Alert archive / Indiana / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Indianapolis, IN

March 8, 2009Jackson County, Lawrence County, Indiana

NWS Indianapolis, IN issued this tornado warning at Mar 8, 2009, 3:37 PM EDT for Jackson County, Lawrence County, Indiana. It was in force for 38 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Mar 8, 2009, 3:37 PM EDT (19:37 UTC)
Expired: Mar 8, 2009, 4:15 PM EDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Indianapolis, IN
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jackson County, IN, Lawrence County, IN

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:39 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Mar 8, 3:39 PM EDT	TORNADO	3 W Bedford, IN	TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND IN FAYETTEVILLE.
Mar 8, 3:50 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Heltonville, IN	WTHR REPORTS DAMAGE VIEWED FROM HELICOPTER IN HELTONVILLE. EXACT CAUSE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. EVENT TIME IS ESTIMATED.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 8, 2:52 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 232 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1104 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 73 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 378 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 326 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 
WFUS53 KIND 081937
TORIND
INC071-093-082015-
/O.NEW.KIND.TO.W.0003.090308T1937Z-090308T2015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
337 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...
  NORTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BEDFORD...

* UNTIL 415 PM EDT

* AT 335 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO NEAR  
SILVERVILLE...OR 7 MILES WEST OF BEDFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55   
MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HELTONVILLE BY 350 PM EDT...
  NORMAN BY 355 PM EDT...
  KURTZ BY 400 PM EDT...
  FREETOWN BY 405 PM EDT...

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND TORNADO 
TOUCHDOWNS IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA WITH THIS VERY DANGEROUS STORM. 
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THIS 
STORM.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3874 8669 3891 8670 3899 8661 3899 8633
      3905 8617 3896 8600 3888 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 243DEG 50KT 3887 8661

$$

JOHNSON

4 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS53 KIND 081947
SVSIND

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
347 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

INC071-093-082015-
/O.CON.KIND.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090308T2015Z/
JACKSON-LAWRENCE-
346 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR LAWRENCE
AND NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES...

AT 344 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR 
FAYETTEVILLE.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR OOLITIC...OR NEAR 
BEDFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NORMAN BY 355 PM EDT...
  KURTZ BY 400 PM EDT...
  FREETOWN BY 405 PM EDT...

LAWRENCE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NEAR THE 
TOWN OF FAYETTEVILLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM AND IS LIKELY 
ACCOMPANIED BY STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3874 8669 3891 8670 3899 8661 3899 8633
      3905 8617 3896 8600 3888 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 243DEG 50KT 3893 8645

$$

JOHNSON

000 
WWUS53 KIND 081955
SVSIND

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
355 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

INC071-093-082015-
/O.CON.KIND.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090308T2015Z/
JACKSON-LAWRENCE-
355 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE AND NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES...

AT 352 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HELTONVILLE...OR 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
BEDFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  KURTZ BY 400 PM EDT...
  FREETOWN BY 405 PM EDT...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 
80 MPH.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AND 
TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY 
DANGEROUS SITUATION

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3880 8644 3896 8647 3898 8638 3899 8633
      3905 8617 3896 8600 3888 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 1955Z 243DEG 50KT 3898 8630

$$

JOHNSON

000 
WWUS53 KIND 082004
SVSIND

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
404 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

INC093-082014-
/O.CAN.KIND.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090308T2015Z/
LAWRENCE-
404 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM HAS LEFT THE COUNTY.

LAT...LON 3884 8627 3898 8628 3901 8628 3905 8617
      3896 8600 3888 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 243DEG 50KT 3903 8615

$$

INC071-082015-
/O.CON.KIND.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090308T2015Z/
JACKSON-
404 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY...

AT 401 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KURTZ...OR 17 MILES WEST OF SEYMOUR...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING  
DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. THIS IS AN 
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3884 8627 3898 8628 3901 8628 3905 8617
      3896 8600 3888 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 243DEG 50KT 3903 8615

$$

JOHNSON

000 
WWUS53 KIND 082013
SVSIND

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
413 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

INC071-082023-
/O.EXP.KIND.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090308T2015Z/
JACKSON-
413 PM EDT SUN MAR 8 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
415 PM EDT/315 PM CDT/...

THE TORNADO HAS EXITED THE WARNING AREA. THIS WILL BE REPLACED BY A 
NEW TORNADO WARNING TO THE EAST OF THIS WARNING.

LAT...LON 3884 8627 3898 8628 3901 8628 3905 8617
      3896 8600 3888 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 243DEG 50KT 3908 8600

$$

JOHNSON

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 7, 7:45 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Howard	26 min
Mar 7, 9:53 PM EST	Flood Watch	IND	Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Tippecanoe, Tipton and 1 more	13 hr
Mar 8, 5:13 AM EDT	Wind Advisory	IND	Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Clay, Clinton and 33 more	23 hr
Mar 8, 2:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Daviess, Knox	50 min
Mar 8, 2:55 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	IND	Greene, Knox, Sullivan	30 min
Mar 8, 3:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin	44 min
Mar 8, 3:24 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	IND	Daviess, Greene, Martin	19 min
Mar 8, 3:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Carroll, Clinton, Tippecanoe	47 min
Mar 8, 3:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe	36 min
Mar 8, 4:11 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	IND	Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings	34 min
Mar 8, 4:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Clinton, Howard, Tipton	53 min
Mar 8, 4:23 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Daviess, Lawrence, Martin	23 min
Mar 8, 5:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	IND	Jennings	23 min
Mar 8, 5:44 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	IND	Carroll, Tippecanoe, White	38 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Indiana, 2009 Every tornado warning in 2009 Tornadoes in 2009

Sources

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