Palm Sunday Outbreak: A look back at the last tornado to hit Elkhart’s south side

ELKHART, Ind. (WNDU) - In light of Tuesday’s morning’s tornado on the south side of Elkhart, we’re looking back at history.

The tornado, which touched down around 12:21 a.m. just west of US-33 between Lusher Avenue and Hively Avenue, brings back memories of the last one to hit this part of the county decades ago.

Thankfully, no injuries or deaths were reported after the EF1 tornado on Tuesday — a stark contrast to the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak on April 11, 1965.

Here’s one of the iconic photos. It’s the double-tornado, which produced EF4 damage and left at least 60 people dead in Elkhart County alone.

This map shows the outbreak across Michiana, with F3 damage in a line across Starke, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Elkhart counties, plus the two lines of F4 damage in Elkhart County, and the damage in LaGrange County.

As the tornado moved northeast, it struck the Midway trailer park between Goshen and Elkhart. The system then continued, with another tornado spawning and striking the Sunnyside neighborhood in Dunlap.

The damage to the region was so bad, President Lyndon B. Johnson arrived in town to tour the damage, alongside Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh.

Among the iconic photos is the one of President Johnson standing near the American flag, placed by firefighters and volunteers who spent days working recovery missions.

All photos in this story are courtesy of the Elkhart County Historical Society. You can find more photos from the Palm Sunday outbreak in the gallery below:

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