Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, March 2, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, March 2, 2012
Start: 2012-03-02T14:08
End: 2012-03-02T16:15
Location: Indiana

March 2, 2012 · NWS LMK · 24 events in 8 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: 11
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $59 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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 LMK wrote it up.

A surface Low over Missouri early in the afternoon of March 2nd strengthened to below 990mb as it moved north into Michigan by the evening hours. Around dawn, a warm front moved north of the Ohio River, accompanied by scattered elevated thunderstorms that produced small hail. During the early afternoon, temperatures rose into the lower 70s across southern Indiana. the combination of extreme wind shear and CAPE near 2000 Joules/kg brought several long lived supercells to the state near the Ohio River. These storms produced baseball-sized hail and several tornadoes, including a violent long-tracker, to southern Indiana. The tornadoes across the area were a part of a well forecast regional outbreak that affected the entire Lower Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Overall, more than 80 tornadoes caused millions of dollars of damage and took several dozen lives.

For southern Indiana, March 2nd became the worst tornado outbreak since June 2nd, 1990.

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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 2, 1:00 PM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 1:00 PM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
100 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

.Update...
Issued at 1258 PM EST Mar 2 2012

Updating the forecast to include PDS TOR watch 58 being issued for
our entire outlook area. Update out as soon as the watch is out.

Update issued at 930 AM EST Mar 2 2012...

Will be updating the grids this morning to lower POPs a tad over the
south through the rest of the morning, and increase POPs over much
of the area to account for the widespread warm frontal precipitation
occurring along and north of the warm front. Any thunderstorms
through the morning hours will be capable of producing large hail,
heavy rainfall and lots of lightning. The main show will be this
afternoon and early evening ahead of an approaching cold front. A
severe weather outbreak is possible this afternoon and please refer
to the latest Special Weather Statement or our Top News of the Day
for the latest information.

Update out soon.

.Short Term (Today and Tonight)...
Updated at 330 AM EST Mar 2 2012

...Severe Weather Outbreak Likely in the Ohio Valley This
Afternoon and Evening...

Parameters continue to come together for significant severe weather
late this afternoon into this evening, but still some uncertainty
regarding the exact location and threat level.  Low pressure
continues to deepen over Oklahoma, with broad southerly low-level
flow ahead of it. Low-level jet has been slow to develop, and the
surface warm front is just north of the Tennessee/Alabama border as
of 07Z. There has been a smattering of precip along the warm front,
and recently some development along the KY/TN line, but dewpoints
there are still just clawing their way up to around 40F.

As the low-level jet strengthens, it will help the warm front blast
northward past the Ohio River later this morning, and the isentropic
lift will lead to rapid precip development over Kentucky. Elevated
instability will make it convective, and could yet support large
hail this morning.

Greater severe threat is in the afternoon, as the environment
destabilizes. Have gone with the warmer GFS MOS guidance due to
strong low-level warm advection with sfc winds near or above 20 kt.
Modifying forecast soundings for max temps in the lower/mid 70s, and
fairly conservative dewpoints in the mid 50s, yields 1000-2000 J/kg
of CAPE. Environment will also be strongly sheared, with 0-3km SR
helicity over 300 m2/s2 along the Ohio River, and over 400 in
south-central Kentucky. Deep moisture is somewhat limited, but that
will just help support discrete cells. As a result, anything that
develops will quickly go severe. Significant tornadoes are possible
with this activity.  Given the SW-NE orientation of the low-level
jet and the northward penetration of the warm front, the greatest
threat will likely be east of I-65 and south of the Bluegrass
Parkway.

Gradient winds this afternoon will be quite strong, exceeding 20 mph
for several hours. Gusts will generally be 30-35 mph, but there is a
brief window just ahead of the cold front where gusts could reach 40
mph. Given the short time span, and the severe weather threat that
will be coincident, have opted not to issue a wind advisory at this
time.

