Tornado Warning 36, NWS Indianapolis, IN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
619 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe Thunderstorms are expected between 5-11PM EDT.

- All Severe modes are in play today, including damaging straight
  line winds, large hail, and tornadoes. The greatest threat looks
  to be widespread damaging winds south of the I-70 corridor

- Warm and humid with highs in the mid to upper 80s.

- Cooler and quiet for the weekend, additional precipitation again
  next week

&&

.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
Issued at 617 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

DEEPER LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS REMAINED OVER SOUTHERN INDIANA WITH
DEWPTS ABOVE 65F GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SULLIVAN
COUNTY INDIANA EASTWARD TO CINCINNATI AREA. NORTH OF THIS LINE,
DEWPTS RANGE FROM NEAR 50 AT LAFAYETTE TO THE UPPER 50S/LOWER 60S
ALONG THE I-70 CORRIDOR.

ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS STILL EXPECTED
AHEAD OF THE MAIN CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS, THE THREAT FOR
TORNADOES APPEARS TO BE FALLING FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF I-70.
HOWEVER IN THESE AREAS THE DEGREE OF DRIER AIR IN THE LOW-MID
LEVELS WILL SUPPORT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH AS THE
PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WITH ISOLATED LARGE HAIL POSSIBLE. THESE
STORMS WILL REACH THE WESTERN INDY METRO AREA AROUND 645 PM AND
DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS BETWEN 7 AN 715 PM.

SOUTH OF I-70...MULTIPLE SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE
TRACKING EAST-NE ABOUT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A
THREAT FOR ALL HAZARDS, INCLUDING LARGE HAIL, DAMAGING WINDS AND
TORNADOES PROVIDED THE MORE UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT AND STRONGER LOW
LEVEL SHEAR /0-1 KM SRH AROUND 200 M2/S2/.

&&

.SHORT TERM (This afternoon through Saturday)...
Issued at 1152 AM EDT Fri May 16 2025

Update for upcoming severe event:

Key Messages:

- Widespread thunderstorms with numerous severe thunderstorms expected
  between 5PM and 11PM EDT

- All severe weather hazards possible, but highest confidence in destructive
  wind gusts. Most intense gusts could be greater than 80mph

- Long track supercells are possible over far southern central IN. Within
  these supercells, significant tornadoes are possible.

Discussion:

There is a growing concern for a localized severe weather outbreak
over central Indiana late this afternoon and evening. Satellite and
radar imagery depict numerous elevated thunderstorms with widespread
rain and anvil cirrus over KY currently, of which many of the near
term models have struggled to materialize. This could create some
uncertainty on overall storm track this evening as even with modest
moisture advection it will take some time for this area to recover.
The current expectation is for this to result in a CAPE gradient
across the southern portions of Indiana, further solidifying the
development of robust convection this afternoon and evening.

Current observations show most of central Indiana already in the mid
to upper 70s with dew points near 60. There will likely be some low
level mixing this afternoon that will continue to drop dew points
into the upper 50s, especially north of I-70 prior to convective
initiation. However further south, greater SW moisture advection and
some anvil cirrus should keep low level dew points elevated, with
dew points in the mid 60s prior to convective initiation. This will
result in quick destabilization with widespread CAPE values greater
than 2500 J/kg south of I-70. As the pressure trough pushes eastward,
modest lift will be sufficient enough for explosive initiation across
IL, of which is expected to reach the Indiana border between 4:30
and 6:00 PM EDT.

Further analysis of the low level thermodynamics shows very steep 0-
5km lapse rates, averaging around 8 C/km. The 5km layer winds will
generally be around 50kts, increasing this evening to 70-80kts.
Given the steep lapse rates, and dry mid level air, dense and
volatile cold pools are likely to develop within organized storms.
These cold pools will be capable of producing isolated wind gusts
greater than 90 MPH, but numerous 60 MPH wind gusts are likely south
of the I-70 corridor. This same set up also is favorable for
significant hail, although this threat will slowly wane as the
convection become more linear this evening. Greatest winds are
likely to be south of the I-70 corridor where the LLJ axis is
centered, but scattered severe wind gusts are still possible north
of I-70.

