Alert archive / Indiana / Tornado Watches in 2015
Tornado Watch 560
The Storm Prediction Center issued this tornado watch at Dec 23, 2015, 1:28 PM EST for 57 counties in Indiana; 30 counties in Kentucky. It was in force for 8 hr.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 23, 2015, 1:28 PM EST (18:28 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 23, 2015, 9:00 PM EST
- In force
- 8 hr
- Issued by
- the Storm Prediction Center
- Largest hail expected
- 1 in
- Strongest gust expected
- 70 kt
All 87 counties
Bartholomew County, IN, Boone County, IN, Brown County, IN, Carroll County, IN, Clark County, IN, Clay County, IN, Clinton County, IN, Crawford County, IN, Daviess County, IN, Dearborn County, IN, Decatur County, IN, Delaware County, IN, Dubois County, IN, Fayette County, IN, Floyd County, IN, Franklin County, IN, Greene County, IN, Hamilton County, IN, Hancock County, IN, Harrison County, IN, Hendricks County, IN, Henry County, IN, Howard County, IN, Jackson County, IN, Jefferson County, IN, Jennings County, IN, Johnson County, IN, Knox County, IN, Lawrence County, IN, Madison County, IN, Marion County, IN, Martin County, IN, Monroe County, IN, Montgomery County, IN, Morgan County, IN, Ohio County, IN, Orange County, IN, Owen County, IN, Parke County, IN, Perry County, IN, Pike County, IN, Putnam County, IN, Randolph County, IN, Ripley County, IN, Rush County, IN, Scott County, IN, Shelby County, IN, Spencer County, IN, Sullivan County, IN, Switzerland County, IN, Tippecanoe County, IN, Tipton County, IN, Union County, IN, Vigo County, IN, Warrick County, IN, Washington County, IN, Wayne County, IN, Breckinridge County, KY, Bullitt County, KY, Butler County, KY, Carroll County, KY, Christian County, KY, Daviess County, KY, Edmonson County, KY, Grayson County, KY, Hancock County, KY, Hardin County, KY, Hart County, KY, Henry County, KY, Hopkins County, KY, Jefferson County, KY, Larue County, KY, Logan County, KY, McLean County, KY, Meade County, KY, Muhlenberg County, KY, Nelson County, KY, Ohio County, KY, Oldham County, KY, Shelby County, KY, Simpson County, KY, Spencer County, KY, Todd County, KY, Trigg County, KY, Trimble County, KY, Warren County, KY, Webster County, KY
The radar
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:28 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 SPC expected
The probabilities SPC published with the watch, for the watch area over its life.
- Two or more tornadoes
- 50%
- One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes
- 30%
- Ten or more severe wind reports
- 80%
- One or more gusts of 65 knots or more
- 60%
- Ten or more severe hail reports
- 10%
- One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more
- 5%
- Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports
- 90%
Warnings issued inside it
60 tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for its counties while it was in force.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 1:44 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Carroll | 16 min |
| Dec 23, 1:57 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Daviess, Greene, Knox, Sullivan | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 2:12 PM EST | Tornado Warning | IND | Daviess, Knox | 18 min |
| Dec 23, 2:19 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Pike, Warrick | 41 min |
| Dec 23, 2:27 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Clay, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen and 1 more | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 2:38 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Dubois | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 2:53 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Spencer | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 2:57 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Brown, Clay, Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin and 4 more | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 3:08 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Perry | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 3:21 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion | 39 min |
| Dec 23, 3:25 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Monroe and 2 more | 35 min |
| Dec 23, 3:30 PM EST | Tornado Warning | LMK | Orange, Washington | 15 min |
| Dec 23, 3:43 PM EST | Tornado Warning | LMK | Scott, Washington | 32 min |
| Dec 23, 3:53 PM EST | Tornado Warning | PAH | Hopkins, Webster | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 3:57 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Bartholomew, Decatur, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry and 5 more | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 4:03 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Scott | 27 min |
| Dec 23, 4:09 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN | Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland and 2 more | 51 min |
| Dec 23, 4:14 PM EST | Tornado Warning | LMK | Jefferson, Scott | 31 min |
| Dec 23, 4:17 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Delaware, Madison | 43 min |
| Dec 23, 4:18 PM EST | Tornado Warning | PAH | Daviess, Henderson, McLean | 27 min |
| Dec 23, 4:26 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Delaware, Henry, Randolph | 34 min |
| Dec 23, 4:27 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN | Wayne | 48 min |
| Dec 23, 4:36 PM EST | Tornado Warning | PAH | Spencer | 24 min |
| Dec 23, 4:40 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN | Switzerland | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 4:41 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Jefferson | 19 min |
| Dec 23, 4:48 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Caldwell, Crittenden, Hopkins, Webster | 42 min |
| Dec 23, 4:49 PM EST | Tornado Warning | LMK | Perry | 26 min |
| Dec 23, 4:51 PM EST | Tornado Warning | ILN | Wayne | 24 min |
| Dec 23, 5:03 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN | Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland | 42 min |
| Dec 23, 5:21 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | McLean | 24 min |
| Dec 23, 5:28 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Daviess | 47 min |
| Dec 23, 5:33 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Daviess, Martin | 27 min |