There is also the potential for a squall line to develop along the
cold front, which will move through the area late this afternoon and
early this evening. Damaging winds will be the main threat, but
there will also be the lingering QLCS tornado threat, mainly
associated with bowing segments and line breaks, as well as the
possible embedded supercell.

From late evening onward storms should come to an end, with much
cooler air filtering in. Overnight lows will dip into the mid/upper
30s.

.Long Term (Saturday through Thursday)...
Updated at 315 AM EST Mar 2 2012

Saturday - Saturday Night...

Expect mostly clear skies by daybreak on Saturday as dry punch of
air in the mid levels and ridge of surface high pressure builds into
the region. Temperatures will be much cooler behind the cold front
and will struggle only to the mid and upper 40s in most locations.
Winds will be quite blustery our of the west between 15 and 25 mph,
gusting up around 30-35 mph. Amplified trough axis will slide over
the region Saturday night, bringing increasing low level cloud
cover, especially across the northern portions of the CWA.
Temperatures will likely drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Sunday - Monday...

Mid level pattern will transition to a northwest flow scenario as
trough axis scoots east through Sunday. With steepening low and mid
level lapse rates and increasing depth of moisture, expect to see
scattered rain or snow showers during the morning hours on Sunday
along and north of I 64. Further south should be just rain showers.
Surface temperatures will likely warm to the lower 40s north, upper
40s south by midday with any snow shower chances changing to rain.
Not expecting any accumulation in the morning due to warm surfaces.

Sunday night and the first half of Monday could be interesting as
some of the forecast models indicate a strong wave and its
associated surface reflection (clipper) sliding across the Ohio
Valley. Precipitation would likely begin as rain or a rain/snow mix
and transition to all snow through Sunday evening. At this point,
not expecting much in the way of impacts from this system but it
will be one to keep an eye on as some models are quite robust with
QPF. Best chance at this point is along and north of I-64 through
midday Monday. Lows Sunday night will be in the 28-33 degree range
with Monday highs in the low and mid 40s.

Monday Night - Thursday...

Weather will turn quite nice through mid week as upper level ridging
and surface high pressure dominate. Expect mostly clear skies with
temperatures warming to the mid and upper 50s by Tuesday. Wednesday
and Thursday will likely see the mercury in the 60s. Lows in the 25
to 30 degree range Monday night will warm to the upper 30s to around
40 Tuesday night and into the mid 40s Wednesday night. A frontal
boundary looks to set up along baroclinic zone from the Great Lakes
to the southern Plains on Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms should
stay mostly north and west of the CWA, however will mention at least
a small chance of precipitation along northwestern CWA Thursday
afternoon.

&&

.Aviation (18Z TAF Issuance)...
Updated at 1200 pm EST Mar 2 2012

Well...the WAA precipitation is coming to an end...with the warm
front north of SDF but not through LEX yet. For the next couple of
hours we will wait for storms to develop in the warm se tor and the
nasty storms over SE MO and Srn IL to progress east into a line this
evening.

South winds will increase with the passage of the warm front, with
gusts close to 30 kt expected this afternoon.

The atmosphere is becoming primed...with soundings showing LIS of -7
to -9...CAPES around 2000 J/KG and 500 mb jet moving in increase SRH
into the highest categories.  For now will put in storms based on
the latest WRF model and adjust as necessary  Airport personnel
should be prepared for possible tornado warnings between 20-02z.
Will include TEMPO groups for a 3-hr window, but expect it to
actually last an hour or less. While it will probably go down to IFR
at the height of the storm, expect that to last only a few minutes
so it is better covered with MVFR.

West winds will stay up for a couple hours after the evening fropa,
but should decouple around midnight. The 24-30 hr period at SDF does
include stronger winds and gusts as mixing resumes mid-morning
Saturday.

After the evening fropa the storms will exit to the east, giving way
to west winds and unrestricted ceiling/vis.

&&

.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...NONE.
KY...NONE.

