Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 24, NWS Indianapolis, IN

May 16, 1990Vigo County, Indiana

NWS Indianapolis, IN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 1990, 3:21 AM EST for Vigo County, Indiana. It was in force for 39 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1990, 3:21 AM EST (08:21 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1990, 4:00 AM EST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Indianapolis, IN
Area
Whole counties

County Vigo County, IN

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 16, 3:30 AM ESTHail 1.75Vigo, IN

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Dayton/James M C, OH (KDAY), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 278 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1990-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dayton/James M C, OH at 00:00Z on 1990-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 311 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1112 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
311 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
360 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KIND 160821
SVRIND
INC167-160900-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
321 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 400 AM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA
          ...VIGO
 
AT 320 AM EST RADAR INDICATED THAT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS 25 MILES
WEST OF TERRE HAUTE. THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS DOWNED SOME TREES JUST EAST
OF EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
HENDRICKSON

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 12:11 AM EST, 3 hours 10 minutes before
INZ007>013-160700Z

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1205 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990

AN AREA OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA AT
MIDNIGHT. THE STORMS WERE FROM JUST NORTH OF CLINTON TO NEAR BRAZIL...
OR 20 MILES NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF TERRE HAUTE.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO AROUND RICHMOND IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA.

ANAOTHER VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS 20 MILES
NORTHEAST OF CHAMPAIGN. THIS STORM MAY REACH NORTHWEST INDIANA NEAR
BOSWELL AROUND 1215 TO 1230 AM.

THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL AHIL AND VERY
HEAVY RAIN AND INTENSE LIGHTNING.

HEAVY RAIN WAS OVER SOUTHEAST INDIANA EAST OF A LOUISVILLE TO RICHMOND
LINE.                                                         ALLSOPP
Special weather statement, May 16, 1:04 AM EST, 2 hours 17 minutes before
INZ004-005-007>013-160700Z

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1258 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990

A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN BENTON COUNTY AT 1250 AM. THE SHERIFFS
DEPARTMENT AT FOWLER REPORTED NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN AND
STRONG WINDS AT 1245. THE STORM WAS CROSSING THE INTERCHANGE AT I-65
AND U.S. 231 JUST BEFORE 100 AM.

THE STORM WILL REACH REYNOLDS AND MONTICELLO BETWEEN 115 AND 130 AM.
THE STORM COULD PRODUCE SMALL HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS COULD DOWN
POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA FROM ATTICA TO
COVINGTON AND FROM NORTH OF GREENCASTLE TO THE WEST SIDE OF
INDIANAPOLIS.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING OUT OF EXTREME SOUTHEAST INDIANA INTO
SOUTHWEST OHIO.

ALLSOPP
Special weather statement, May 16, 1:28 AM EST, 1 hour 53 minutes before
INZ004-005-007>009-160800Z

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
125 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990

AT 120 AM EST A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ALVIN ILLINOIS...
40 MILES WEST OF LAFAYEETE. THIS STORM WILL CROSS THE INDIANA BORDER
IN WARREN COUNTY AROUND 130AM.

THE STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...INTENSE LIGHTNING...AND SMALL
HAIL. GUSTY WINDS MAY DOWN TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES. THE STORM
WILL CROSS U.S. 41 BETWEEN W6ILLIAMSPORT AND CARBONDALE AROUND
145 AM.

ALLSOPP

ALLSOPP
Special weather statement, May 16, 1:56 AM EST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
INZ004-005-007>009-160800Z

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
155 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990

AT 150 AM EST THUNDERSTORMS WERE DUMPING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER PARTS
OF NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL INDIANA. THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM
LOGANSPORT TO FRANKFORT TO JUST SOUTH OF DANVILLE ILLINOIS.

HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE SOME STREET FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER IN
LOW AREAS IN COVINGTON...ATICA...AND LAFAYETTE. INTENSE LIGHTNING
WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THE STORMS ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS.

DRIVE CAREFULLY IN HEAVY RAIN. VISIBILITY MAY BE NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.
STANDING WATER ON ROADS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SPOT AT NIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD EAST INTO PERU...KOKOMO...CRAWFORDSVILLgE
AND NEWPORT BY 230 AM.

ALLSOPP
Special weather statement, May 16, 2:32 AM EST, 49 minutes before
INZ004-005-007>009-160900Z

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
230 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990

AT 225 AM EST THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE FROM 20 MILES
NORTH OF TERRE HAUTE TO CRAWFORDSVILLE TO JUST EAST OF LAFAYETTE TO
DELPHI.

STATE POLICE REPORTED STANDING WATER ON INTERSTATE I-65 NORTH OF
LAFAYETTE AT 220 AM. PEA SIZE HAIL FELL NEAR WOLCOTT.

DRIVE CAREFULLY IN HEAVY RAIN. VISIBILITY MAY BE NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.
STANDING WATER ON ROADS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SPOT AT NIGHT.

OTHER THUNDERSHOWERS WERE WIDESPREAD OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST
INDIANA AND CONTINUED WEST INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL
SPREAD EAST INTO GREENCASTLE...LEBANON...AND KOKOMO BY 330 AM.

ALLSOPP
Special weather statement, May 16, 3:18 AM EST, 3 minutes before
INZ007>009-011-161000Z

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
315 AM EST WED MAY 16 1990

AT 310 AM EST RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS JUST WEST
OF THE INDIANA BORDER...20 MILES NORTHWEST OF TERRE HAUTE TO 30 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF TERRE HAUTE.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH CLINTON AROUND 325 AM AND TERRE HAUTE BETWEEN
330 AND 340 AM. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS
...HAIL AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE FROM JUST EAST OF CRAWFORDSVILLE TO KOKOMO.
THESE STORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH LEBANON...TIPTON AND MARION BY 4AM.

ALLSOPP

The office that day

Everything else NWS Indianapolis, IN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 8:26 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDHendricks3 hr
May 15, 8:46 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDHancock, Marion3 hr
May 15, 8:46 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDPutnam3 hr
May 15, 9:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDPike30 min
May 15, 10:47 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDDelaware43 min
May 16, 4:12 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDGreene, Owen33 min
May 16, 5:29 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDMarion71 min
May 16, 12:26 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDGibson, Vanderburgh, Warrick2 hr
May 16, 12:26 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDPosey2 hr
May 16, 1:50 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDDubois4 hr
May 16, 2:47 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDPosey, Vanderburgh4 hr
May 16, 6:05 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningINDDubois115 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.