Rare EF3 Tornado Strikes Newton County, Indiana, Leaving Significant Damage
On March 10, 2026, a rare EF3 tornado struck Newton County, Indiana, causing widespread destruction in the small community of Lake Village. The tornado, with peak wind speeds of 160 mph, resulted in the tragic deaths of an elderly couple and injuries to six others. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the tornado was part of a severe weather system that had been forecasted days in advance. The NWS issued a tornado watch at 4:00 PM and a warning at 7:08 PM, but local emergency responders had already activated sirens based on reports from trained weather spotters. The storm damaged 142 properties, including homes and businesses, and left visible scars on the community. Emergency services and local officials worked tirelessly to respond to the disaster, with search and rescue operations completed the same night. The tornado was classified as an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, a rare occurrence as 95% of tornadoes are below this intensity. 
