A heat wave that began June 28 brought excessive temperatures to southern Indiana for a 10 day period through July 7th. As a result of extreme drought across southwestern Indiana, locations such as Tell City and Huntingburg experienced the hottest temperatures.
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.
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 LMK wrote it up.
A heat wave that began June 28 brought excessive temperatures to southern Indiana for a 10 day period through July 7th. As a result of extreme drought across southwestern Indiana, locations such as Tell City and Huntingburg experienced the hottest temperatures. Daily high temperatures varied from the upper 90s to the low 100s each 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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 1, 2:10 PM EST, 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
310 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 2012
.Short Term (Tonight through Monday night)...
Issued at 310 PM EDT Sun July 1 2012
Several issues to deal with in the short term forecast. Currently,
things are quiet across the CWA, however potential appears to be
growing for scattered thunderstorm activity later this evening. A
look at the latest water vapor imagery shows a weak shortwave
rounding the top of the ridge over southern Illinois, with an
associated weak surface low underneath. This is creating moisture
convergence near the Wabash/Ohio River confluence and a few storms
have already fired near this location. Expect this wave, along with
other waves embedded in the northwest flow over IL/IN to slowly move
toward the region later this evening and should provide enough lift
to kick off scattered storms. One limiting factor will be strength
of the cap with strong mid level high to the south. With the amount
of instability, (CAPE values ~ 2000-4000 J/KG) and dry air at the
low and mid levels expect that storms that do fire will have the
potential to go severe with damaging winds and hail being the main
threats. Secondary threats would be heavy rainfall and cloud to
ground lightning. Deep layer shear is marginal for organization and
expect storm mode to mainly be pulse in nature. Best coverage of
storms should be across southern Indiana and north central Kentucky.
Across south central Kentucky, expect cap to be strong enough to
keep things dry overnight.
As far as the heat goes, current temperatures are ranging in the
upper 90s to low 100s across the region. Record high temperatures
have already been tied or set at BWG, SDF, and LEX with an hour or
two of heating still to go. Will keep heat headlines in place
through late this evening, however will downgrade to an advisory
mainly along and west of I-65 for tomorrow. Will go with no headline
east of this line. Thanks to surrounding offices for collaboration.
Overall high temperatures are expected to be a degree or two cooler
than today, however higher dew points will yield heat indices near
the same values as today. Either way, we should be below Excessive
Heat Warning criteria and with prolonged nature of the heat, felt
advisory was still sufficient. One other factor that could wreck the
temperature forecast will be a better chance of convection. Will
give the following shifts time to re-evaluate.
Overall, expect a weakening of the upper level ridge through this
forecast period which should lead to an increase in isolated to
scattered convective chances tomorrow afternoon and evening. Also,
mid level pattern looks to have several weak waves embedded within
which could enhance areas of convection. Low confidence portion of
the forecast carries slight chances overnight, mainly across the
northern CWA. Monday could bring isolated to scattered coverage
across the entire CWA and will rely on diurnal trends and low
confidence to go with a dry forecast for Monday night.
Expect mild overnight lows once again in the 70s. Tomorrow will see
highs ranging from the upper 90s to around 100 degrees in most
spots. Overnight lows will once again be in the 70s.
.Long Term (Tuesday through Sunday)...
Issued at 250 PM EDT Sun Jul 1 2012
Above normal temp regime continues, but the devil is in the details
here as the upper ridge retrogrades into the Plains. Ohio Valley
will be in the NW flow on the periphery of the ridge for the middle
portion of the week. Forecast confidence is low due to impulses
aloft that will be at best difficult to time. With a hot and fairly
humid air mass in place, it will not take much of a disturbance to
initiate convection on any day. That said, we remain in a drought so
would rather not get carried away with inserting 20-30 POPs across
the board. Best shot appears to be Tuesday, with POPs trending down
and being more limited to the Bluegrass and the higher terrain after
that as the timing becomes more difficult. The breakdown of the
ridge overhead will keep things just unsettled enough to limit max
temps to the mid/upper 90s, with heat indices just over 100 each
afternoon.
