Confirmed tornado hit Putnam County in last week's storms

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 9:26 AM

By Paul Gable

Through many of the storms that have hit Putnam County this spring, the county has been able to avoid serious damage, but such was not the case last week.

According to Putnam County Emergency Management Director David Costin, a EF0 tornado hit the western portion of Putnam County near the Thomas Lake Subdivision.

On Monday, the National Weather Service confirmed that the EF0 tornado went through the Thomas Lake area on County Road 800 West, about one mile from the Parke County line.

Costin said the tornado took out close to 50 trees and blocked the entrance of the subdivision. The National Weather Service says estimated peak winds were at 85 mph and the tornado's track length was just less than a half mile with a maximum width of 20 yards.

"With the exception of a tree on a house in Bainbridge, we had no reported structural damage. There were no injuries," Costin told The Putnam County Post.