WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
The National Weather Service has continued to conduct surveys related to damage caused by the March 30 storm that struck St. Joseph County and neighboring areas.
The agency announced last week that there was, in fact, a tornado west of Sturgis.
Rated as an EF-0, the tornado was on the ground for three minutes entirely within Sturgis Township. It touched down in an area south of U.S. 12, near the intersection of Shimmel Road and Olnhausen Road.
National Weather Service officials said it reached wind speeds of 80 miles per hour, featured a maximum width of 300 yards and traveled a distance of 3.6 miles. It moved in a northeast direction, and dissipated in an area north of U.S. 12 and east of Balk Road.
Aerial surveys confirmed more than a dozen pine trees snapped and several more were uprooted. In addition, there was damage to a grain bin, several power poles, and two irrigation pivots.
No injuries or deaths occurred in St. Joseph County as a result of the storm.