There is also a tornado threat with these storms this afternoon and
evening primarily south of I-70. Given residual capping over
southern IN from the previously mention thunderstorms over KY this
morning, along with a more favorable shear vector, some discrete
convection is possible in the beginning of the severe thunderstorm
threat (5-8PM). Modeled soundings currently show 0-3km SRH greater
that 300 m2/s2 in this same region, of which is plenty sufficient
for mesocyclone development and therefore supercells. Although LCLs
are likely to be slightly elevated initially, very steep near
surface lapse rates along with 0-1km SRH of 100-200 m2/s2 should be
enough to overcome as the mesocyclones strengthen and become more
mature. 7PM onwards the LLJ is also likely to increase further
intensifying the low level shear. The main uncertainty with long
track supercells will be how quickly organized convection grows
upscale and becomes linear.

Outside of supercell tornadoes, there is a QLCS tornado threat as
these storms develop strong cold pools. If a tornado does happen
north of I-70, this will likely be the storm mode. Given the
aforementioned likelihood of robust cold pools and RIJ, there will
likely be surges within any linear feature. These surges in the
presence of strong LL shear this evening will likely be sufficient
for a few embedded tornadoes within lines.

&&

.LONG TERM (Saturday through Thursday)...
Issued at 307 AM EDT Fri May 16 2025

An exiting low will move off to the NE at the start of the period.
Behind the low, broad riding across the central plains will
initially dominate this weekend. Pressure gradients between the
system will keep wind gusts to around 25-30 mph during the afternoon
on Saturday but will be much calmer for Sunday.

A more active pattern is then expected for much of the work week as
an upper low, with a couple of short wave, moves through the region.
Models are struggling to determine the details at this time as
different solutions show varying tracks and strengths to the system.
Confidence on temperatures is also low as it will depend on what
side of the low central Indiana ends up with. Despite the
uncertainties, it does look like there will be a good amount of
moisture to work with, so could see a threat for multiple days of
heavy rain, and temperatures probably below normal for much of the
week.

Towards the end of the long term and into the holiday weekend, a
ridging pattern may set up to bring from the rain expected next
week, but it is still too soon to have much confidence in this yet.

&&

.AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 131 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

Impacts:

- High confidence for evening thunderstorms, possibly severe

Discussion:

VFR conditions expected through 21Z today. Thunderstorms will push
through from west to east after with first impacts at KHUF.
Generally, ceilings should remain above 3000 within thunderstorms,
but brief reductions to MVFR are possible. Within thunderstorms
gusts to 50 or greater knots are possible. Coverage of thunderstorms
should diminish quickly after 00Z at KHUF and 02Z at KIND and KBMG.
Thunderstorms threat is expected to be completely over by 05Z.

Outside of thunderstorms gusty S to SW winds are expected to around
20kts. Winds will shift towards westerly after thunderstorms pass
overnight but should remain above 10kts through a majority of the
period.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

MESOSCALE...Crosbie
SHORT TERM...Updike
LONG TERM...Updike
AVIATION...Updike

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
319 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-171930-
Carroll-Warren-Tippecanoe-Clinton-Howard-Fountain-Montgomery-Boone-
Tipton-Hamilton-Madison-Delaware-Randolph-Vermillion-Parke-Putnam-
Hendricks-Marion-Hancock-Henry-Vigo-Clay-Owen-Morgan-Johnson-Shelby-
Rush-Sullivan-Greene-Monroe-Brown-Bartholomew-Decatur-Knox-Daviess-
Martin-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings-
319 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Through Tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected in Central Indiana today between 5PM and
10PM EDT. Severe thunderstorms are likely, especially along and south
of I-70.

Damaging straight line winds, tornadoes, large hail, heavy rain and
lightning are all possible.

Be prepared for severe weather watches and warnings this afternoon
and evening. Have multiple ways to receive weather information and
be prepared to activate your safety plan.

Storm motion will be to the east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Thunderstorms are possible next Monday through Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon and evening across
Central Indiana.

&&

More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate
information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
608 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0602 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 SW Turkey Run State P 39.88N 87.23W
05/16/2025  M42 MPH          Parke              IN   Trained Spotter

&&

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
619 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0617 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 NW West Lafayette     40.49N 86.96W
05/16/2025                   Tippecanoe         IN   Public

            Powerlines down on Taft Road.

&&

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