Public Information Statement from the National Weather Service Northern Indiana, 3:40 p.m. EDT. Friday, October 19, 2007.

Survey completed in Marshall, Kosciusko and Elkhart counties of tornado damage.

Damage associated with the tornado began near the intersection of 12B Road and Gumwood Rd, just west of Bourbon.

At this point, shingle and small tree and tree branch damage was found, consistent with an EF0. As the storm rapidly moved northeast the circulation intensified as it tracked between Bremen and Bourbon. Several structures, trees and power lines suffered damage in this area with the intensity reaching high end EF2 just prior to crossing into Kosciusko County near 800 N and the county line where the width of the tornado increased to around 1/2 mile.

Eight homes were destroyed with nine homes suffering extensive damage in northwestern Kosciusko County. As the storm moved into the south parts of Nappanee the circulation began to tighten and intensify with the tornado reaching its peak of strong EF3 intensity just south of Highway 6 and County Road 7 near the Gulf Stream manufacturing plant and continued northeast through the Blackstone subdivision.

Extensive damage was across this area, including over 100 homes damaged or destroyed and several businesses including several fast food restaurants, factories and other structures. Winds in these areas were estimated to have reached around 165 mph, the upper wind limit of an EF3 tornado.

The tornado continued to move northeast, east of Nappanee, and weakened to a width of 200 yards at the time the tornado lifted near the intersection of County Road 46 and 17, just west of New Paris in Elkhart County.

The tornado was on the ground for 20 miles with a maximum width of one half mile and a peak intensity of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.