Two confirmed

Not one, but two tornadoes hit Jay County early Saturday.

More severe weather is on the way today.

Two tornados hit the eastern portion of Jay County just after midnight Saturday, according to information released by the National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon.

The county was also placed under another tornado watch as of 8:41 a.m. this morning. (Different from a tornado warning, a watch means tornadoes are possible in current weather conditions but have not yet been sighted or indicated by weather radar.) A wind advisory is in effect until 8 p.m.

The threat of severe weather led to Jay School Corporation closing schools today and implementing remote learning.

One tornado reaching 85 mph touched down Saturday at a home northeast of Salamonia, just south of county road 300 South and west of county road 500 East. It traveled a little more than 1.5 miles, passing over county road 300 South and county road 600 East and damaging three barns and pushing or carrying empty grain bins, according to the National Weather Service.

The other tornado, peaking at 80 mph, started northeast of Portland, near the intersection of county roads 200 East and 200 North. It traveled a little less than 2.5 miles northeast, crossing county road 300 North and damaging the walls and roofs of two barns as well as surrounding trees and utility poles.

Both tornadoes were classified on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — the scale used to rate tornadoes based on wind speeds and damage — as EF0 tornadoes (the least severe), meaning they peaked between 65 and 85 mph.

Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Samantha Rhodehammel confirmed Tuesday she was not made aware of any injuries or houses damaged to the point they were uninhabitable Saturday. She and her coworkers have spent the last few days assessing Saturday’s storm damage and prepping for today’s extreme weather. Jay County Sheriff’s Office deputy Tre Nusbaumer used the department’s drone to take pictures for damage assessments forwarded to the National Weather Service, which visited the county Monday to learn more about the storm.

A tornado watch issued this morning is in effect until 4 p.m. today. The National Weather Service predicted thunderstorms in Jay County today, with winds reaching between 50 and 55 mph. Pea-sized hail was also a possibility.

During a tornado watch, the National Weather Service advises discussing emergency plans, checking supplies and designating a safe room, such as an interior room on the lowest floor of a building away from windows, for if or when a tornado approaches.

Rhodehammel suggested local residents begin treating thunderstorm warnings as though they were tornado watches, noting the county typically has tornado activity before the National Weather Service issues a tornado watch or warning.

The Town of Bryant posted to Facebook on Tuesday letting residents know the basement of a house south of Bryant Wesleyan Church, 209 S. Hendricks St., and the basement of Bryant Redeemer Lutheran Church are open for the public to take shelter.

Portland Police Department posted to Facebook around 10:30 a.m. today reminding residents it still had about 10 weather alert radios available for free. (Last year, Jay County Emergency Management distributed the radios to places around the community for residents to use in the event of severe weather.)

Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton advised residents to watch for storms today and take cover if necessary.

“Don’t go out unless you absolutely have to if there is a storm,” he said.

He also asked the public to avoid damaged areas, such as roads with power lines across them, following the storm.

Rhodehammel suggested the community prepare for more inclement weather this year.

“This is just the start of tornado season,” she said. “It’s going to be important to make sure that everybody's prepared and they stay aware as we continue on through the season.”