Scattered severe thunderstorms moved across mainly the southern half of central Indiana during the afternoon and evening of 22 July 2004.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS IND wrote it up.
Scattered severe thunderstorms moved across mainly the southern half of central Indiana during the afternoon and evening of 22 July 2004.
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 Jul 21, 2:55 PM EST, 10 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 255 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 .DISCUSSION... FORECAST FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH FRIDAY AND HEAT THROUGH THURSDAY. LATEST RADARS SHOW SVR CLUSTER MOVG FROM RACINE WI INTO LAKE WITH WATCH ALONG WITH IT NORTH OF OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA. 18Z LINCOLN SOUNDING SHOWS TOO STRONG OF A CAP AT TIME AND THIS WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT ANY STORM THREAT IN OUR AREA TIL LATE EVENING. TEMPS NEARING 90 AND DEWPOINTS MID TO UPPER 70S HAVE PUSHED HEAT INDICES TO LOWER 100S IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SW INDIANA...JUST UNDER ADVISORY AND WARNING CRITERIA AS EXPECTED. ALL MODELS SIMILAR IN BRING RH AXIS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CWA OVERNIGHT. A BIT OF DIFFERENCES THOUGH IN ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES. CAPPING SHOULD LIMIT ANY EARLY EVENING POTENTIAL. MODELS CLOSEST IN ARRIVAL TIMES AND LOOKS BEST STARTING LATE EVENING NORTH THEN GRADUAL SOUTHWARD PROGRESSION OF EAST BOUND STORMS OVERNIGHT...INTO SOUTHERN CWA BY DAWN. MODELS ALSO SIMILAR BUT DIFFER WITH CURRENT FCST IN THAT OVRNGT CONVECTION SHOULD CLEAR POTENTIAL FOR REDEVELOPING PCPN THU BEFORE MORE STORMS ARRIVE WITH CDFNT THU NGT. DO NOT WANT TO BACK DOWN COMPLETELY DRY THUR GIVEN THAT AIR WILL AGAIN BE VERY UNSTABLE AND BOUNDARIES FROM TONIGHTS CONVECTION MAY LEAVE TRIGGERING SOURCES NOT DETACTABLE BY MODELS. BETTER STORM CHANCES RETURN THUR NGT WITH CDFNT AND THEN DRIER AND COOLER WEEKEND SHAPES UP. THUR STILL LOOKS TO BE VERY WARM AND HUMID WITH MAXS AGAIN CLOSE TO 90 AND HEAT INDICES JUST BELOW ADVISORY/WARNING CRITERIA 105. POTENTIAL LIMITING FACTOR COULD BE SLOW DEPARTURE OF TONIGHTS CONVECTION AND MAY LIMIT GOOD INSOLATION TO AFTERNOON. TEMPS WILL BE KEPT NEAR CURRENT FCST WHICH IS CLOSE TO GUIDANCE VALUES...IN LOWER 70S. ANY PLACES HIT BY HARD RAIN MAY COOL TO 69 OR SO BRIEFLY AND ANY PLACES REMAINING DRY MAY FALL NO FARTHER THAN MID 70S. NO SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO TEMPS LATER PERIODS EITHER. HAVE BUMPED TONIGHTB POPS TO LIKELY NORTH GIVEN ONGOING CONVECTION AND INCOMING DYNAMICS ACROSS GRTLKS. REMAINING PERIODS BACK IN SCT STORMS OR CHANCE CATEGORY TIL DRY AIR MOVES IN FRI EVE. LATEST GFS SHOWS UPPER TROUGH TO HELP DVLP INVERTED SFC TROF EARLY NEXT WEEK. END RESULT IS AN EARLIER RETURN TO PCPN CHC NEXT WEEK THOUGH SUBNORMAL TEMPS SHOULD CONTINUE. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && DRT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 300 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-221100- BARTHOLOMEW-BOONE-BROWN-CARROLL-CLAY-CLINTON-DAVIESS-DECATUR- DELAWARE-FOUNTAIN-GREENE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK-HENDRICKS-HENRY-HOWARD- JACKSON-JENNINGS-JOHNSON-KNOX-LAWRENCE-MADISON-MARION-MARTIN-MONROE- MONTGOMERY-MORGAN-OWEN-PARKE-PUTNAM-RANDOLPH-RUSH-SHELBY-SULLIVAN- TIPPECANOE-TIPTON-VERMILLION-VIGO-WARREN- 300 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP LATER THIS EVENING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS. STORMS COULD ORGANIZED INTO A LINE AND IMPACT NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AFTER 7 PM. IF ANY STORMS DEVELOP THEY WOULD BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THE AREA AT GREATEST RISK FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER TODAY APPEARS TO BE NORTH OF A CRAWFORDSVILLE TO ANDERSON LINE THIS EVENING. SEVERE STORMS WITH WIND DAMAGE WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT ACROSS AREAS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70. IN ADDITION...VERY HIGH DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 70S ALONG WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 80S WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDICES IN THE 100 TO 103 DEGREE RANGE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY WEST OF A LAFAYETTE TO WASHINGTON LINE THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SOME STORMS ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT MAY BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT AND AGAIN THURSDAY. && MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT OUR WEBSITE... HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/IND
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
924 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 W DANVILLE 39.76N 86.63W
07/21/2004 HENDRICKS IN AMATEUR RADIO
TOPS OF HEALTHY TREES BROKEN OFF...NMRS REPORTS. TREES
APPROX 6 INCHES DIAMETER AT BREAK-OFF POINT.
