Severe Thunderstorm Warning 154, NWS Indianapolis, IN

351 
WWUS53 KIND 181719
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
119 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INC165-181729-
/O.CAN.KIND.SV.W.0154.000000T0000Z-260518T1745Z/
Vermillion IN-
119 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR VERMILLION COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for
west central Indiana.

LAT...LON 3961 8740 3961 8738 3962 8738 3970 8730
      3991 8732 3995 8721 3952 8702 3940 8749
      3952 8749
TIME...MOT...LOC 1719Z 270DEG 33KT 3990 8739 3951 8725 

$$

INC021-121-167-181745-
/O.CON.KIND.SV.W.0154.000000T0000Z-260518T1745Z/
Vigo IN-Clay IN-Parke IN-
119 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN VIGO...NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND CENTRAL PARKE
COUNTIES...

At 119 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Newport to 7 miles west of Brazil, moving east at 40
mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Terre Haute, Brazil, Rockville, West Terre Haute, Seelyville,
Knightsville, Rosedale, Harmony, Staunton, Carbon, Bloomingdale,
Marshall, Fontanet, Bridgeton, Turkey Run State Park, North Terre
Haute, and Indiana State University.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 3 and 9.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3961 8740 3961 8738 3962 8738 3970 8730
      3991 8732 3995 8721 3952 8702 3940 8749
      3952 8749
TIME...MOT...LOC 1719Z 270DEG 33KT 3990 8739 3951 8725 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Updike

141 
WWUS53 KIND 181728
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
128 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INC021-121-167-181745-
/O.CON.KIND.SV.W.0154.000000T0000Z-260518T1745Z/
Vigo IN-Clay IN-Parke IN-
128 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN VIGO...NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND SOUTHEASTERN PARKE
COUNTIES...

At 127 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 6 miles northeast of Newport to near Brazil, moving
east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Terre Haute, Brazil, Seelyville, Knightsville, Rosedale, Harmony,
Staunton, Carbon, Fontanet, Bridgeton, and North Terre Haute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3943 8737 3955 8743 3977 8713 3952 8702
TIME...MOT...LOC 1727Z 270DEG 33KT 3992 8731 3953 8717 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Updike

521 
WWUS53 KIND 181732
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
132 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INC021-121-167-181741-
/O.CAN.KIND.SV.W.0154.000000T0000Z-260518T1745Z/
Vigo IN-Clay IN-Parke IN-
132 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN VIGO...
NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND SOUTHEASTERN PARKE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened Therefore, the 
warning has been cancelled. However, gusty winds to 40 MPH are still 
possible with these thunderstorms.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for
west central Indiana.

LAT...LON 3943 8737 3955 8743 3977 8713 3952 8702
TIME...MOT...LOC 1729Z 249DEG 33KT 3993 8729 3954 8715 

$$

Updike

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1245 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe storms possible this afternoon and again Tuesday
  afternoon and evening with damaging winds, large hail and
  localized flooding

- Highs in the 80s today and Tuesday

- Storms will end Wednesday as the front shifts south, but unsettled
  weather likely returns late this week into the holiday weekend

&&

.FORECAST UPDATE...
Issued at 1014 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

A line of thunderstorms continues to march east into central
Illinois this morning, and scattered convection is developing ahead
of this line with an area of additional lift.

Temperatures across central Indiana were already in the upper 70s
with dewpoints generally in the lower to middle 60s. Upper 60s
dewpoints were in the far southwest and farther upstream to the
southwest.

Based on latest radar trends, sped up arrival of PoPs this morning
into early afternoon. The newer convection leads to some increased
uncertainty on how convection evolves this afternoon. Instability
will continue to build, especially central and east before the
clouds from upstream convection limit heating. The initial
convection will be able to tap into this instability, but upstream
convection may have less to work with.

Either way, strong to severe convection remains a threat into the
afternoon so will continue to mention.

High temperatures may be optimistic west but for now will make no
changes and continue to monitor.