Updates..........AL
Short Term.......RAS
Long Term........BJS
Aviation.........JDG

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 2, 11:29 AM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1129 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-
070>078-081-082-031630-
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-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-
SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-
FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-
MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-
GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-
TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-
ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-
CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY-
1129 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 /1029 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT.

...A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED IN THE OHIO
VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

A COLD FRONT WILL QUICKLY APPROACH FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON AS
A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND MOVE TOWARDS
OHIO. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD
FRONT...AND QUICKLY MOVE INTO CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH-CENTRAL
INDIANA THIS AFTERNOON. BEST TIMING OF THESE STORMS WILL BE AFTER
2 OR 3 PM EST OVER WEST-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST
INDIANA...AROUND THE 3 TO 5 PM EST NEAR THE I-65 CORRIDOR...AND
LASTING THROUGH ROUGHLY 8 OR 9PM EST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BLUEGRASS
REGION.

ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP AHEAD OF THIS COLD FRONT WILL
LIKELY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS LIKELY. IN
ADDITION...SOME TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH THE POSSIBILITY
OF A FEW TORNADOES BECOMING VERY STRONG AND LONG-LIVED. SEVERE
WEATHER COULD OCCUR ANYWHERE IN THE OUTLOOK AREA...BUT THE
GREATEST THREAT WILL BE EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND SOUTH OF THE
BLUEGRASS PARKWAY.

A SQUALL LINE MAY DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT LATE THIS EVENING.
DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT WITH THE SQUALL LINE...BUT
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AND AGAIN ON
SUNDAY NIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY...MAINLY NORTH OF THE I 64 CORRIDOR.
ACCUMULATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY...MAINLY NORTH OF
THE I-64 CORRIDOR.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE EXTREMELY NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING TO
REPORT INSTANCES OF LARGE HAIL...WIND DAMAGE AND OF COURSE FUNNEL
CLOUDS OR TORNADOES TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE
OR LOCAL MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 2, 10:20 AM EST, 3 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1020 AM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1011 AM     HAIL             ECKERTY                 38.32N  86.62W
03/02/2012  E0.70 INCH       CRAWFORD           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LMK1200173

RL

Local storm report, Mar 2, 10:22 AM EST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1022 AM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1011 AM     HAIL             TASWELL                 38.33N  86.57W
03/02/2012  E0.70 INCH       CRAWFORD           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LMK1200174

RL

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 10:46 AM EST, 3 hours 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1046 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ077>079-092-021615-
CLARK-JEFFERSON-SCOTT-WASHINGTON-
1046 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...NICKEL
SIZE HAIL...AND 40 MPH WINDS IN SOUTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH...

AT 1046 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF SALEM...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL RATES
OF AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE
MILE...NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 35 TO 40 MPH...
ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
  SCOTTSBURG...
  SALEM...
  LEOTA AND LITTLE YORK...
  VIENNA...
  ALBION AND NEW FRANKFORT...
  DEPUTY AND WOOSTER...

THIS STORM WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 65 IN INDIANA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
22 AND 33.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...AND AVOID USING THE
TELEPHONE UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

&&

LAT...LON 3882 8570 3883 8568 3882 8563 3869 8550
      3846 8600 3863 8614 3877 8596 3876 8594
      3876 8590 3873 8588 3874 8585 3881 8579
      3883 8573
TIME...MOT...LOC 1546Z 232DEG 41KT 3860 8597

MP

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 11:13 AM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1113 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ079-021630-
JEFFERSON-
1113 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...NICKEL
SIZE HAIL...AND 40 MPH WINDS IN EASTERN SCOTT COUNTY AND WESTERN
JEFFERSON COUNTY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH...

AT 1112 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES EAST OF SCOTTSBURG...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL RATES
OF AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE
MILE...NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 35 TO 40
MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF
PRODUCING PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL.