GFS/ECMWF both show the ridge strengthening over the Plains and then
building east Friday into Saturday, which could bring 100 degree
heat back to the area in time for the weekend. Sunday carries
another divergence in the models, as the GFS tries to develop an
East Coast trough, and bring a cold front SE across the Ohio Valley.
Will include a 20-30 POP out of respect for the modest height falls
aloft, but still splitting the difference between the 100 degree
temps in the previous forecast and the lower 90s advertised by the
latest GFS extended MOS.
&&
.Aviation (18Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 1257 PM EDT Sun July 1 2012
VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the forecast period,
however may have to deal with some periods of shower and
thunderstorm activity at SDF/LEX later this afternoon and evening.
Expecting scattered thunderstorm development in response to
destabilizing atmosphere and a series of weak disturbances in the
mid and upper level flow. Will keep prevailing VFR at SDF/BWG for
now, although will mention a small window of VCTS this evening until
confidence is higher. Conditions will deteriorate to MVFR or worse
in any thunderstorm.
Otherwise, expect generally southwest winds between 5 and 10 mph to
take hold this afternoon, going variable this evening.
&&
.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING
FOR INZ076>079-083-084-089>092.
KY...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING
FOR KYZ023>034-038-045-053-061>063-070>074.
HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
KYZ035>037-039>043-046>049-054>057-064>067-075>078-081-082.
Short Term.......BJS
Long Term........RAS
Aviation.........BJSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 KYZ035>037-039>043-046>049-054>057-064>067-075>078-081-082-022300- FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY- BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY- MARION KY-BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY- LINCOLN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY- CLINTON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FRANKFORT...GEORGETOWN...CYNTHIANA... LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES...LEXINGTON...PARIS...CARLISLE... SPRINGFIELD...HARRODSBURG...NICHOLASVILLE...WINCHESTER...LEBANON... DANVILLE...LANCASTER...RICHMOND...GREENSBURG...CAMPBELLSVILLE... LIBERTY...STANFORD...TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON...COLUMBIA... JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE...ALBANY 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 /253 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012/ ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE BLUEGRASS AND LAKE CUMBERLAND REGIONS. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. LATE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE AROUND 100 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR HEAT INDEX READINGS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS EVENING AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE (ALL LOWER CASE). INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>032-053-061>063-070>074-022300- ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN-CRAWFORD IN- PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY-BRECKINRIDGE KY- MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-JEFFERSON KY- OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-LARUE KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-LOGAN KY- WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON... JASPER...MARENGO...TELL CITY...CORYDON...NEW ALBANY... JEFFERSONVILLE...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... BEAVER DAM...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE... BEDFORD...HODGENVILLE...MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE... RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 /253 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012/ ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EDT /8 AM CDT/ TO 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. LATE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 100 TO 105 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER HEAT INDEX READINGS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. WITH HIGH PRESSURE BREAKING DOWN AND MOVING OUT OF THE OHIO VALLEY EARLY ON IN THE UPCOMING WEEK...A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS EACH AFTERNOON FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL CONTAIN THE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE (ALL LOWER CASE). KYZ033-034-038-045-022300- HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-SPENCER KY-NELSON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...TAYLORSVILLE... BARDSTOWN 353 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 2012 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. LATE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE AROUND 100 DEGREES WITH SIMILAR OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER HEAT INDEX READINGS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. WITH HIGH PRESSURE BREAKING DOWN AND MOVING OUT OF THE OHIO VALLEY EARLY ON IN THE UPCOMING WEEK...A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS EACH AFTERNOON FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL CONTAIN THE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE (ALL LOWER CASE). BJS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
A heat wave the began on the 29th of June continued through the 9th of July. High temperatures for this 11 day period averaged around 100 degrees at Tell City. Heat, combined with ongoing drought, led to the degradation of local crops.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, July 2012
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: 389300.