&&

.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
Issued at 1244 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

Thunderstorms are developing along the Indiana Illinois state line.
These storms have been loosely organized so far, but an outflow
boundary from convection further upstream is impinging from the
west. This outflow boundary may allow storms to consolidate into a
more coherent line as they progress deeper into Indiana.

A recent sounding from Purdue University shows modest lapse rates
between 6-7 C/Km, with a moist profile to about 500 mb.
Additionally, modest shear is also present (20-25 knots) with messy
hodographs centered around the mean storm motion. As such, little in
the way of storm relative upper-level outflow appears
likely...storms should behave more like single cells to multicell
clusters until they become influenced by the outflow boundary or
their own outflow.

Once storms consolidate on the outflow boundary, they should still
be relatively 'pulsey' in nature but more organized than in the open
warm sector. The primary threat today appears to be strong wind
gusts, as enough moisture loading within mature updrafts is possible
for wet microbursts. Additionally, cold pool dynamics such as rear-
inflow jet surges are also possible which may produce strong to
damaging wind gusts. Given a mean shear vector towards the
northeast, cold pools that orient in a NW to SE direction pose the
greatest threat for severe wind gusts.

Hail is possible but given only modest lapse rates, high moisture
content, and the lack of long straight hodographs it does not appear
to be all that likely. Tornado potential also appears low, given the
outflow dominant nature of storms today. A brief QLCS spin up cannot
be ruled out, however.

Another threat, likely replacing wind as the primary hazard later
this evening, is the potential for flooding and flash flooding. High-
resolution guidance shows the cold pool settling in a SW to NE
fashion across central Indiana. This may allow for repeated rounds
of storms into tonight. As mentioned above, moisture content in the
profile is high and freezing levels are near 15,000 feet. With a
warm cloud layer over 10,000 feet in thickness, warm rain processes
should lead to efficient rainfall production today. As such, various
CAMs are showing pockets of very heavy rainfall totals between 3 to
5 inches. HREF ensemble mean shows a large area of 1 to 2 inches.
Because of this potential, a Flood Watch has been issued for for
western portions of the area. As cold pools become more defined,
this may need to be trimmed or expanded.

&&

.DISCUSSION (Today through Sunday)...
Issued at 258 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

An amplified upper level pattern for early this week anchored by a
deep trough over the northern Rockies and strong ridging over the
eastern part of the country. The ridge will gradually flatten as the
trough shifts east enabling a strong cold front to track into the
region by late Tuesday. With a warm and unstable airmass ahead of
the front...multiple opportunities for thunderstorms will exist
through Tuesday night with severe weather possible this afternoon
and potentially again Tuesday afternoon and evening as the cold
front moves through. High pressure will bring a briefly drier period
midweek before unsettled conditions return late week in response to
the front lifting back north into the region.

Today through Tuesday Night

Quiet early morning across central Indiana with clear skies. 06Z
temperatures remained warm in the upper 60s and lower 70s in many
locations.

An active 48 hours is anticipated through Tuesday night with
multiple opportunities for rain and thunderstorms and the potential
for severe weather in advance of a cold front currently over the
Plains and poised to move across the area by Tuesday evening.

An ongoing area of convection continues early this morning from the
upper Midwest southwest into central Kansas. Much of the line has
weakened from Sunday evening with the exception of the southern part
of the line over the Missouri Valley where instability and BL shear
remain more than sufficient to maintain convective intensity. This
portion of the line is likely to remain strong for the remainder of
the night with an in creasing flood risk as it sags into south
central Missouri and becomes increasingly parallel to the mean flow.
The weaker portion of the line over Iowa is of greater interest to
the forecast area as its remnants will enable the old outflow
boundary to drift into central Illinois by mid to late morning with
convection becoming reinvigorated as the outflow interacts with a
rapidly destabilizing airmass over the region.

Convection will continue to grow upscale as it tracks into the
Wabash Valley early this afternoon then presses southeast across the
forecast area. Model soundings show steepening mid level lapse rates
with SBCAPEs 2000-2500 j/kg and sufficient shear that would support
damaging winds...especially if the cold pool can mature.
Furthermore...DCAPE values approach 1000 j/kg immediately ahead of
the convective line which also lends credence to the damaging wind
risk. Abundant CAPE is present within the hail growth zone as well
and stronger cells will carry a large hail threat as well. Timing of
the greatest risk for severe weather will be between 17Z and 22Z.