* THIS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
  MADISON...
  WIRT AND RINGWALD...
  CANAAN AND BELLEVIEW...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...AND AVOID USING THE
TELEPHONE UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

&&

LAT...LON 3891 8520 3881 8520 3873 8539 3873 8543
      3871 8545 3869 8550 3882 8563 3886 8561
      3886 8558 3889 8557 3889 8554 3892 8554
      3892 8521
TIME...MOT...LOC 1612Z 239DEG 53KT 3876 8555

MP

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 11:35 AM EST, 2 hours 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1135 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-
070>078-081-082-022300-
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-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-
SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-
FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-
MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-
GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-
TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY-
ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-
CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON 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...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...FRANKFORT...GEORGETOWN...
CYNTHIANA...TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES...
LEXINGTON...PARIS...CARLISLE...BARDSTOWN...SPRINGFIELD...
HARRODSBURG...NICHOLASVILLE...WINCHESTER...HODGENVILLE...
LEBANON...DANVILLE...LANCASTER...RICHMOND...MORGANTOWN...
BROWNSVILLE...MUNFORDVILLE...GREENSBURG...CAMPBELLSVILLE...
LIBERTY...STANFORD...RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN...FRANKLIN...
SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW...TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON...COLUMBIA...
JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE...ALBANY
1135 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 /1035 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012/

...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF
CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND POSSIBLY INTO SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER MISSOURI WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AND MOVE TOWARDS OHIO. THIS IS CURRENTLY PUSHING A WARM
FRONT ACROSS THE REGION...BRINGING WITH IT WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
INDIANA. THESE STORMS THROUGH THE NOON HOUR WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND BRIEF
HEAVY RAINFALL. THIS WARM FRONT WILL PUSH NORTH OF THE REGION BY
MIDDAY AND WE WILL SEE A LULL IN PRECIPITATION.

THEN THE COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH OUR AREA FROM THE WEST...WHICH
WILL BRING ABOUT STRONG GRADIENT WINDS AND THE BEST CHANCE FOR
SEVERE WEATHER. STRONG GRADIENT WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ON SOUTHERLY
WINDS ARE EXPECTED AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. MEANWHILE...STRONG TO
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO ERUPT ALONG OF OR JUST AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON...MOST LIKELY AROUND THE I-65
CORRIDOR DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS...ROUGHLY AROUND 2-4 PM
EST. THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND SOME
TORNADOES...POSSIBLY LONG TRACKED AND VERY DAMAGING TORNADOES AS
WELL. AGAIN...THESE ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF OR ALONG THE
COLD FRONT NEAR THE I-65 CORRIDOR DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON
HOURS. THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO THE EAST...REACHING SOUTH-
CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THE BLUEGRASS REGION OF KENTUCKY MOST LIKELY
AFTER 4-5PM EST...AND STILL REMAINING SEVERE OR TORNADIC.

IT CANNOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT
FOR SEVERE AND TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
PLEASE STAY ABREAST OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AS QUICK ACTION WILL
BE NEEDED SINCE ANY THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL POSE A
SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR
WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE...OR VIEW LOCAL MEDIA ON THIS
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

AL/MJP

Local storm report, Mar 2, 2:08 PM EST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
208 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0207 PM     HAIL             HOLLAND                 38.25N  87.04W
03/02/2012  E0.88 INCH       DUBOIS             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LMK1200175

MRC

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 hail, 5 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Dubois

When: March 2, 2:08 PM EST
Where: Dubois County, 0.54 mi W of Huntingburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.300, -86.960

Hail, Dubois

When: March 2, 2:15 PM EST
Where: Dubois County, 0.69 mi S of Birdseye
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.310, -86.700

Hail, Dubois

When: March 2, 2:23 PM EST
Where: Dubois County, 0.69 mi S of Birdseye
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.310, -86.700

A spotter reported two inch hail covering the ground.

Hail, Dubois

When: March 2, 2:23 PM EST
Where: Dubois County, Ireland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.420, -87.000

This one inch hail came from a second supercell that tracked over Dubois County.

