Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1996

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 23, NWS Indianapolis, IN

April 19, 1996Clay County, Vigo County, Indiana

NWS Indianapolis, IN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 19, 1996, 12:33 AM EST for Clay County, Vigo County, Indiana. It was in force for 42 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 19, 1996, 12:33 AM EST (05:33 UTC)
Expired
Apr 19, 1996, 1:15 AM EST
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Indianapolis, IN
Area
Whole counties

Counties Clay County, IN, Vigo County, IN

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:37 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 141 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, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 1996-04-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 637 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 1996-04-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 124 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
637 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-124 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1032 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
156 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KIND 190534
SVRIND
INC021-167-190615-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1233 AM EST FRI APR 19 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  115 AM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA
 
   ...CLAY COUNTY...EASTERN VIGO COUNTY
 
AT 1230 AM EST RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED ABOUT
15 MILES EAST OF TERRE HAUTE. THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 40
MPH THE TOWNS OF BRAZIL AND STAUNTON ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.
 
AT 1225 AM EST ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED JUST EAST OF TERRE HAUTE BY AN
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR.
 
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.
JEH
 
 
&

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, Apr 18, 7:57 PM EST, 4 hours 36 minutes before
INZ051-060-067-081-082-085>087-190230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
750 PM EST THU APR 18 1996

...A TORNADO WATCH COVERS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST INDIANA UNTIL MIDNIGHT
EST/CDT...

THE WATCH IS WEST OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF TERRE HAUTE TO
20 MILES EAST OF EVANSVILLE. SOME CITIES IN THE WATCH ARE TERRE
HAUTE...VINCENNES AND EVANSVILLE.

A WATCH MEANS TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND
DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.
YOU SHOULD THINK OF WHERE YOU WILL SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED. THE SAFEST PLACE IN A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A HOME OR BUILDING.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS AT 745 PM. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING EAST. THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP FARTHER SOUTH...
BUT THEY WOULD NOT REACH SOUTHWEST INDIANA BEFORE 1000 PM IF THEY
DO.

DS
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 9:21 PM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes before
INZ051-060-067-081-082-085>087-190400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
920 PM EST THU APR 18 1996

...A TORNADO WATCH COVERS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST INDIANA UNTIL MIDNIGHT
EST/CDT...

THE WATCH IS WEST OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF TERRE HAUTE TO
20 MILES EAST OF EVANSVILLE. SOME CITIES IN THE WATCH ARE TERRE
HAUTE...VINCENNES AND EVANSVILLE.

A WATCH MEANS TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND
DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.
YOU SHOULD THINK OF WHERE YOU WILL SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED. THE SAFEST PLACE IN A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A HOME OR BUvILDING.

THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD MOVE INTO THE TERRE HAUTE AREA BETWEEN 1000 PM
AND 1100 PM.

DS
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 10:25 PM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes before
INZ003>009-012>018-020>026-029>033-035>041-043>049-190900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1025 PM EST THU APR 18 1996

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN INDIANA UNTIL 400 AM
EST/CDT...

THE WATCH IS EAST OF A LINE FROM LA PORTE TO CLINTON IN SOUTHERN VIGO
COUNTY AND WEST OF A LINE FROM ANGOLA TO NEW CASTLE. SOME CITIES IN
THE WATCH ARE INDIANAPOLIS...FORT WAYNE...SOUTH BEND AND LAFAYETTE.

A WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH
AREA. YOU SHOULD THINK OF WHERE YOU WILL SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED. THE SAFEST PLACE IS IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A HOME OR BUILDING.

AT 1015 PM...THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ALONG A COLD FRONT
OVER WESTERN INDIANA. THAT COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OVER
INDIANA TONIGHT.

SLL
Special weather statement, Apr 18, 11:45 PM EST, 48 minutes before
INZ002>089-190530-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1145 PM EST THU APR 18 1996

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN INDIANA UNTIL 4 AM EST...
...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
INDIANA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

AT 1130 PM A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 30 MILES WEST
OF FORT WAYNE TO INDIANAPOLIS TO EAST OF VINCINNES.  THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.  ANOTHER LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDED FROM NEAR SHADES STATE PARK TO ROCKVILLE TO NORTH OF TERRE
HAUTE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...HAIL...AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING. THIS REMAINS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND PERSONS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO MONITOR RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

SWAIN
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 12:18 AM EST, 15 minutes before
INZ002>089-190630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1209 AM EST FRI APR 19 1996

...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST INDIANA HAS EXPIRED...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL INDIANA UNTIL 4 AM EST...

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST INDIANA EXPIRED AT MIDNIGHT.  THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED WEST OF A LINE FROM
SOUTH BEND TO LOGANSPORT TO LEBANON TO CLINTON.  THE REMAINDER OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 185 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM
EST.

AT 1210 AM EST...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM
FORT WAYNE TO SOUTH OF BLOOMINGTON TO EAST OF WASHINGTON.  ANOTHER
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM GREENCASTLE TO TERRE
HAUTE. THESE LINES WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...HAIL...AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.  PERSONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR RADIO AND TELEVISION
FOR THE L\ATEST INFORMATION.

SWAIN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 18, 10:37 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDParke, Putnam53 min
Apr 19, 4:51 PM ESTTornado WarningINDFountain, Parke, Vermillion69 min
Apr 19, 5:40 PM ESTTornado WarningINDParke50 min
Apr 19, 5:55 PM ESTTornado WarningINDPutnam50 min
Apr 19, 6:22 PM ESTTornado WarningINDHendricks68 min
Apr 19, 6:36 PM ESTTornado WarningINDMorgan54 min
Apr 19, 6:54 PM ESTTornado WarningINDJohnson, Marion66 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 1996Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1996

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.