Post & Mail image/National Weather Service
The line through the middle of the map shows the path of an F0 tornado that moved through the county Tuesday afternoon and caused damage to buildings, trees and utility services.

By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer

   A damage survey team from National Weather Service has determined that a small tornado was responsible for damage caused during Tuesday’s strong storms.
   The path of damage extends northeast from South Whitley to western Allen County, according to the team’s report.
   The team found that an F0 tornado was the likely culprit that caused damage to buildings, utility poles and dozens of trees.
   F0 tornados are considered a gale tornados with speeds ranging from 40 to 72 mph and the ability to damage chimneys, breaks branches off trees, push over shallow-rooted trees and damage sign boards.
   Randy Waldeck, deputy director of the Whitley County Emergency Management Agency said he and others were out in the area of the damage Wednesday and today to document the damage and take statements from residents in the area of the most severe damage.
   The winds ripped off a barn roof and dropped it 200 to 300 yards away in a soybean field, according to the NWS report.
   In that same field, a path of soybeans was completely scoured and nearby trees were snapped off and uprooted.
   NWS officials determined that the damage is consistent with winds of 75 mph and the convergent pattern indicates the winds were produced by an  F0 tornado.
   The wind also damaged two electrical substations and several utility poles in the area, prompting Northeastern REMC crews to be out until about 6 p.m. completing repairs.