Hail, Crawford

When: March 2, 2:27 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, Taswell
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.330, -86.570

Hail, Crawford

When: March 2, 2:36 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, 0.54 mi E of English
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.330, -86.460

Hail, Dubois

When: March 2, 2:37 PM EST
Where: Dubois County, St Anthony
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.320, -86.830

This hail fell from the second supercell that crossed Dubois County.

Hail, Dubois

When: March 2, 2:42 PM EST
Where: Dubois County, Celestine
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.380, -86.780

Tornado, Washington

When: March 2, 2:50 PM EST to 3:08 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.51 mi WNW of Freddricksburg to 2.55 mi ENE of Daisy Hill
Rating: EF4
Path length: 17.35 mi
Path width: 800 yd
Continued into: Clark, In (LMK)
Deaths: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.432, -86.189

This EF-4 tornado that ultimately stayed on the ground for 49 miles across several counties touched down just south of Fredricksburg. Several trees were snapped off with estimated EF-1 damage along a path of 30 yards wide along the south fork of the Blue Lick River. After crossing farmland, the tornado widened and intensified quickly, toppling a high tension metal power structure near the intersection of Homers Chapel and Fredricksburg Roads. Damage at that location was consistent with 130 mph winds.

High tension wires were downed and trees snapped along West End Road just north of Shanks Hill Road. The tornado continued to intensify as it crossed State Route 135 at Dutch Creek Road, ripping large chunks of 3 inch thick asphalt from a section of roadway and depositing large pieces up to 30 yards away, with smaller chunks of pavement found a quarter of a mile downstream. Just east of State Route 135, tremendous tree damage began. At this point, the tornado widened to around 200 yards. As the tornado crossed Trainer Lane and Route 335 towards Robbs Lane, widespread tree and structural damage indicated EF-2 to EF-3 damage. At this point, the damage path began to widen to one third of a mile.

After crossing Highway 60 just south of New Pekin, tremendous structural damage was surveyed. A large well-constructed factory building was cleared to its foundation slab with numerous anchoring bolts bent and stripped. Debris from this building was observed up to three quarters of a mile downstream. Large power poles were snapped. Another metal out building on the edge of the circulation had sheeting pulled off, apparently from the force of inbound winds towards the circulation. In this area 5 people were killed in a mobile home. Damage suggested an EF-4 tornado with a width of three to four tenths of a mile and estimated winds of 170 mph.

The tornado then traveled along the border between Washington and Crawford counties where it caused widespread destruction southeast of Hurst and along East Daisy Hill Road in the county. Here, a well constructed one story brick home at the top of a ridge was completely destroyed with no wall left standing. Witnesses described the funnel as a black wall. A heavy semi trailer cab was blown from this house and landed near another destroyed brick home. Damage to these homes suggested EF-4 winds of 170 mph. Near the intersection of East Daisy Hill and Williams Knob Roads, a home and two anchored double wide trailers were destroyed. A car was lifted and fell 100 yards away from its original driveway. The width of the damage path along the county line was up to one half mile, although the concentrated damage path was much more narrow. Overall, the twister traveled 17 miles in Washington county, felling thousands of trees in addition to destroying scores of buildings.

Hail, Orange

When: March 2, 2:52 PM EST
Where: Orange County, Valeene
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.430, -86.400

The half-dollar sized hail reported from the Emergency Manager came from the second of two supercells that crossed the county.

Tornado, Clark

When: March 2, 3:09 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
Where: Clark County, 3.82 mi WNW of Blue Lick to 2.68 mi E of Nabb
Rating: EF4
Path length: 16.71 mi
Path width: 700 yd
Continued into: Scott, In (LMK)
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $55 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.516, -85.868

This is a continuation of the violent long tracked tornado that began just south of Fredricksburg moved into Clark county as an EF-4 with a path width of one-third of a mile.

