TERRE HAUTE, Indiana — An EF-0 tornado touched down southeast of Terre Haute on Wednesday night November 11 as a line of strong storms swept through west-central Indiana. The tornado was confirmed near the small community of Riley, with maximum winds of 80 mph. It pushes Indiana’s already record-setting tornado count to 89 for the year, the most since records began in 1950.
80 mph Winds Near Riley
The tornado formed near Riley, south of Interstate 70 and a few miles southeast of Terre Haute. Nearby communities on the map include Honey Creek, Lost Creek and Posey, along with major roads like U.S. Highway 40 and U.S. Highway 150.
An EF-0 rating is the weakest on the tornado scale, but winds of 80 mph can still peel shingles off roofs, snap tree branches and push over weak structures. The storm was part of the same line that brought a low tornado risk to Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee on Wednesday evening.
A Year Unlike Any Other in Indiana
This latest tornado adds to a truly historic year. Indiana normally sees about 22 tornadoes in a full year. With 89 confirmed so far, the state has already seen roughly four times its yearly average, with more than a month still left on the calendar.
The new total is 17 tornadoes higher than the old record of 72, set in 2011.
June Alone Brought 58 Tornadoes
The biggest share of this year’s tornadoes came in a single month. Indiana recorded 58 tornadoes in June alone. That one month produced more tornadoes than every full year on record except 2011 and 2025.
How This Year Compares With Indiana’s Busiest Years
| Rank | Year | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 (so far) | 89 |
| 2 | 2011 | 72 |
| 3 | 2025 | 62 |
| 4 | 2024 | 57 |
| 5 | 2023 | 54 |
| 6 | 1990 | 49 |
| 7 | 1973 | 48 |
Four of the top five years on the list have come since 2023, showing just how active recent years have been for the state.
Breaking Down the 89 Tornadoes by Strength
As of Thursday November 12, here is how this year’s tornadoes break down:
- 35 tornadoes were rated EF-0, the weakest category, including the one near Riley.
- 35 tornadoes were rated EF-1, with winds strong enough to damage roofs and knock down trees.
- 9 tornadoes reached EF-2, capable of tearing roofs off homes.
- 3 tornadoes reached EF-3, the strongest of the year, causing severe damage.
- 7 tornadoes were rated EF-Unknown, often because there was not enough damage to measure.
No EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes have been reported in Indiana this year.
Tornadoes Touched Nearly Every Part of the State
The statewide map shows tornado markers spread from the Lake Michigan shoreline down to the Ohio River. Clusters stand out in northwest Indiana, around Fort Wayne, Lafayette and Muncie, near Indianapolis and Columbus, and especially in southwest Indiana near Evansville. Several also dot the Terre Haute and Richmond areas.
Why Tornadoes Still Happen in November
Fall storms can still produce tornadoes when warm, moist air surges north ahead of a strong cold front. Even with limited moisture, a quick burst of spin in a line of storms can create a brief tornado. These tornadoes often form fast and at night, which makes them harder to see.
Staying Ready All Year
- Keep weather alerts on overnight, since many fall storms arrive after dark.
- Know your safe place, such as a basement or interior room on the lowest floor.
- Have a flashlight and shoes ready near your shelter spot.
- Take every warning seriously, even when the risk seems low.
Boxingessential.com will continue tracking tornado reports across Indiana, including Terre Haute, Riley and communities statewide, and will provide updates as damage surveys and the state’s record tornado count develop.
You may also like
Leave a Reply