Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, April 4, 2003

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, April 4, 2003
Start: 2003-04-04T13:30
End: 2003-04-04T23:05
Location: Indiana

April 4, 2003 · NWS IND · 32 events in 24 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $215,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 32

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.

A broken line of thunderstorms including some supercells and bow echoes moved east across central Indiana during the afternoon and evening of April 4. There were numerous reports of large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds. An airport hanger near Northfield in Boone County had a wall knocked down, doors blown out and minor damage to 7 planes in winds straight-line winds estimated 70-75 mph. Damage was estimated at 100K. A few roofs were blown off homes in various other parts of the central Indiana.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 4, 2:05 AM EST, 11 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 2:05 AM EST, 11 hours 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
205 AM EST FRI APR 4 2003

PROBLEM OF DAY PSBL SEVERE WX TDY AND ERY TNGT.

CWA IS NOW WELL INTO WARM SECTOR AS SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS. ALL MODELS
HAVE FRONT ARRIVING LATE TODAY OR EARLY TONIGHT. EXACT TIMING WILL
BE CRITICAL BECAUSE OF INFLUENCE ON INSTABILITY.

WILL BUY INTO NGM SOLUTION OF LOW AND FRONT...WHICH IS REALLY
CONSENSUS OF ETA AND AVN. ALSO...AS NCEP DISCUSSION POINTS
OUT...THIS LINES THINGS UP PRETTY WITH WHAT ALL MODELS ARE SHOWING
ALOFT.

THIS SUGGESTS FROPA THIS EVE. DYNAMICS AS INDICATED BY DIVQ ARE
NEVER REALLY GREAT...BUT INSTABILITY MIGHT STRONG AS DISCUSSED
BELOW. SPC HAS US IN OUTLOOK. WILL MAINTAIN CURRENT WORDING ABOUT
SEVERE WX AND EXTEND INTO EVENING CONSIDERING EXPECTED FROPA.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS GOOD BET WITH FROPA TODAY AND ERY
TONIGHT...AS GUIDANCE SHOWS. TEMPS ARE STILL NEAR HIGHS FROM BOTH
MAV AND FWC. RISE WILL BE AFFECTED BY CLOUDS AND PCPN BUT WARMER MET
PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC TODAY. THIS IS ONE OF THINGS THAT MAKE ME
SUSPECT ETA CAPES ON ORDER OF 1000 MAY BE GOOD TODAY.

CONSIDERING TEMPS IN AIR BEHIND FRONT NOW...GUIDANCE MAY BE TOO WARM
TONIGHT...AND AGAIN SATURDAY. OTRW SATURDAY A DRY BUT MOSTLY CLOUDY
AS COLD AIR WEDGE MOVES IN BEHIND FRONT.

.IND...NONE.

KWIATKOWSKI

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 5:00 AM EST, 8 hours 30 minutes before

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-050945-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
500 AM EST FRI APR 4 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL INDIANA
LATE TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT AS A FRONT PASSES. THE MAIN THREAT FROM
ANY STORMS WILL LIKELY BE STRONG WINDS.

THUNDERSTORMS BELOW SEVERE LEVELS MAY OCCUR IN CENTRAL INDIANA THIS
MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION COULD BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SPOTTERS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR FUTURE UPDATES.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING URL...

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/IND (ALL LOWER CASE)

KWIATKOWSKI

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Howard

When: April 4, 1:30 PM EST to 1:31 PM EST
Where: Howard County, 5 mi WSW of Kokomo
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.300, -87.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: April 4, 2:30 PM EST
Where: Warren County, Williamsport
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 40.350, -86.617

Thunderstorm Wind, Fountain

When: April 4, 2:30 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, Covington
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 39.033, -86.933

Hail, Tippecanoe

When: April 4, 2:55 PM EST to 2:57 PM EST
Where: Tippecanoe County, 2 mi SW of Lafayette
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.767, -87.233

Hail, Warren

When: April 4, 6:18 PM EST
Where: Warren County, 10 mi N of Williamsport
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.033, -86.283

Hail, Vermillion

When: April 4, 7:43 PM EST
Where: Vermillion County, 2 mi E of Dana
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.617, -87.383

Hail, Fountain

When: April 4, 7:45 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, Covington
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.867, -87.433

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: April 4, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Warren County, Pine Vlg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 39.983, -86.150

Hail, Tippecanoe

When: April 4, 8:15 PM EST to 8:20 PM EST
Where: Tippecanoe County, 8 mi SW of Shadeland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.267, -87.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Clinton

When: April 4, 8:30 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, Hamilton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 38.817, -86.883

Thunderstorm Wind, Parke

When: April 4, 8:54 PM EST
Where: Parke County, Rockville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.833, -86.983

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 4, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Greene County, Bloomfield
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.267, -85.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Boone

When: April 4, 9:15 PM EST
Where: Boone County, Northfield
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.100, -85.683

Thunderstorm Wind, Vigo

When: April 4, 9:15 PM EST
Where: Vigo County, 5 mi N of Huf Sky King Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 39.033, -86.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Knox

When: April 4, 9:25 PM EST
Where: Knox County, Oaktown
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.617, -86.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: April 4, 9:25 PM EST
Where: Hamilton County, 1 mi W of Carmel
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.867, -86.417

Hail, Clay

When: April 4, 9:27 PM EST
Where: Clay County, Clay City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.200, -85.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Daviess

When: April 4, 9:45 PM EST
Where: Daviess County, Odon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.867, -86.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 4, 9:49 PM EST
Where: Madison County, Anderson
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.217, -85.833

Thunderstorm Wind, Martin

When: April 4, 9:55 PM EST
Where: Martin County, Burns City
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.967, -86.050

Hail, Delaware

When: April 4, 9:57 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, 6 mi N of Muncie
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.867, -86.583

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 4, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Greene County, Countywide
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.000, -85.633

Hail, Johnson

When: April 4, 10:06 PM EST to 10:14 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, Greenwood
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.567, -85.717

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 4, 10:06 PM EST
Where: Lawrence County, 4 mi E of Bedford
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.333, -85.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 4, 10:15 PM EST
Where: Madison County, Moonsville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 40.450, -86.217

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: April 4, 10:15 PM EST
Where: Lawrence County, Bedford
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.400, -86.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: April 4, 10:25 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, 8 mi W of Seymour
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.283, -87.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: April 4, 10:30 PM EST
Where: Lawrence County, Fayetteville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.133, -87.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Bartholomew

When: April 4, 10:30 PM EST
Where: Bartholomew County, Columbus
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.433, -87.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Jennings

When: April 4, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Jennings County, North Vernon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.800, -87.467

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: April 4, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Shelby County, 5 mi NE of Shelbyville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 40.133, -87.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur

When: April 4, 11:05 PM EST
Where: Decatur County, Greensburg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.450, -87.250

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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, April 2003

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: 5350415, 5350417, 5350418, 5350416, 5350419, 5350420, 5350421, 5350422, 5350423, 5350425, 5350424, 5350426, 5350427, 5350428, 5350429, 5350430, 5350431, 5350432, 5350435, 5350433, 5350434, 5350436, 5350437, 5350438, 5349063, 5349064, 5349065, 5349066, 5349067, 5349068, 5349069, 5349070.