A powerful cold front moved rapidly southeast across southwest Indiana during the late afternoon hours. An organized line of severe thunderstorms developed along the front as it approached southern Illinois, then swept east across southwest Indiana. Widespread damaging winds accompanied the line of storms. Temperatures fell about 30 degrees in less than one hour when the very strong cold front passed through.

Thunderstorm Wind in POSEY, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:03:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HARMONY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Winds were estimated around 60 mph by an amateur radio operator in Poseyville. Around the county, at least 22 homes received some type of damage. Most of the damage was to roofs. Just south of New Harmony, a semi was blown over.

Hail in GIBSON, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:30:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAKLAND CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Thunderstorm Wind in SPENCER, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:50:00 to 29-JAN-08 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKPORT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Countywide, trees and power lines were down. Minor structural damage occurred, with damage to roofs and outbuildings.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIKE, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 18:32:00 to 29-JAN-08 18:43:00 (EST-5)
Location: COE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

At least seven homes across the county sustained damage. The most severe house damage occurred in the Coe area. A two-car garage was destroyed, with debris blown onto Highway 61. Pieces of the garage were blown through the roof of the house. A central air conditioning unit was blown off its pad. A house next door lost part of its roof. A pole barn was blown apart near Cato. Across the county, a large number of trees were blown down. At least 15 roads were impassable at one point, including State Highway 56. Near Winslow, a tree was blown onto a house with damage to the front of the home. Schools were closed the following day.

Tornado in POSEY, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:07:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: STEWARTSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A mobile home was destroyed. Two occupants of the mobile home were killed. Numerous trees were uprooted. One barn was destroyed, along with some small sheds. Four barns, three houses, and one church were damaged. The damage was mostly to roofs. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. The average path width was estimated to be 80 yards. The tornado continued into extreme southern Gibson County.

Tornado in GIBSON, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:10:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRAWLEYVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado entered southern Gibson County from northern Posey County. Damage consisted mostly of downed trees and a few damaged barns and sheds. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. The average path width was about 80 yards.

Funnel Cloud in WARRICK, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:39:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHANDLER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The funnel cloud was reported along Highway 66 and Edwards St.

Thunderstorm Wind in WARRICK, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:35:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOONVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Traffic signals and signs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in VANDERBURGH, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:20:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST WENDELLS
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Numerous buildings around the county sustained mostly minor damage, such as shingles blown off. Several reports of wind gusts from 60 to 75 mph were received. At the Evansville airport, a gust to 71 mph was measured by the automated surface observing system. Sustained winds were clocked at 52 mph. The highest estimated gust was 75 mph in the northwest part of the county, reported by a trained spotter. In Evansville, a gust to 60 mph was measured on the west side of the city, and a gust to 63 mph was measured on the southeast side. Numerous trees and power lines were down. A semi was blown over, and roofs were blown completely off two homes. An elementary school sustained considerable roof damage. North of St. Wendel, a pole barn, hay barn, implement shed, and a grain bin were destroyed. Minor damage occurred to tractors and farm equipment. A pole barn in the exact same place was destroyed just a few years earlier, in 2004.

Hail in POSEY, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:16:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: POSEYVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in GIBSON, INDIANA
From 29-JAN-08 17:15:00 to 29-JAN-08 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOHNSON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Many homes around the county sustained some type of wind damage, mostly minor. At least two homes had roofs blown off, including one in Fort Branch and one near Oakland City. A church in Johnson was partially unroofed. A single wide mobile home just west of Johnson was overturned. A line of utility poles went down in Fort Branch, leaving the entire town without power. The ticket booth, concession stand, bleachers, and light towers were damaged at a high school. In Princeton, a tree fell across a main street and onto a vehicle. Near Oakland City, one house was destroyed. Several other houses and a barn had roof damage. A turkey farm received major damage, where over 2,000 turkeys, a brooder house, and a garage were destroyed. Indiana Route 57 was closed four miles north of the Indiana 64 junction because of downed power lines. About 15 people spent the night at a Red Cross shelter in Fort Branch.