Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 162, NWS Indianapolis, IN

May 19, 2026Hamilton County, Marion County, Indiana

NWS Indianapolis, IN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 19, 2026, 4:52 PM EDT for Hamilton County, Marion County, Indiana. It was in force for 23 min. 8 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
May 19, 2026, 4:52 PM EDT (20:52 UTC)
Expired
May 19, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Indianapolis, IN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Hamilton County, IN, Marion County, IN

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:52 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 19, 4:52 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 Nnw Carmel, INUtility lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds. Time estimated from radar.
May 19, 4:54 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Carmel, INDowned utility lines on Westfield Blvd. Time is estimated from radar.
May 19, 4:56 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Ese Noblesville, INTree fell on house and through the roof. North 11th Street in Noblesville. Time has been estimated from radar.
May 19, 4:56 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Wsw Lapel, INCorrects the time on the previous tstm wnd dmg report from 5 WSW Lapel. Utility pole is leaning from thunderstorm winds at Olio Road and SR38 in Noblesville. Time has been estimated from radar.
May 19, 4:59 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Carmel, IN
May 19, 5:11 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 E Fishers, INTree across roadway on Quarry Court in Fishers. Time roughly estimated from radar.
May 19, 5:14 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Nnw Fortville, INTree blown down by thunderstorm winds.
May 19, 5:16 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Wsw Lapel, INUtility pole is leaning from thunderstorm winds at Olio Road and SR38 in Noblesville.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 7 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 0 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 19, 4:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 199 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-05-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 474 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2026-05-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 114 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
474 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-83 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
995 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
155 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

764 
WUUS53 KIND 192052
SVRIND
INC057-097-192115-
/O.NEW.KIND.SV.W.0162.260519T2052Z-260519T2115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
452 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  North central Marion County in central Indiana...
  Southern Hamilton County in central Indiana...

* Until 515 PM EDT.

* At 452 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Carmel, or 12
  miles north of Indianapolis, moving northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Locations impacted include...
  Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Meridian
  Hills, Williams Creek, Crows Nest, North Crows Nest, and Castleton.

This includes Interstate 69 between mile markers 200 and 213.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4003 8586 3996 8586 3994 8590 3986 8617
      3999 8624 4000 8624 4014 8590
TIME...MOT...LOC 2052Z 242DEG 32KT 3995 8615 

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

$$

50
1 follow-up statement
226 
WWUS53 KIND 192106
SVSIND

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
506 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

INC057-097-192115-
/O.CON.KIND.SV.W.0162.000000T0000Z-260519T2115Z/
Marion IN-Hamilton IN-
506 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT
FOR NORTH CENTRAL MARION AND SOUTHERN HAMILTON COUNTIES...

At 506 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Noblesville, or
17 miles west of Anderson, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Meridian
Hills, Williams Creek, Crows Nest, North Crows Nest, and Castleton.

This includes Interstate 69 between mile markers 200 and 213.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4003 8586 3996 8586 3994 8590 3986 8617
      4000 8618 4014 8590
TIME...MOT...LOC 2106Z 242DEG 32KT 4001 8600 

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

$$

50

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Indianapolis, IN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 19, 3:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Severe storms and locally heavy rain possible again this afternoon and evening, with damaging winds and localized flooding the primary concerns
  • A Flood Watch is in effect from 3pm today to 2pm Wednesday.
  • Cooler mid week with a brief break from rain chances, before showers and storms return to the forecast late week into the holiday weekend
Area forecast discussion, May 19, 3:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
300 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe storms and locally heavy rain possible again this afternoon
  and evening, with damaging winds and localized flooding the
  primary concerns

- A Flood Watch is in effect from 3pm today to 2pm Wednesday.

- Cooler mid week with a brief break from rain chances, before
  showers and storms return to the forecast late week into the
  holiday weekend

&&

.DISCUSSION (This evening through Tuesday)...
Issued at 300 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

Today and Tonight -

Satellite imagery shows cumulus developing as the boundary layer
becomes destabilized (IND ACARS shows around 1500 J/Kg MLCAPE). As
such, renewed convective activity appears likely again this
afternoon. In fact, a few showers have already popped up near
Columbus as of 2pm.

In terms of hazards, RAP soundings indicate that some mid-level dry
air may be present today. ACARS soundings from IND show the dry air
and DCAPE values of 1100 J/Kg as of 2pm. This, combined with steep
lapse rates and a LLJ around 30-40kt, could allow for downburst and
efficient downward momentum transfer. About 25 knots of effective
shear may also be enough to allow for loose organization into
multicell clusters. Therefore, strong to damaging wind gusts are
possible with storms today.

