Alert archive / Indiana / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 45, NWS Indianapolis, IN

May 16, 20254 counties in Indiana

NWS Indianapolis, IN issued this tornado warning at May 16, 2025, 8:14 PM EDT for 4 counties in Indiana. It was in force for 31 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 2025, 8:14 PM EDT (00:14 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 2025, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Indianapolis, IN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Clay County, IN, Owen County, IN, Sullivan County, IN, Vigo County, IN

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:16 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 16, 3:59 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 163 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 2025-05-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1224 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2025-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 161 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1224 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-81 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1514 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
161 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
155 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

994 
WFUS53 KIND 170014
TORIND
INC021-119-153-167-170045-
/O.NEW.KIND.TO.W.0045.250517T0014Z-250517T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
814 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Vigo County in west central Indiana...
  Northeastern Sullivan County in southwestern Indiana...
  Southern Clay County in west central Indiana...
  Owen County in west central Indiana...

* Until 845 PM EDT.

* At 814 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 12 miles northeast of Sullivan, or 17 miles southeast
  of Terre Haute, moving east at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Spencer, Clay City, Hymera, Patricksburg, Coalmont, Coal City,
  McCormicks Creek State Park, and Freedom.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3931 8736 3941 8670 3917 8671 3917 8707
      3918 8735
TIME...MOT...LOC 0014Z 266DEG 47KT 3923 8725 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

ME
4 follow-up statements
206 
WWUS53 KIND 170020
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
820 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

INC021-119-153-167-170045-
/O.CON.KIND.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-250517T0045Z/
Vigo IN-Sullivan IN-Clay IN-Owen IN-
820 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN VIGO...NORTHEASTERN SULLIVAN...SOUTHERN CLAY AND OWEN
COUNTIES...

At 819 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 13 miles north of Linton, or 19 miles southeast of Terre
Haute, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Spencer, Clay City, Patricksburg, Coalmont, Coal City, McCormicks
Creek State Park, and Freedom.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3918 8727 3931 8728 3939 8670 3918 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 265DEG 45KT 3923 8718 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

BRB
319 
WWUS53 KIND 170030
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
830 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

INC153-167-170040-
/O.CAN.KIND.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-250517T0045Z/
Vigo IN-Sullivan IN-
830 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN VIGO AND NORTHEASTERN
SULLIVAN COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for west central
Indiana.

LAT...LON 3919 8710 3933 8711 3939 8670 3919 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 0030Z 266DEG 45KT 3924 8702 

$$

INC021-119-170045-
/O.CON.KIND.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-250517T0045Z/
Clay IN-Owen IN-
830 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY AND SOUTHERN OWEN COUNTIES...

At 830 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 13 miles west of Spencer, or 24 miles southeast of Terre
Haute, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Spencer, Clay City, McCormicks Creek State Park, Patricksburg, Coal
City, and Freedom.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3919 8710 3933 8711 3939 8670 3919 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 0030Z 266DEG 45KT 3924 8702 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

BRB
679 
WWUS53 KIND 170039
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
839 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

INC021-170048-
/O.CAN.KIND.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-250517T0045Z/
Clay IN-
839 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for west central
Indiana.

LAT...LON 3922 8693 3931 8694 3936 8670 3921 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 266DEG 47KT 3925 8687 

$$

INC119-170045-
/O.CON.KIND.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-250517T0045Z/
Owen IN-
839 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN OWEN COUNTY...

At 838 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Spencer, or 19 miles west of Bloomington, moving
east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Spencer and McCormicks Creek State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3922 8693 3931 8694 3936 8670 3921 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 266DEG 47KT 3925 8687 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

BRB
525 
WWUS53 KIND 170042
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
842 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

INC119-170051-
/O.EXP.KIND.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-250517T0045Z/
Owen IN-
842 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN OWEN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
845 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning no longer appears capable of 
producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to 
expire. 

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for west central
Indiana.

LAT...LON 3922 8693 3931 8694 3936 8670 3921 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 266DEG 47KT 3925 8687 

$$

BRB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 8:08 PM EDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatINDBartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jennings, Shelby25 min
May 16, 8:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDHendricks, Marion, Morgan, Putnam50 min
May 16, 8:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDBartholomew, Decatur, Hancock, Henry, Rush, Shelby44 min
May 16, 8:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDBoone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Madison, Marion50 min
May 16, 8:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDBrown, Monroe, Morgan, Owen34 min
May 16, 8:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDHancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, Shelby43 min
May 16, 8:54 PM EDTTornado WarningINDMonroe21 min
May 16, 9:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDBartholomew, Brown, Johnson, Morgan, Shelby21 min
May 16, 9:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDHancock, Henry, Rush, Shelby43 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Indiana, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes in 2025

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.