The tornado that struck near Akron was an EF-2, with estimated peak winds at 135 mph, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service in North Webster.
Information provided on the NWS website Tuesday afternoon was the most up-to-date available because its investigation team was delayed getting back to the office – they were watching a new storm make its way into the area.
On Monday, a “discrete supercell” formed south of Rochester and intensified as it moved into northwestern Miami County, north of Macy. There, the supercell rapidly intensified, producing a large tornado that reached a maximum path width of a half mile and, at its peak, the large mature tornado had a satellite tornado rotating around it, according to eyewitnesses and surveyed damage. Multiple vortices were also seen by eyewitnesses, the NWS report states.
The twister’s path reached 14 miles, beginning at 7:51 p.m. Monday 1.4 miles north of Macy and ending at 8:18 p.m. Monday south/southeast of Silver Lake.
The report states there multiple trees damaged and roofing material removed. The satellite tornado destroyed a grain silo that was tossed into a tree line about a quarter mile southeast. The satellite tornado destroyed a barn as well.
The main tornado intensified and broadened its width as it moved east/northeast and leveled a two-story house, with debris scattered across a field and across CR 200W.
It then passed through a heavily wooded area, snapping or uprooting most trees before crossing CR 100W and then destroying a single-story brick ranch home. An adjacent machine shed was heavily damaged there and a pickup truck was tossed northeast of the home.
The extensive tree damage continued east/northeast through a large grove of trees. The tornado continued northeast, crossing West Pleasant Hill Road where two high-voltage transmission towers were destroyed, as well as extensive damage to structures in the area.
The tornado then damaged two large farm properties and several farm buildings as it made its way through Fulton County and Miami County.
As it crossed Ind. 114, the tornado continued to slowly weaken, but reintensified for a time as it crossed CR 700W and Ind. 15 south of CR 1400N. It caused extensive damage to a hog confinement facility west of Ind. 15, and significant damage to a farm property east of Ind. 15. From there, the tornado rapidly weakened eastward and lifted near CR 400W.