The wind threat diminishes after sunset as the column moistens and
lapse rates weaken slightly. RAP soundings show the atmosphere
becoming more efficient for rainfall production overnight (deep warm
cloud layer, saturation to the EL, and moist adiabatic lapse rates).
A cold front sagging south across Indiana will interact with an MCV
approaching from the southwest, prolonging large-scale lift tonight.
Most guidance is on board with showers and thunderstorms continuing
on and off through the night. There is a signal for heavy rain
within most guidance with pockets of 1 to 3 inches across the
southern half of our area. QPF coverage in guidance isn't as
widespread as yesterday, but these pockets tend to line up where the
heaviest rain fell. Additional flooding may be possible tonight and
a Flood Watch has been issued for the southern half of our CWA.

Wednesday through Monday -

Once the front has pushed south of the area, it will stall out a
bit, though high pressure passing through the Great Lakes in its
wake will keep it suppressed to the south and allow for both a brief
cooldown and a break in precip chances from late Wednesday into
Thursday evening.

Rain chances return late week into early next week as a large upper
level low swings through the northern tier of the country and pulls
a warmer and moist airmass back into the area, though chances with
the exception of Friday will be low for the time being given
significant model inconsistencies and resulting uncertainty.

&&

.AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 136 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

Impacts:

- Wind gusts today 25-30KT

- Showers and thunderstorms possible late this afternoon into tonight

- Scattered showers continue into the day Wednesday

- MVFR ceilings tonight into Wednesday, IFR possible

Discussion:

Winds have strengthened this morning to between 15-25kt with gusts
of 25-30KT likely through the day, generally from 210-230 degrees.

Showers and thunderstorms will be possible late in the day as a cold
front approaches and passes through the area. Winds with frontal
passage will veer to westerly and northwesterly late in the period,
with gusts ending in typical diurnal fashion this evening.

Ceilings post frontal will likely drop into MVFR. IFR conditions are
possible, but less likely. The placement of rain showers overnight
will influence if/where IFR conditions develop.

Rain showers continue on and off through tonight into Wednesday
afternoon as the cold front slows. These will be scattered in
nature so a VCSH group was carried through the end of the TAF period.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through Wednesday afternoon for INZ052>055-060>064-
067>072.

&&

AVIATION...Eckhoff
DISCUSSION...Nield/Eckhoff
Hazardous weather outlook, May 19, 3:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
305 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-201915-
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-
305 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Through Tonight.

A Flood Watch is in effect from 3pm Tuesday to 2pm Wednesday.

Thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into this evening. Severe
storms are possible, with damaging winds the primary threat. Storms
will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall and localized
flooding.

The most likely time frame for severe weather and flooding will be
between 4 PM and 11 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Additional chances for thunderstorms return Friday into the holiday
weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed from approximately 4 PM to 11 PM
this afternoon and evening.

&&

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 19, 3:32 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
332 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

INZ036-045-046-192000-
Montgomery IN-Putnam IN-Hendricks IN-
332 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central
Hendricks, southeastern Montgomery and northern Putnam Counties
through 400 PM EDT...

At 331 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Greencastle, or 20 miles south of Crawfordsville,
moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Roachdale, Bainbridge, and Carpentersville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3970 8696 3978 8700 3993 8673 3980 8662
TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 241DEG 26KT 3975 8692

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

ME

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 8:57 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDClay, Greene35 hr
May 18, 8:57 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDDaviess, Greene, Knox6 days
May 18, 8:57 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDDaviess, Greene, Knox6 days
May 18, 8:57 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDDaviess, Gibson, Knox, Pike7 days
May 18, 8:57 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDDaviess, Gibson, Knox, Pike15 days
May 18, 10:02 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDJohnson24 hr
May 18, 11:05 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDPutnam11 hr
May 19, 5:09 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryINDRush3 hr
May 19, 8:25 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryINDRush6 hr
May 19, 12:48 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDJackson, Lawrence, Washington6 days
May 19, 12:48 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDBartholomew, Johnson, Shelby71 hr
May 19, 12:48 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDGreene, Monroe, Owen10 hr
May 19, 12:48 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningINDGibson, Knox15 days
May 19, 1:02 PM EDTFlood WatchINDBartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Greene, Jackson and 9 more25 hr
May 19, 3:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementINDPutnam28 min
May 19, 4:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDHendricks, Putnam25 min
May 19, 4:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDHendricks, Marion23 min
May 19, 5:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementINDHancock25 min
May 19, 5:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDDelaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Madison, Marion35 min
May 19, 5:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDBartholomew25 min
May 19, 5:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDJackson35 min
May 19, 6:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDBartholomew, Decatur, Shelby24 min
May 19, 6:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningINDDecatur, Rush23 min
May 19, 6:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementINDKnox30 min
May 19, 6:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementINDMarion25 min
May 19, 6:58 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryINDDaviess, Greene, Knox3 hr
May 19, 7:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementINDMonroe26 min
May 19, 7:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementINDDaviess31 min
May 19, 7:35 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningINDBrown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.