Hail, Tipton
- When
- May 17, 2:13 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
- Where
- Tipton County, Windfall
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.370, -85.950
Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 17, 1999
Numerous severe thunderstorms marched across central Indiana during the afternoon and evening. Hail was the main culprit during the afternoon hours, while damaging winds became more common during the evening as a squall line and embedded bow echo moved across.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Property damage
- $270,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 54
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS IND wrote it up.
Numerous severe thunderstorms marched across central Indiana during the afternoon and evening. Hail was the main culprit during the afternoon hours, while damaging winds became more common during the evening as a squall line and embedded bow echo moved across. A 6 year old boy was killed near Linton in Greene county as a tree fell on him resulting in fatal head injuries. 2 other boys were injured as well as they took a glancing blow from the tree. Meanwhile, a woman was injured as a tree fell on her car in Faribanks, and anorther woman was injured as thunderstorm winds blew her car off the road in Putnamville. A tree fell on a house in Vincennes causing $75,000 damage. Finally, lightning destroyed a house in Oolitic and injured a woman as debris struck her after lightning hit a circuit box. In general, wind gusts to near 70 mph across central Indiana caused numerous trees to fall across much of the CWA.
The radar
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:12 UTC.
Event by event
36 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Howard
- When
- May 17, 2:22 PM EST to 2:24 PM EST
- Where
- Howard County, West Liberty
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.430, -85.880
Hail, Hendricks
- When
- May 17, 3:43 PM EST to 3:45 PM EST
- Where
- Hendricks County, Plainfield
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.700, -86.400
Hail, Owen
- When
- May 17, 3:55 PM EST to 3:57 PM EST
- Where
- Owen County, Freeman
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.200, -86.730
Hail, Hamilton
- When
- May 17, 4:05 PM EST to 4:08 PM EST
- Where
- Hamilton County, Carmel
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.980, -86.130
Hail, Morgan
- When
- May 17, 4:23 PM EST to 4:26 PM EST
- Where
- Morgan County, Monrovia to 3 mi E of Monrovia
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.550, -86.450
Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe
- When
- May 17, 4:25 PM EST to 4:26 PM EST
- Where
- Monroe County, Bloomington
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.170, -86.520
Thunderstorm Wind, Owen
- When
- May 17, 4:30 PM EST to 4:31 PM EST
- Where
- Owen County, Gosport
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.350, -86.670
Hail, Monroe
- When
- May 17, 4:32 PM EST to 4:34 PM EST
- Where
- Monroe County, Ellettsville
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.230, -86.620
Hail, Lawrence
- When
- May 17, 4:38 PM EST to 4:40 PM EST
- Where
- Lawrence County, 2 mi N of Bedford
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 38.900, -86.480
Hail, Madison
- When
- May 17, 4:39 PM EST to 4:41 PM EST
- Where
- Madison County, Frankton
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 40.220, -85.770
Hail, Marion
- When
- May 17, 4:40 PM EST to 4:42 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, Indianapolis
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.780, -86.150
Hail, Hendricks
- When
- May 17, 4:43 PM EST to 4:45 PM EST
- Where
- Hendricks County, Friendswood
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.650, -86.330
Hail, Morgan
- When
- May 17, 4:45 PM EST to 4:47 PM EST
- Where
- Morgan County, 2 mi NE of Paragon
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.420, -86.530
Hail, Marion
- When
- May 17, 4:47 PM EST to 4:49 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, Indianapolis
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.780, -86.150
Hail, Monroe
- When
- May 17, 5:10 PM EST to 5:12 PM EST
- Where
- Monroe County, Unionville
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.230, -86.420
Thunderstorm Wind, Owen
- When
- May 17, 5:13 PM EST to 5:14 PM EST
- Where
- Owen County, Gosport
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.350, -86.670
Thunderstorm Wind, Marion
- When
- May 17, 5:15 PM EST to 5:16 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, 2 mi E of Indianapolis Intl Ar
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- UTILITY COMPANY
- Coordinates
- 39.720, -86.250
Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson
- When
- May 17, 5:30 PM EST to 5:31 PM EST
- Where
- Johnson County, Princes Lakes
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- UTILITY COMPANY
- Coordinates
- 39.350, -86.080
Thunderstorm Wind, Marion
- When
- May 17, 5:35 PM EST to 5:36 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, 2 mi E of Speedway
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- UTILITY COMPANY
- Coordinates
- 39.780, -86.220
Thunderstorm Wind, Knox
- When
- May 17, 5:39 PM EST to 5:40 PM EST
- Where
- Knox County, Vincennes
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Property damage
- $75,000
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 38.680, -87.520
Thunderstorm Wind, Knox
- When
- May 17, 5:40 PM EST to 5:41 PM EST
- Where
- Knox County, Oaktown
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 38.870, -87.430
Thunderstorm Wind, Daviess
- When
- May 17, 5:50 PM EST to 5:51 PM EST
- Where
- Daviess County, Washington to Odon
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 38.670, -87.170
Thunderstorm Wind, Sullivan
- When
- May 17, 5:54 PM EST to 5:55 PM EST
- Where
- Sullivan County, Fairbanks
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.220, -87.530
Lightning, Lawrence
- When
- May 17, 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Lawrence County, O Olitic
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 38.841, -86.483 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence
- When
- May 17, 6:06 PM EST to 6:07 PM EST
- Where
- Lawrence County, Bedford
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 38.870, -86.480
Thunderstorm Wind, Greene
- When
- May 17, 6:07 PM EST to 6:08 PM EST
