affected. Kenergy also reported several hundred outages in Western Kentucky.
Photographs and video footage of the destruction flooded social media, showing downed trees, scattered debris, and buildings with missing roofs. The Evansville Wartime Museum suffered significant damage, with sunlight streaming through holes in the roof of an aircraft hanger. All museum events are canceled until further notice.
Northern areas of Vanderburgh County, including McCutchanville, Darmstadt, and Melody Hills, were particularly hard-hit. Power outages left entire neighborhoods in darkness, and critical infrastructure like stoplights were affected, slowing traffic. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. canceled classes for the day, as did other local schools. Damage was also reported at a Super 8 hotel near U.S. 41 and Interstate 64, and a nearby storage building was destroyed. Trees and utility poles were knocked over in Posey and Warrick counties, with wind speeds possibly reaching 100 mph near Tennyson in Warrick County.
Cliff Weaver, director of Vanderburgh County’s Emergency Management Agency, said officials are investigating whether the damage was caused by wind gusts, a tornado, or both. The National Weather Service has not yet determined the exact cause of the damage but indicated a “decent chance” of both straight-line winds and tornadoes.
More storms are possible as a cold front moves through the region, delaying any damage surveys by the National Weather Service. The Evansville area remains in a “slight risk” zone for severe weather, with areas to the east in an “enhanced risk” zone.
The following schools in the Evansville area are closed or delayed:
– EVSC: Closed
– Evansville Christian School: Closed
– Evansville Catholic schools: Closed
– Warrick County School Corp.: Closed
– MSD of North Posey County: Closed
– North Gibson School Corp.: Closed
– Signature School: Two-hour delay
– Evansville Day School: Closed
– MSD of Mount Vernon: Closed
– East Gibson School: Two-hour delay
– South Gibson School: Closed
Source: Evansville Courier & Press, FOX Weather