Storms will weaken as they track towards the Indiana-Ohio border by
early evening as it moves away from the deeper instability and
stronger low level winds. An axis of PWATs between 1.75 and 2 inches
will support torrential rainfall and flooding. The greatest concern
will be across the southwest half of the forecast area as training
cells become a factor with the line curving back to the west along
the instability axis. Showers and embedded storms will continue into
the evening but with the airmass worked over from the afternoon
convection...the general trend will be towards rain diminishing as
weak ridging aloft reestablishes for the overnight.

Tuesday has become a bit more uncertain with respect to convective
evolution and the potential for another round of severe weather as
the model suite has sped up the arrival of the front into the
forecast area in the afternoon. More impactful though will be the
possibility of convective cloud debris by Tuesday morning from an
MCS over the Missouri Valley Monday night. That will stunt diurnal
heating and available instability and the earlier arrival of the
front during the afternoon presents the possibility that the greater
risk for more robust convection will focus across the southeast half
of the forecast area and points east late afternoon into the
evening. That being said...model soundings do continue to highlight
mid level lapse rates up to 7.5C/km with a deep layer of dry
adiabatic flow across the region combined with sufficient levels of
BL shear to support scattered stronger convection at a minimum with
the available instability. Damaging winds will again be the primary
risk from these storms with large hail serving as a secondary
threat.

The cold front will become more parallel to the flow aloft on
Tuesday night which will keep showers and thunderstorms across much
of the forecast area into Tuesday night...gradually ending from the
north overnight as drier air advects into the region.

Highs will be tricky both today and Tuesday...dependent on
convective timing this afternoon and cloud debris Tuesday. Nudged
highs both days down from the model blend with low to mid 80s for
much of the forecast area.

Wednesday through Sunday

Convection may still be ongoing across the southeast half of the
forecast area Wednesday morning but will gradually end through the
morning as the front shifts south of the region and high pressure
builds into the Great Lakes. Confidence continues to grow on the
boundary becomes quasi stationary across the Tennessee Valley into
Thursday before lifting back north into the Ohio Valley Friday as
the high passing to the north moves east into New England. The
ensemble guidance has gotten more aggressive in this solution with
scattered to numerous showers and storms Friday and Friday night as
the front lifts north through the forecast area.

Lower confidence remains for the weekend as the return of a warmer
and more unstable airmass south of the front will support at least a
daily threat for scattered convection but the lack of much agreement
in the model ensemble makes employing detail in the timing and
coverage of rainfall difficult through much of the holiday weekend.
After temperatures mainly in the upper 60s and low 70s Wednesday and
Thursday...highs will climb back into the upper 70s and lower 80s
Saturday and Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION (12Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 609 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

Impacts:

- A line of severe thunderstorms expected to impact all terminals
  this afternoon with showers continuing into the evening

- Peak wind gusts this afternoon at 25 to 30kts

Discussion:

Mainly sunny skies are expected to start but expect an increase in
mid and high level clouds as the morning progresses associated with
the remnant convective cluster extending from western Illinois back
into Missouri. Storms should continue to weaken over the next few
hours but the leftover outflow boundary is likely to serve as a
focal point for renewed convective development by late morning
across central and eastern Illinois as it interacts with an
increasing unstable airmass.

The line will move into the Wabash Valley early this afternoon then
track across the terminals during the 17 to 22Z timeframe. Damaging
winds will be a possibility along the leading edge of the convective
line Restrictions to IFR and lower will accompany the line as well.
Scattered convection should linger into the evening before gradually
diminishing in coverage.

Windy conditions will develop quickly after daybreak with peak gusts
at 25 to 30kts prior to storms arriving in the afternoon. Gusts
should drop off by early evening.