- Where
- Greene County, 1 mi N of Linton
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.050, -87.170
Thunderstorm Wind, Martin
- When
- May 17, 6:08 PM EST to 6:09 PM EST
- Where
- Martin County, 3 mi E of Loogootee
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
- Coordinates
- 38.670, -86.850
Thunderstorm Wind, Sullivan
- When
- May 17, 6:11 PM EST to 6:26 PM EST
- Where
- Sullivan County, Countywide
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.080, -87.480
Thunderstorm Wind, Daviess
- When
- May 17, 6:15 PM EST to 6:16 PM EST
- Where
- Daviess County, Odon
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 38.830, -86.980
Thunderstorm Wind, Owen
- When
- May 17, 6:36 PM EST to 6:37 PM EST
- Where
- Owen County, Cunot
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.450, -86.870
Thunderstorm Wind, Morgan
- When
- May 17, 6:43 PM EST to 6:44 PM EST
- Where
- Morgan County, Whitaker
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.380, -86.620
Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam
- When
- May 17, 6:55 PM EST to 6:56 PM EST
- Where
- Putnam County, Greencastle
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.650, -86.870
Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam
- When
- May 17, 6:55 PM EST to 6:56 PM EST
- Where
- Putnam County, Putnamville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.580, -86.870
Thunderstorm Wind, Brown
- When
- May 17, 6:55 PM EST to 6:56 PM EST
- Where
- Brown County, Elkinsville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.080, -86.270
Thunderstorm Wind, Owen
- When
- May 17, 7:00 PM EST to 7:01 PM EST
- Where
- Owen County, 2 mi W of Spencer
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.280, -86.800
Thunderstorm Wind, Bartholomew
- When
- May 17, 7:07 PM EST to 7:08 PM EST
- Where
- Bartholomew County, Ogilville
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.130, -86.020
Thunderstorm Wind, Randolph
- When
- May 17, 7:12 PM EST to 7:13 PM EST
- Where
- Randolph County, Losantville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.020, -85.180
Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby
- When
- May 17, 7:20 PM EST to 7:21 PM EST
- Where
- Shelby County, 3 mi S of Shelbyville
- Measured
- 57 kt (66 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.470, -85.780
Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson
- When
- May 17, 7:20 PM EST to 7:21 PM EST
- Where
- Jackson County, Seymour
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 38.970, -85.900
Thunderstorm Wind, Randolph
- When
- May 17, 7:24 PM EST to 7:25 PM EST
- Where
- Randolph County, Farmland
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.180, -85.130
Hail, Marion
- When
- May 17, 7:25 PM EST to 7:26 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, 5 mi N of (Ind)indnpls Intl Ar
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.800, -86.280
Hail, Hendricks
- When
- May 17, 7:27 PM EST to 7:28 PM EST
- Where
- Hendricks County, Avon
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.770, -86.400
Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur
- When
- May 17, 7:28 PM EST to 7:29 PM EST
- Where
- Decatur County, Letts
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.230, -85.570
Thunderstorm Wind, Brown
- When
- May 17, 7:30 PM EST to 7:31 PM EST
- Where
- Brown County, Belmont
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- UTILITY COMPANY
- Coordinates
- 39.150, -86.350
Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby
- When
- May 17, 7:35 PM EST to 7:36 PM EST
- Where
- Shelby County, Fairland
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.580, -85.870
Thunderstorm Wind, Marion
- When
- May 17, 7:40 PM EST to 7:41 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, 3 mi S of Cumberland
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- UTILITY COMPANY
- Coordinates
- 39.730, -85.950
Hail, Boone
- When
- May 17, 7:44 PM EST to 7:47 PM EST
- Where
- Boone County, 2 mi E of Rosston
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 40.050, -86.250
Thunderstorm Wind, Rush
- When
- May 17, 7:48 PM EST to 7:49 PM EST
- Where
- Rush County, 2 mi S of Milroy
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.470, -85.470
Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton
- When
- May 17, 7:52 PM EST to 7:53 PM EST
- Where
- Hamilton County, Noblesville
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 40.050, -86.020
Thunderstorm Wind, Henry
- When
- May 17, 8:05 PM EST to 8:06 PM EST
- Where
- Henry County, Lewisville
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.800, -85.350
Thunderstorm Wind, Henry
- When
- May 17, 8:05 PM EST to 8:06 PM EST
- Where
- Henry County, New Castle
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 39.920, -85.370
Thunderstorm Wind, Tipton
- When
- May 17, 8:13 PM EST to 8:14 PM EST
- Where
- Tipton County, Windfall
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.370, -85.950
Thunderstorm Wind, Randolph
- When
- May 17, 8:35 PM EST to 8:36 PM EST
- Where
- Randolph County, Farmland
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.180, -85.130
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Greene | 1999-05-18 | 6 | Male | Under Tree | Direct |
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 17, 1999
- Flooding in Iowa, May 17 to 19, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 17 to 18, 1999
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, May 17, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 17, 1999
- Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 17, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 17, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, May 17, 1999
- Flash Flood in Iowa, May 17, 1999
- Damaging Wind in Missouri, May 17, 1999
- Lightning Strike in Ohio, May 17, 1999
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 17, 1999
More
Every storm in Indiana in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 1999
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5690270, 5690271, 5690272, 5690273, 5690274, 5690275, 5690276, 5690277, 5690278, 5691075, 5690279, 5690280, 5690281, 5690282, 5690283, 5690284, 5690285, 5690286, 5690287, 5690288, 5690289, 5690290, 5691072, 5691080, 5691081, 5691074, 5691071, 5690291, 5691079, 5691073, 5690292, 5690293, 5690294, 5690295, 5691077, 5690296, 5690297, 5690298, 5690299, 5691078, and more.