| Dec 23, 5:42 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Washington | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 5:47 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Trigg | 28 min |
| Dec 23, 5:50 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Perry | 25 min |
| Dec 23, 6:00 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Muhlenberg | 45 min |
| Dec 23, 6:09 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Perry | 11 min |
| Dec 23, 6:15 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Calloway, Trigg | 30 min |
| Dec 23, 6:18 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Crawford, Harrison, Perry | 27 min |
| Dec 23, 6:27 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Breckinridge, Butler, Grayson, Ohio | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 6:28 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Christian | 32 min |
| Dec 23, 6:41 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Clark, Floyd, Harrison | 34 min |
| Dec 23, 6:46 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg | 44 min |
| Dec 23, 6:55 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH | Christian | 35 min |
| Dec 23, 6:57 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Harrison | 18 min |
| Dec 23, 7:00 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin | 30 min |
| Dec 23, 7:05 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Clark | 40 min |
| Dec 23, 7:12 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Logan, Ohio, Warren | 33 min |
| Dec 23, 7:15 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILN | Switzerland | 45 min |
| Dec 23, 7:17 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Nelson, Shelby, Spencer | 43 min |
| Dec 23, 7:29 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Jefferson | 3 hr |
| Dec 23, 7:30 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Meade | 30 min |
| Dec 23, 7:39 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | LMK | Clark, Floyd | 3 hr |
| Dec 23, 7:45 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Logan, Warren | 30 min |
| Dec 23, 7:50 PM EST | Tornado Warning | LMK | Butler, Edmonson, Warren | 25 min |
| Dec 23, 7:58 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Anderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Nelson, Shelby, Spencer | 47 min |
| Dec 23, 8:06 PM EST | Tornado Warning | LMK | Edmonson, Grayson, Hart | 24 min |
| Dec 23, 8:23 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion and 1 more | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 8:24 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Anderson, Franklin, Henry, Scott, Shelby, Woodford | 36 min |
| Dec 23, 8:39 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LMK | Allen, Simpson, Warren | 36 min |
Discussions around it
SPC mesoscale discussions over the same counties from four hours before the watch to its end.
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 218 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 12 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -75 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 465 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 67 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 260 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 212 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
489
WWUS20 KWNS 231825
SEL0
SPC WW 231825
INZ000-KYZ000-240200-
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 560
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1225 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA
WESTERN AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY
* EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 1225 PM
UNTIL 800 PM CST.
* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
A FEW TORNADOES AND A COUPLE INTENSE TORNADOES POSSIBLE
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED SIGNIFICANT GUSTS TO 80
MPH LIKELY
SUMMARY...FAST-MOVING LINE OF SEVERE STORMS SHOULD CONTINUE
NORTHEAST ACROSS THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON WITH
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND A FEW TORNADOES AS THE MAIN THREATS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF
MUNCIE INDIANA TO 30 MILES EAST OF FORT CAMPBELL KENTUCKY. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 557...WW 558...WW 559...
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 400.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 22050.
...GRAMSSPC that day
Everything else SPC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 7:13 AM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Alexander, Bond, Clinton, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton and 17 more | 2 hr |
| Dec 23, 10:05 AM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Alexander, Clay, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton and 20 more | 85 min |
| Dec 23, 10:13 AM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | Alexander, Bond, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay and 38 more | 8 hr |
| Dec 23, 10:41 AM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cook, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kane and 5 more | 2 hr |
| Dec 23, 11:29 AM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin and 15 more | 91 min |
| Dec 23, 1:06 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin and 7 more | 84 min |
| Dec 23, 1:42 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Fulton and 25 more | 2 hr |
| Dec 23, 2:55 PM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Fulton and 24 more | 4 hr |
| Dec 23, 4:24 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Fulton and 26 more | 96 min |
| Dec 23, 2:55 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange and 4 more | 95 min |
| Dec 23, 3:16 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur and 34 more | 59 min |
| Dec 23, 5:59 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Harrison, Orange and 4 more | 2 hr |
| Dec 23, 3:49 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Calloway | 86 min |
| Dec 23, 4:17 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton and 5 more | 7 hr |
| Dec 23, 6:26 PM EST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Ashland, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Coshocton, Crawford and 27 more | 2 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Watches in Indiana, 2015Tornado Watches in Kentucky, 2015Every tornado watch in 2015
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.