&&

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

MESOSCALE...Eckhoff
UPDATE...50
AVIATION...Ryan
DISCUSSION...Ryan

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
310 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-191000-
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-
310 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Thunderstorms will impact central Indiana this afternoon into the
evening. Severe storms are possible with damaging winds and large
hail as the primary threats. Torrential rainfall producing localized
flooding is also possible, focused especially across the southwest
half of central Indiana. The timing of greatest impacts will be
between 1 pm and 7 pm.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Scattered severe storms are possible again Tuesday afternoon and
evening. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats
with localized flooding possible.

Additional chances for thunderstorms return Friday into the holiday
weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed later today, and possibly
Tuesday afternoon and evening as well. Spotters are encouraged to
continue monitoring the forecast.

&&

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

Ryan

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1156 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INZ028-029-035-036-043-181645-
Montgomery IN-Fountain IN-Warren IN-Vermillion IN-Tippecanoe IN-
1156 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Fountain, western
Tippecanoe, Warren, northwestern Vermillion and northwestern
Montgomery Counties through 1245 PM EDT...

At 1156 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Boswell to 8 miles north of Newport.
Movement was northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, West Lafayette, Covington, Veedersburg, Williamsport,
Attica, Shadeland, West Lebanon, Hillsboro, Perrysville, New
Richmond, Wingate, Newtown, Pine Village, Mellott, State Line City,
Purdue University, Pence, Foster, and Tab.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 65 between mile markers 179 and 184.
 Interstate 74 between mile markers 1 and 20.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for
west central Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 4056 8688 4024 8688 3994 8753 4048 8753
      4048 8709 4056 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 1556Z 223DEG 38KT 4048 8746 4000 8747

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Updike

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1224 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INZ029-035-036-043>045-181715-
Montgomery IN-Putnam IN-Fountain IN-Parke IN-Vermillion IN-
Tippecanoe IN-
1224 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Fountain,
south central Tippecanoe, Parke, Vermillion, western Montgomery and
northwestern Putnam Counties through 115 PM EDT...

At 1223 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Georgetown to near Vermilion. Movement was
northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Crawfordsville, Clinton, Rockville, Veedersburg, Newport, Fairview
Park, Cayuga, Montezuma, Waynetown, Linden, New Market, Dana,
Hillsboro, Kingman, Perrysville, Waveland, Universal, Russellville,
Mecca, and Bloomingdale.

This includes Interstate 74 between mile markers 15 and 35.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for
west central Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 4002 8753 4027 8687 3976 8687 3961 8751
      3961 8753
TIME...MOT...LOC 1623Z 240DEG 42KT 3997 8755 3965 8754

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Updike

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1244 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INZ028-029-035-036-181715-
Montgomery IN-Fountain IN-Warren IN-Tippecanoe IN-
1244 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Fountain, western
Tippecanoe, Warren and northwestern Montgomery Counties through 115
PM EDT...

At 1243 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Williamsport to 7 miles northeast of
Newport. Movement was northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, West Lafayette, Covington, Veedersburg, Williamsport,
Attica, Shadeland, Linden, West Lebanon, Hillsboro, New Richmond,
Wingate, Newtown, Pine Village, Mellott, Purdue University, and
Rainsville.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 65 between mile markers 179 and 183.
 Interstate 74 between mile markers 7 and 23.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for
west central Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 4056 8688 4020 8686 3998 8741 4013 8741
      4013 8742 4048 8743 4048 8709 4056 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 1643Z 239DEG 32KT 4034 8731 3996 8732

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Updike

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1252 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

INZ043-044-051-181715-
Parke IN-Vermillion IN-Vigo IN-
1252 PM EDT Mon May 18 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Vigo,
western Parke and Vermillion Counties through 115 PM EDT...

At 1251 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Chrisman to 7 miles east of Marshall. Movement
was northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Terre Haute, Clinton, Newport, West Terre Haute, Fairview Park,
Montezuma, Rosedale, Dana, Universal, Mecca, Fontanet, Blanford,
Shepardsville, Lodi, North Terre Haute, Indiana State University, and
Sandford.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 1 and 6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for
west central Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 3934 8758 3935 8755 3937 8753 3990 8753
      3995 8742 3995 8735 3955 8723 3932 8759
TIME...MOT...LOC 1651Z 230DEG 35KT 3978 8767 3944 8755

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Updike