Scattered thunderstorms formed along a boundary that sliced from eastern to southern portions of Indiana during the early afternoon hours on the 23rd. By the late afternoon and early evening, an elevated front dropped south into central Indiana which allowed for an increase in moisture across the northern half of the warning area.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 thunderstorms formed along a boundary that sliced from eastern to southern portions of Indiana during the early afternoon hours on the 23rd. By the late afternoon and early evening, an elevated front dropped south into central Indiana which allowed for an increase in moisture across the northern half of the warning area. Scattered thunderstorms developed along this boundary and produced large hail and some damaging wind across northern portions of the Indianapolis metro area.
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 Mar 23, 6:15 AM EST, 6 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 715 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 .UPDATE... THE AVIATION SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA THIS AFTERNOON AND DRAG A COLD FRONT SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA. THE FRONT COMBINED WITH AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE WILL TRIGGER SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL MAINLY EAST OF A KOKOMO TO INDIANAPOLIS AND VINCENNES LINE. AS THE FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST OF CENTRAL INDIANA TONIGHT...IT WILL BECOME COLDER WITH THE POCKETS OF DRIZZLE OR FREEZING DRIZZLE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP IT DRY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...BUT THEN ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE GULF STATES AND TENNESSEE VALLEY RESULTING IN LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW FOR THE EARLY WEEKEND...AND ANOTHER SIMILAR SYSTEM WILL BRING CHANCES OF MORE LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... CHALLENGE TODAY WILL BE TIMING OF THE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY ACROSS NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI AND EXTENDING SOUTHEAST TO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND ITS RESULTANT WEATHER. MODELS IN PRETTY DECENT AGREEMENT NOW ON MOVING THE LATTER OF A DOUBLE BARREL SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER TO AROUND KOKOMO AROUND 18Z WITH THE ASSOCIATED TRAILING COLD FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO AROUND KOKOMO. IN THE MEAN TIME...WARM FRONT CURRENTLY ACROSS OUR NORTHERN FORECAST AREA WILL BE NORTH OF ALL OF CENTRAL INDIANA. WITH UPSTREAM SATELLITE LOOP AND MODELS INDICATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A GOOD DEGREE OF SUNSHINE AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND THE POTENTIAL OF OVER 1000 J/KG MIXED LAYER CAPE AND STRONG UNI-DIRECTIONAL SHEAR TO AROUND 60 KNOTS FROM 0 TO 6 KM ALONG WITH 500 MILLIBAR TEMPERATURES LESS THAN NEGATIVE 20 DEGREES CELSIUS...CERTAINLY COULD SEE SOME SEVERE WEATHER PER THE SPC DAY 1 SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK. ALSO AIDING THE THREAT BE A +135 KNOT 250 MB JET ACROSS THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ALONG WITH A 95 KNOT 500 MB JET THAT WILL ENHANCE LIFT ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL BE LACKING A BIT WHICH IS SHOWING UP AS HIGH LFC AND LCL VALUES THIS AFTERNOON...THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT HODOGRAPHS WERE CURVED WITH STRONG UNI-DIRECTION SHEAR. THUS...THINK ANY SPLITTING SUPERCELLS AND RESULTANT TORNADOES WILL LIKELY BE SOUTHEAST OF CENTRAL INDIANA ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN OHIO IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA WHERE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS BETTER IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO A 35 TO 40 KNOT JET. THE ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST DURING THE AFTERNOON AS THE FRONT CONTINUES TO DROP SOUTHEAST BUT LEFT THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHWEST WITH SOME CAPE TRAILING THE FRONT. JUST DONT EXPECT ANY SEVERE THERE. ALSO...DONT EXPECT FLOODING TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FAST STORM MOTIONS AND LOW PRECIPITABLE WATER. WENT A FEW DEGREES WARMER THAN GUIDANCE BASED ON SATELLITE TRENDS INDICATING LOTS OF SUNSHINE THIS MORNING AND ALL OF CENTRAL INDIANA SPENDING SEVERAL HOURS IN THE WARM SECTOR. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... MODEL THICKNESSES...SOUNDINGS AND BUFKIT WERE ALL FAVORING DRIZZLE THIS EVENING TURNING TO FREEZING DRIZZLE OVERNIGHT AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING SAVE FOR OUR FAR SOUTHEASTERN TIER. JUST LIKELY NOT ENOUGH LIFT...DEEP OR COLD ENOUGH MOIST LAYER FOR ICE CRYSTAL FORMATION. HIGH PRESSURE WILL START BUILDING IN FROM THE PLAINS ON THURSDAY WHICH SHOULD ALLOWING FOR CLEARING SKIES BUT STILL COLD TEMPERATURES. MODELS ARE NOW SLOWER WITH THE NEXT PRECIPITATION MAKER WHICH WILL BE AN OVERRUNNING EVENT AS A SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ON FRIDAY AND EVENTUALLY ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND TENNESSEE VALLEY. SO WILL LOWER POPS ON FRIDAY AND WOULDNT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A POTENTIAL RAIN AND SNOW MIX HOLD OFF UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT OR LATER. WENT COLDER ON TEMPERATURES TONIGHT PER THE MODELS WHICH ARE CLOSE AND LOOK REASONABLE BASED ON LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS...SOUNDINGS AND CLOUD COVER. MEANWHILE...THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT WENT WITH THE NOT AS COLD GFS AS THE NAM SEEMED TO BE OVERDOING IT. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY/... ENSEMBLE DATA ARE IN COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT ON THE WEATHER PATTERN IN THE LONG TERM. CHILLY AND UNSETTLED WEATHER EXPECTED AS AN OMEGA BLOCK DEVELOPS OVER THE ROCKIES. THE NORTHERN STREAM WILL BRING IN COOL AIR...WHILE A PROGRESSIVE AND ACTIVE SOUTHERN STREAM UNDERCUTTING THE BLOCK WILL BRING OCCASIONAL DISTURBANCES INTO THE AREA. THE DATA ARE BEGINNING TO KEY IN ON ONE SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AREA OVER THE WEEKEND...AND ANOTHER EARLY NEXT WEEK. TIMING ON THE SYSTEM EARLY NEXT WEEK A LITTLE MORE IN DOUBT. JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE ENSEMBLE MEMBERS KEEP THE GENERAL TRACK OF THE SURFACE SYSTEMS SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER. WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP POPS IN THE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY NIGHT WITH THE FIRST SYSTEM. ENSEMBLES ARE COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT THAT SUNDAY...SUNDAY NIGHT...AND POSSIBLY MONDAY MAY BE DRY. WILL TAKE OUT THE POPS FOR SUNDAY...BUT WILL THEM IN ON MONDAY FOR NOW. POPS WILL ALSO BE ADDED FOR MONDAY NIGHT AND NEXT TUESDAY. LONG RANGE MODEL DATA SUGGEST THICKNESSES MAY BE LOW ENOUGH FROM TIME TO TIME FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SNOW WITH BOTH OF THE ANTICIPATED SYSTEMS. && .AVIATION.../DISCUSSION FOR THE 23/12Z TAFS/... VFR THROUGH THE FIRST 10-12 HOURS OF THE PERIOD. POTENT AND COMPLEX SYSTEM WILL BE PUSHING THROUGH THE SITES DURING THIS PACKAGE. WINDS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE MOST IMPACT EARLY...FOLLOWED BY MVFR CEILINGS AND CONTINUED GUSTY WINDS LATE. ALREADY SEEING GUSTS AROUND 25KT IN PLACES THIS MORNING. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR VERY STRONG GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON. HAVE INSERTED 35KT GUSTS AFTER 15Z ALL SITES. WINDS WILL VEER TO NORTHWEST BY LATE IN THE PERIOD BUT SHOULD REMAIN GUSTY OVERNIGHT...22-25KT. HAVE INSERTED VCTS/CB ALL SITES AFTER 15Z AS FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE AMPLE INSTABILITY...AND THERE ARE ALREADY NUMEROUS OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES IN THE AREA TO SERVE AS POTENTIAL TRIGGERS. BEST POSSIBILITY MAY BE ALONG THE FRONT IN EARLY AFTERNOON...BUT COULD HAVE THUNDERSTORMS ONGOING BY THAT TIME. POST FRONTAL CEILINGS SHOULD DROP QUICKLY INTO MVFR CATEGORY...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR IFR AT TIMES...BUT LEFT OUT DUE TO UNCERTAINTY AT THE MOMENT. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...MK SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....JAS AVIATION...NIELD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 INZ038>042-045>049-052>057-062>065-072-241000- TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION- HANCOCK-HENRY-CLAY-OWEN-MORGAN-JOHNSON-SHELBY-RUSH-MONROE-BROWN- BARTHOLOMEW-DECATUR-JENNINGS- 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. SOME OF THEM COULD BE SEVERE ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ALONG WITH DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. WIND GUSTS AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO BE 30 MPH OR MORE THIS AFTERNOON. TONIGHT WILL BE COLDER IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT...AND LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL REMAIN COLDER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A CHANCE THAT LIGHT SNOW COULD MIX IN WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ043-044-051-241000- VERMILLION-PARKE-VIGO- 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. HOWEVER...DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALWAYS A THREAT IN THUNDERSTORMS. WIND GUSTS AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO BE 30 MPH OR MORE THIS AFTERNOON. TONIGHT WILL BE COLDER IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT...AND LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL REMAIN COLDER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A CHANCE THAT LIGHT SNOW COULD MIX IN WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ061-068>071-241000- GREENE-DAVIESS-MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON- 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. SOME OF THEM COULD BE SEVERE ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ALONG WITH DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. WIND GUSTS AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO BE 30 MPH OR MORE THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL REMAIN COLDER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A CHANCE THAT LIGHT SNOW COULD MIX IN WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING SATURDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ060-067-241000- SULLIVAN-KNOX- 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. HOWEVER...DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALWAYS A THREAT IN THUNDERSTORMS. WIND GUSTS AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO BE 30 MPH OR MORE THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL REMAIN COLDER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A CHANCE THAT LIGHT SNOW COULD MIX IN WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING SATURDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ021-028-029-035-036-241000- CARROLL-WARREN-TIPPECANOE-FOUNTAIN-MONTGOMERY- 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. HOWEVER...DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALWAYS A THREAT IN THUNDERSTORMS. WIND GUSTS AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO BE 30 MPH OR MORE THIS AFTERNOON. TONIGHT WILL BE COLDER IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT...AND LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL REMAIN COLDER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A CHANCE THAT LIGHT SNOW COULD MIX IN WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ030-031-037-241000- CLINTON-HOWARD-BOONE- 346 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. SOME OF THEM COULD BE SEVERE ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ALONG WITH DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. WIND GUSTS AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO BE 30 MPH OR MORE THIS AFTERNOON. TONIGHT WILL BE COLDER IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT...AND LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. IT WILL REMAIN COLDER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A CHANCE THAT LIGHT SNOW COULD MIX IN WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) KOCH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1258 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
INZ067-068-231730-
DAVIESS-KNOX-
1258 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN DAVIESS AND EASTERN KNOX
COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT...
AT 1256 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF WASHINGTON...OR 12 MILES
NORTHEAST OF VINCENNES...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
PLAINVILLE AROUND 110 PM EDT...
ODON AROUND 125 PM EDT...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
&&
LAT...LON 3878 8739 3891 8695 3890 8692 3881 8691
3881 8693 3873 8694 3869 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 1658Z 257DEG 35KT 3875 8729
MRD/JKThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:44 UTC.
23 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down on to a road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported by an emergency management official in this location.
One and a quarter inch hail was reported in this location, as well as a wall cloud.
One inch hail was reported near County Roads 600 West and 200 North.
One inch hail was reported in this location, just north of New Ross on County Road 1000 East.
Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of Highway 32 and Spring Mill Road.
One and a half inch hail was reported in eastern Noblesville, near the intersection of Highways 32 and 37.
Based on a National Weather Service damage survey, it appeared the wind damage in Noblesville during the evening of Wednesday March 23 was caused by downbursting straight line winds. The majority of the damage was uprooted pine trees and downed Bradford Pear trees and limbs, both of which tend to be damaged by winds of 60 to 80 mph. The trees were laid down in an outward fanning or diverging pattern often found with a downburst wind event. Most trees west of State Road 37 were blown down by a strong south wind. Trees and fences east of State Road 37 were blown down by strong west-southwest winds. This damage occurred at the lead edge of the storm, not the usual location at the rear of the storm where a tornado typically would form. Other damage included stripped shingles and siding from around a dozen homes.
Golf ball sized hail was reported in east Indianapolis, near the intersection of Raymond Street and Franklin Road.
Two inch hail was reported near 4th Street and Buffalo Avenue in Beech Grove.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, March 2011
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: 295216, 295175, 295177, 295180, 295183, 295184, 295186, 295187, 295189, 295192, 295197, 295200, 295229, 295202, 295203, 295205, 295218, 295237, 295219, 295220, 295221, 295225, 295226, 295227, 295228.