This is a state school helpline. After examining the evidence left in the vicinity of Big Springs Road, five miles northwest of Palmyra in Washington County, NWS officials determined that it was indeed a tornado that touched down in the area that created the damage. Norman R. Reitmeyer, a Warning Coordinator Meteorologist with the NWS office in Louisville who visited the area, said in an interview on Tuesday afternoon that the evidence he and a fellow meteorologist examined at the scene suggested the storm did produce a tornado that caused the damage. Tornadoes nationwide are classified by the scale designed by Theodore Fujita. The stronger the winds the greater and more extensive the damage.
Stronger winds create tell-tale signs that meteorologists can use to estimate wind speeds.
While F0 tornados can cause damage, their winds are not great enough to cause massive, widespread devastation. The strongest of all tornadoes are F5s, one of which hit the Southern Indiana area in 1973. The NWS officials said there was one mobile home, owned by Dale Shireman that was totally destroyed, one other, which belonged to Shireman's mother who lived nearby, which was moved off its foundation, one tree in the area uprooted and roof damage to a nearby house and barn. Despite reports of sightings of funnel clouds in other parts of the county by citizens, the NWS only reported the single confirmation in the Big Springs area. For the fourth time since 1995, the Highlander girls have brought home the trophy and the jackets as a reward for their commitment and dedication.