On Dan Gray Road, many well-constructed homes were leveled. The tornado narrowed to a path width of one-quarter of a mile and decreased in intensity as it crossed Pixley Knob Road. Farther east, the twister destroyed two double-wide modular homes on Speith Road, killing one resident who had moments earlier been videotaping the tornado, and had taken shelter in the interior hallway of the home. Another family residence on the west side of the road was severely damaged, reflecting 150 mph winds.

The tornado crossed Interstate 65, trapping several people within damaged cars and semis. This highway was closed for several hours. The tornado strengthened just east of exit 19 off the Interstate as it entered a heavily industrialized area. Buildings containing several businesses were destroyed. A home was destroyed with estimated EF-4 winds on the east side of North Fraucke Road. Several homes were seriously damaged on the north side of State Highway 160. The EF-4 tornado then moved through Henryville, severely damaging the south building of the Henryville Junior-Senior High School. The cafeteria was completely destroyed and six automobiles were piled up along the south side of the school. Two school buses in the south parking lot were ripped off their chassis, with one moved hundreds of feet east into a commercial business building across North Ferguson Street.

Extensive structural damage was surveyed on the east side of Henryville on North Front and Pennsylvania Streets. A high tension tower and other homes were damaged just west of Pine Drive. On Brownstown Road, many homes sustained EF-3 damage along the north side of the road. Several homes were destroyed along Henryville-Otisco Road, with the damage to one reflecting EF-4 winds. The tornado cycled near the intersect of Blackberry Trail and State Highway 3, with the original vortex narrowing rapidly into a rope-like funnel and ending as an EF-1 just as a new vortex immediately touched down just to the southwest of the original near Highway 3 and Mahan Road. This new twister damaged a church as an EF-1 and quickly intensified to an EF-3 as it severely damaged several homes on the south side of Marysville. A Civil Air Patrol Flight revealed extensive ground scouring across several fields east of Marysville all the way to the Scott Jefferson County Line. The scouring indicated a multiple vortex tornado and was confirmed by witnesses and photos. Several homes were severely damaged near and south of the intersection of Nabb-New Washington and Marysville-Nabb Roads. The tornado had 150 mph winds and a width of one third of a mile at this point.

The tornado intensified over open country east of the intersection of Kettle Bottom and State Highway 362 before crossing into Scott County as it moved north of Route 362.

Hail, Washington

When: March 2, 3:13 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.54 mi W of Freddricksburg
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.430, -86.190

Hail, Washington

When: March 2, 3:22 PM EST
Where: Washington County, New Pekin
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.500, -86.020

Baseball sized hail from the second of two supercells that affected New Pekin damaged many cars and buildings.

Hail, Washington

When: March 2, 3:23 PM EST
Where: Washington County, New Pekin
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.500, -86.020

This hail came from the second of two supercells that traversed essentially the same path.

Tornado, Scott

When: March 2, 3:25 PM EST to 3:26 PM EST
Where: Scott County, 2.69 mi E of Nabb to 3.29 mi ENE of Nabb
Rating: EF4
Path length: 0.61 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Continued into: Jefferson, In (LMK)
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.606, -85.581

After exiting Clark County as an EF-4, this one-third mile wide tornado tracked for only six tenths of a mile across extreme southeastern Scott County before entering Jefferson County between the eastern endpoint of County Road 550 South and State Route 362.

Despite its limited distance in Scott County, however, the tornado proved to be deadly, taking the life of a 72 year old man who was in his frame home residence on State Route 362 east of Kelly Bottom Road, where two other wood frame homes were also severely damaged and 5 mobile homes completely destroyed. This damage proved consistent with 170 mph winds.

Tornado, Jefferson

When: March 2, 3:26 PM EST to 3:34 PM EST
Where: Jefferson County, 3.53 mi SW of Chelsea to 2.28 mi ENE of Paynesville
Rating: EF4
Path length: 7.12 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Continued into: Trimble, Ky (LMK)
Deaths: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.610, -85.570

The tornado entered Jefferson County as an EF-4 with a damage width of one-third of a mile. Several mobile homes were destroyed along and just north of State Highway 362 near the three-county intersection with Clark and Scott Counties. The tornado severely damaged several frame houses here, extensively damaged many power poles and power lines, and felled many trees.

