Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 166, NWS Indianapolis, IN
NWS Indianapolis, IN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 19, 2026, 6:06 PM EDT for Bartholomew County, Decatur County, Shelby County, Indiana. It was in force for 24 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 19, 2026, 6:06 PM EDT (22:06 UTC)
- Expired
- May 19, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 24 min
- Issued by
- NWS Indianapolis, IN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Bartholomew County, IN, Decatur County, IN, Shelby County, IN
The radar
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:06 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 4:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 162 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
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
686 WUUS53 KIND 192206 SVRIND INC005-031-145-192230- /O.NEW.KIND.SV.W.0166.260519T2206Z-260519T2230Z/ BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 606 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026 The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Shelby County in central Indiana... Northwestern Decatur County in central Indiana... Northeastern Bartholomew County in central Indiana... * Until 630 PM EDT. * At 606 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 11 miles east of Columbus, moving northeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Greensburg, Adams, Hope, Milford, Hartsville, Letts, Burney, and Newbern. This includes Interstate 74 between mile markers 127 and 132. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3918 8578 3931 8580 3944 8556 3923 8542 TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 245DEG 28KT 3926 8571 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$ CM
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, 3 hours 6 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, 3 hours 6 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, 3 hours 1 minute 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
Local storm report, May 19, 5:28 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
528 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0456 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 WSW Lapel 40.03N 85.92W
05/19/2026 Hamilton IN Emergency Mngr
Corrects 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.
&&
BHLocal storm report, May 19, 5:31 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
531 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0456 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ESE Noblesville 40.05N 86.01W
05/19/2026 Hamilton IN Emergency Mngr
Tree fell on house and through the roof.
North 11th Street in Noblesville. Time has
been estimated from radar.
&&
BHLocal storm report, May 19, 5:48 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
548 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0357 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Atlanta 40.22N 86.03W
05/19/2026 Hamilton IN Emergency Mngr
Utility lines down. Time roughly estimated
from radar.
&&
BHLocal storm report, May 19, 5:53 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
553 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0511 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 E Fishers 39.96N 85.95W
05/19/2026 Hamilton IN Emergency Mngr
Tree across roadway on Quarry Court in
Fishers. Time roughly estimated from radar.
&&
BHLocal storm report, May 19, 5:59 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
559 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0533 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 WNW Gaston 40.34N 85.56W
05/19/2026 Delaware IN Emergency Mngr
Reports of blown over semi on I69 at Mile
Marker 249 Southbound Lanes. Time estimated
from radar.
&&
BHLocal storm report, May 19, 6:00 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
600 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SW Clifford 39.26N 85.90W
05/19/2026 M60 MPH Bartholomew IN AWOS
&&
BHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Indianapolis, IN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 8:57 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Clay, Greene | 35 hr |
| May 18, 8:57 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Daviess, Greene, Knox | 6 days |
| May 18, 8:57 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Daviess, Greene, Knox | 6 days |
| May 18, 8:57 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Pike | 7 days |
| May 18, 8:57 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Pike | 15 days |
| May 18, 10:02 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Johnson | 24 hr |
| May 18, 11:05 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Putnam | 11 hr |
| May 19, 5:09 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | IND | Rush | 3 hr |
| May 19, 8:25 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | IND | Rush | 6 hr |
| May 19, 12:48 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Jackson, Lawrence, Washington | 6 days |
| May 19, 12:48 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Bartholomew, Johnson, Shelby | 71 hr |
| May 19, 12:48 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Greene, Monroe, Owen | 10 hr |
| May 19, 12:48 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | IND | Gibson, Knox | 15 days |
| May 19, 1:02 PM EDT | Flood Watch | IND | Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Greene, Jackson and 9 more | 25 hr |
| May 19, 3:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IND | Putnam | 28 min |
| May 19, 4:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Hendricks, Putnam | 25 min |
| May 19, 4:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Hendricks, Marion | 23 min |
| May 19, 4:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Hamilton, Marion | 23 min |
| May 19, 5:20 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IND | Hancock | 25 min |
| May 19, 5:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Madison, Marion | 35 min |
| May 19, 5:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Bartholomew | 25 min |
| May 19, 5:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Jackson | 35 min |
| May 19, 6:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IND | Decatur, Rush | 23 min |
| May 19, 6:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IND | Knox | 30 min |
| May 19, 6:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IND | Marion | 25 min |
| May 19, 6:58 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | IND | Daviess, Greene, Knox | 3 hr |
| May 19, 7:04 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IND | Monroe | 26 min |
| May 19, 7:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IND | Daviess | 31 min |
| May 19, 7:35 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | IND | Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe | 3 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.