The National Weather Service Indianapolis office confirmed Thursday that storm damage reported Wednesday morning in Wells and Jay counties came from two separate EF-0 tornadoes, both brief but strong enough to snap trees, damage farms, and knock out power to hundreds of residents.
The twin twisters touched down within two hours of each other on March 12, 2026, catching many rural families by surprise during the morning commute and school drop-off hours.
While no one was seriously hurt, the quick-hitting storms left a trail of twisted metal, splintered barns, and anxious neighbors checking on each other in the hours that followed.
First Tornado: Wells County, Near Vera Cruz
The first tornado struck at 7:35 a.m. in rural southern Wells County, just east of Vera Cruz.
NWS survey teams determined it stayed on the ground for three minutes, carving a 2.59-mile path through mostly farmland and wooded areas.
Peak winds reached 80 mph, with the narrow vortex only 30 yards wide at its strongest point.
Damage was focused but intense. Dozens of hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted along the track. Several outbuildings lost roofs, and one pole barn collapsed completely.
A few homes on the edge of the path had shingles ripped off and siding peeled away.
Power poles were snapped along CR 300 S, leaving roughly 400 Indiana Michigan Power customers in the dark for most of the day.
Second Tornado: Jay County, Near Powers
The second and slightly larger tornado spun up at 9:16 a.m. near the small community of Powers in Jay County.
It traveled 3.9 miles across open fields before lifting at 9:19 a.m.
This tornado was rated EF-0 with the same 80 mph peak winds, but its path reached 200 yards wide, nearly seven times wider than the Wells County spin-up.
Survey photos show clean swaths cut through mature woodlots, with trees twisted and thrown in the same direction.
Grain bins were dented and wrapped with sheet metal. Irrigation pivots were bent like pretzels.
At least two homes suffered significant roof damage, and several families reported broken windows and debris driven into exterior walls.
Jay County REMC reported around 650 customers lost power.
Quick Comparison of the Two Tornadoes
| County | Time on Ground | Path Length | Max Width | Peak Winds | Main Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | 7:35-7:38 a.m. | 2.59 miles | 30 yards | 80 mph | Trees, outbuildings, poles |
| Jay | 9:16-9:19 a.m. | 3.90 miles | 200 yards | 80 mph | Trees, grain bins, home roofs |
Both tornadoes formed along the same line of strong thunderstorms that raced across eastern Indiana ahead of a cold front.
The Storm Prediction Center had placed the area in a marginal risk, but radar showed rotating storms developed faster than many expected that morning.
Residents React: “It Sounded Like a Freight Train”
Long-time Vera Cruz area farmer Tim Habegger told 21Alive he was drinking coffee when the windows started rattling.
“It got real quiet, then the roar came. I’ve lived here 58 years and never heard anything like it,” Habegger said.
In Jay County, Powers resident Ashley Miller was getting her kids ready for school when the power flickered and debris started hitting the house.
“I grabbed the kids and we got in the basement. Ten seconds later it was over,” she said. “We came up to shingles all over the yard and the neighbor’s trampoline wrapped around our fence.”
Both counties quickly mobilized cleanup crews. Chainsaws buzzed all day Wednesday as neighbors helped neighbors clear roads and tarped damaged roofs before the next round of rain arrived Thursday morning.
A Wake-Up Call for Early-Season Severe Weather
These confirmed tornadoes mark the first of 2026 in northeast Indiana, coming unusually early in the year.
The old record for earliest confirmed tornado in the NWS Indianapolis county warning area was March 14.
Meteorologists say a very warm and humid air mass, combined with strong wind shear, created the perfect recipe for rotating storms even though it was only mid-March.
Bottom line: Hoosiers need to stay weather-aware year-round now. Two minutes of warning can be the difference between riding it out safely or becoming a statistic.
Wells and Jay county residents proved once again that rural communities look out for each other. By Wednesday night, most roads were cleared, tarps were up, and insurance adjusters were already in the fields.
The skies have cleared, but the images of twisted trees and battered barns will stay with these communities for months to come.
What did you see Wednesday morning? Drop your photos and stories in the comments below, and use #INwx and #21CountryStrong on social media if you’re sharing the cleanup and recovery.