After snapping trees and power poles along County Road 850, the tornado did a tremendous amount of damage around 2 miles south of Chelsea near the intersection of State Highway 62 and Swan Road. Here, several well built brick homes were destroyed. The homes had anchor bolts attached to steel plates and a concrete foundation. One home was lifted and slide 65 yards off its foundation while still remaining essentially intact. Another home was demolished and thrown several hundred yards downwind. Three fatalities occurred at this location. Two vehicles from the garage of this home were tossed for several dozen yards. A third well-built brick home had its roof lifted and thrown over 300 yards, and an above-ground pool filled with water was missing. Wind speeds were estimated at around 170 mph with a damage width of one quarter of a mile.

Through the rest of Jefferson county, the tornado did extensive damage to forests as it tracked to the north of Paynesville and south of Lee Bottom. The damage path narrowed to 200 yards before exiting Jefferson County and moving over the Ohio River.

Hail, Washington

When: March 2, 3:28 PM EST
Where: Washington County, New Pekin
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.500, -86.020

Tornado, Clark

When: March 2, 3:30 PM EST to 3:36 PM EST
Where: Clark County, 4.24 mi WNW of Blue Lick to 0.97 mi NE of Henryville
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.57 mi
Path width: 60 yd
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.515, -85.876

Interviews with witnesses helped the NWS damage survey team determine that a second tornado developed to the west southwest of Henryville and moved along a 6 mile track that almost perfectly covered a portion of the track of a previous violent tornado around 15 minutes earlier. The second tornado was associated with a large supercell that brought softball sized hail just to the north of its tornado track. This tornado had intermittent contact with the ground, first touching down and causing tree damage to Round Knob in the Clark State Forest. Damage was then observed along and west of Speith Road, located just southwest of Henryville. Finally the tornado lifted after doing damage along the south side of Henryville from Robyn Avenue to near the intersection of Highway 60 and Haddox Road.

Hail, Jefferson

When: March 2, 3:33 PM EST
Where: Jefferson County, Antioch Grange
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.730, -85.470

Hail, Clark

When: March 2, 3:37 PM EST
Where: Clark County, Otisco
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.530, -85.670

Sporadic baseball sized fell, denting a vehicle in the driveway.

Hail, Scott

When: March 2, 3:44 PM EST
Where: Scott County, 0.88 mi NE of Nabb
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.610, -85.620

Hail, Floyd

When: March 2, 3:58 PM EST
Where: Floyd County, 0.69 mi S of Greenville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.370, -85.980

One inch hail fell at the intersection of Pekin Road and State Highway 150.

Hail, Clark

When: March 2, 4:09 PM EST
Where: Clark County, 0.88 mi SW of Sellersburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.390, -85.760

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When: March 2, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Clark County, Charlestown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.450, -85.670

A spotter measured a gust of 60 mph within a squall line that followed two earlier supercells that moved to the north of Charlestown.

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
Tornado, Washington	2012-03-02	21	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Washington	2012-03-02	20	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Washington	2012-03-02	2	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Washington	2012-03-02	1	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Washington	2012-03-02	1	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Clark	2012-03-02	62	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Scott	2012-03-02	72	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Jefferson	2012-03-02	70	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Jefferson	2012-03-02	70	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Jefferson	2012-03-02	4	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Jefferson	2012-03-02	30	Female	Permanent Home	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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Indiana, 2012 Warnings in Indiana, March 2012

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: 359951, 359952, 359953, 359954, 359955, 359956, 359957, 359958, 359896, 359959, 359912, 359960, 359967, 359961, 359916, 359915, 359962, 359390, 359963, 359948, 359966, 359964, 359965, 360072.