&&
PBGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
935 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 PM TSTM WND DMG FRANKFORT 40.28N 86.51W
07/21/2004 CLINTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
SCATTERED REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN PARTS OF COUNTY.
&&
PBGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 959 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 INZ021-028>031-035>041-043-044-051-220500- BOONE-CARROLL-CLINTON-DELAWARE-FOUNTAIN-HAMILTON-HOWARD-MADISON- MONTGOMERY-PARKE-TIPPECANOE-TIPTON-VERMILLION-VIGO-WARREN- 959 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #664 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT... THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED TO THE SOUTH AND THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT HAS ENDED ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA. INZ042-045>049-052>054-060-220500- CLAY-HANCOCK-HENDRICKS-HENRY-MARION-MORGAN-OWEN-PUTNAM-RANDOLPH- SULLIVAN- 959 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 ..SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #664 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT... THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN OVER THE AREA AND CONTINUE TIO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE SEVERE. PUMA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1016 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM TSTM WND DMG LAFAYETTE 40.41N 86.87W
07/21/2004 TIPPECANOE IN BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES ON CARS...30 FOOT TREE ON STREET
0850 PM TSTM WND DMG DANVILLE 39.76N 86.52W
07/21/2004 HENDRICKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER OUT IN DANVILLE
&&
HAINESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 1048 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 INZ042-045>049-052>054-060-220400- CLAY-HANCOCK-HENDRICKS-HENRY-MARION-MORGAN-OWEN-PUTNAM-RANDOLPH- SULLIVAN- 1048 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #664 HAS BEEN CANCELED... THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1109 PM EST WED JUL 21 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0656 PM TSTM WND GST 10 N NEWPORT 40.03N 87.41W
07/21/2004 60 MPH FOUNTAIN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0706 PM TSTM WND DMG VEEDERSBURG 40.11N 87.26W
07/21/2004 FOUNTAIN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHERIFF DISPATCHER RECIEVED NMRS REPORTS OF TREES AND
POWER LINES DOWN IN VEEDERSBURG AND OTHER PARTS OF
COUNTY.
0720 PM TSTM WND DMG LAFAYETTE 40.41N 86.87W
07/21/2004 TIPPECANOE IN BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES ON CARS...30 FOOT TREE ON STREET
0730 PM TSTM WND DMG LAFAYETTE 40.41N 86.87W
07/21/2004 TIPPECANOE IN EMERGENCY MNGR
60 MPH WIND GUST. TREES/POWER LINES RPTD DOWN ACROSS
COUNTY.
0740 PM TSTM WND GST LAFAYETTE 40.41N 86.87W
07/21/2004 70 MPH TIPPECANOE IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0800 PM TSTM WND GST 2 E ROSSVILLE 40.42N 86.56W
07/21/2004 72 MPH CLINTON IN AMATEUR RADIO
0805 PM TSTM WND DMG FRANKFORT 40.28N 86.51W
07/21/2004 CLINTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
SCATTERED REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN PARTS OF COUNTY.
0825 PM TSTM WND GST JAMESTOWN 39.93N 86.63W
07/21/2004 55 MPH HENDRICKS IN AMATEUR RADIO
0835 PM TSTM WND GST 4 NE BROWNSBURG 39.88N 86.34W
07/21/2004 55 MPH HENDRICKS IN AMATEUR RADIO
0850 PM TSTM WND DMG DANVILLE 39.76N 86.52W
07/21/2004 HENDRICKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER OUT IN DANVILLE
0915 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 W DANVILLE 39.76N 86.63W
07/21/2004 HENDRICKS IN AMATEUR RADIO
TOPS OF HEALTHY TREES BROKEN OFF...NMRS REPORTS. TREES
APPROX 6 INCHES DIAMETER AT BREAK-OFF POINT.
0916 PM HAIL 6 W DANVILLE 39.76N 86.63W
07/21/2004 1.00 INCH HENDRICKS IN AMATEUR RADIO
&&
PBGThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:45 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A bus barn was destroyed by a lightning induced fire at Blue River Valley High School.
Several trees were downed.
Trees were knocked down.
Roads were blocked and power outages were caused by downed trees.
A garage roof was removed, and a chimney and home roof were damaged.
Several trees downed.
Several trees were downed and a gas station canopy was damaged.
Trees were downed in Spencer.
Trees were downed.
A large tree was downed.
Several trees were downed in Salt Creek Township in the Hoosier National Forest.
Power lines were downed.
Several trees were downed.
Several roads in Rushville were closed due to high water.
A business was destroyed by a lightning induced fire.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, July 2004
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: 5412899, 5412652, 5412653, 5412654, 5412898, 5412655, 5412656, 5412657, 5412658, 5412893, 5412894, 5412895, 5412892, 5412896, 5412897, 5412900.