Tornadoes and Flooding in Indiana, May 1, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Flooding in Indiana, May 1, 2012
Start: 2012-05-01T13:33
End: 2012-05-01T21:00
Location: Indiana

May 1, 2012 · NWS IND · 32 events in 18 counties and zones

An area of low pressure moved along a warm front during the afternoon of May 1. The low and front interacted with warm and unstable air to produce numerous thunderstorms across central Indiana.

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: $72,000
Crop damage: $500
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.

An area of low pressure moved along a warm front during the afternoon of May 1. The low and front interacted with warm and unstable air to produce numerous thunderstorms across central Indiana. One storm produced a couple of tornadoes, and another produced a brief tornado. Other storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

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 May 1, 1:24 PM EST, 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 1, 1:24 PM EST, 9 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
224 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

.UPDATE...
THE LONG TERM SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
ISSUED AT 323 AM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

A WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL SINK SOUTH OF CENTRAL INDIANA EARLY
THIS MORNING AND THEN SLOWLY MEANDER BACK NORTH ACROSS THE THE AREA
TODAY. SOME UPPER LEVEL WAVES WILL MOVE ALONG THIS BOUNDARY TODAY
AND TONIGHT AND WILL BRING ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND STORMS...AND THEN
AGAIN FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE UPPER RIDGE WILL
BRIEFLY STRENGTHEN INTO THE AREA ALLOWING A BRIEF RESPITE FROM STORM
CHANCES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. ANOTHER RIDGE WILL BUILD BACK OVER
THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /REST OF TODAY/...
ISSUED AT 1112 AM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX ASSOCIATED WITH WELL DEFINED MCV IS NOW
ENTERING INDIANA...AND THIS WILL PUSH NORTHEAST ACROSS ESPECIALLY
THE NORTHWESTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE AREA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON.
HAVE UPGRADED POPS TO CATEGORICAL IN THESE AREAS FOR THE NEXT FEW
HOURS AS THIS COMPLEX PUSHES THROUGH.

IN ADDITION...LOWERED TEMPS SEVERAL DEGREES IN AREAS MOST LIKELY
TO BE IMPACTED...AS RAIN COOLED AIR WILL IMPACT AMOUNT OF WARMING
OCCURRING.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
ISSUED AT 323 AM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

AS THE WARM FRONTAL ZONE LIFTS FARTHER NORTHWARD THIS
EVENING...CHANCES FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
PERSIST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT...SLOWLY COMING TO AN END
FROM SOUTH TO NORTH BY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. ONCE AGAIN THIS
WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. LOWS TONIGHT LOW-MID 60S.

AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE STRENGTHENS INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY WHICH SHOULD PUT A DAMPER ON PRECIPITATION CHANCES...AND
THUS WILL CONTINUE WITH A DRY FORECAST DURING THIS PERIOD. STORM
CHANCES RETURN TO THE NORTH ON THURSDAY NIGHT WITH AN APPROACHING
DISTURBANCE. (MAINLY NORTH OF I-70).

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
ISSUED AT 212 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO LINGER THROUGH THE OHIO
VALLEY AND INDIANA DURING THIS PERIOD WHILE THE GFS HINTS AT
RIDGING ALOFT. GFS FAILS TO INDICATE ANY ORGANIZED SHORT WAVE
PASSING THROUGH THE RIDGING ALOFT...THUS CONFIDENCE IN POPS IS
LOW...PARTICULARLY IN THE FIRST PART OF THE FORECAST PERIOD WHERE
BROAD...BUT WEAK HIGH PRESSURE LOOKS TO BE SET UP ACROSS
DIXIE...THE OHIO VALLEY AND THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES. FOR NOW HAVE
STUCK WITH THE VERY LOW CHANCE POPS VIA ALLBLEND...BUT WOULD NOT
BE SURPRISED WITH A TREND TOWARD A DRIER FORECAST AS LITTLE FORCING
APPEARS AVAILABLE.

&&

.AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 011800Z TAF ISSUANCE/...

ISSUED AT 1216 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

IFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE TO VFR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20Z-
21Z. MVFR TO IFR FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE BETWEEN 06Z-13Z. A RETURN TO
VFR IS EXPECTED AFTER 14Z.

RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORT WAVE
PASSING ACROSS INDIANA ARE EXPECTED TO EXIT THE TAF SITES QUICKLY
AFTER 18Z-19Z. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGHLY CHANGEABLE NEAR 18Z.

IN THE WAKE OF THE SHORT WAVE...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
RETURN AS AIR ACROSS SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS IS
ADVECTED INTO CENTRAL INDIANA. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES ARE EXPECTED
OVERNIGHT...AND WITH THE WET GROUND SOME MVFR FOG IS EXPECTED. FOG
SHOULD NOT BE AS WELL DEVELOPED ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AS MIXING IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT IN THE SOUTHWEST FLOW. ONCE
HEATING RESUMES AFT 14Z WED...FOG WILL BURN OFF AS WE RETURN TO
VFR.

FORECAST SOUNDINGS AFT 18Z WED APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR CONVECTION
ONCE AGAIN. STEEP LAPSE RATES ALONG WITH LIFTED INDICES NEAR -8
ALONG WITH CAPE NEAR 2500 J/KG WILL RESULT IN TSRA DURING THE AFTERNOON.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SYNOPSIS...SMF
NEAR TERM...NIELD
SHORT TERM...SMF
LONG TERM....PUMA
AVIATION...JP

Hazardous weather outlook, May 1, 8:42 AM EST, 4 hours 51 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
942 AM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-021345-
CARROLL-WARREN-TIPPECANOE-CLINTON-HOWARD-FOUNTAIN-MONTGOMERY-
BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-VERMILLION-PARKE-
PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION-HANCOCK-HENRY-VIGO-CLAY-OWEN-MORGAN-
JOHNSON-SHELBY-RUSH-SULLIVAN-GREENE-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW-
DECATUR-KNOX-DAVIESS-MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON-JENNINGS-
942 AM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

OUTLOOK: THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK
OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY.

HAZARDS: THUNDERSTORMS...WITH DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND
ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE.

TIMING: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

DISCUSSION: A FRONT WILL STALL ACROSS INDIANA TODAY. SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY AND TONIGHT AS
SEVERAL UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE ACROSS THE AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

OUTLOOK: THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES STARTING THURSDAY
NIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH NEXT MONDAY. WE ARE NOT EXPECTING ANY
OUTBREAKS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME.

DISCUSSION: AN UPPER RIDGE WILL BRIEFLY STRENGTHEN INTO THE AREA
ALLOWING A BRIEF RESPITE FROM STORM CHANCES WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG WITH SEVERAL UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES MOVING ACROSS IT WILL IMPACT CENTRAL INDIANA ONCE
AGAIN STARTING THURSDAY NIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL
LOWERCASE)

NIELD

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 1, 11:58 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1258 PM EDT TUE MAY 01 2012

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

1256 PM     LIGHTNING        AVON                    39.76N  86.38W
05/01/2012                   HENDRICKS          IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE DUE TO LIGHTNING.

&&

EVENT NUMBER IND1200194

JP

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Clay

When: May 1, 1:33 PM EST to 1:34 PM EST
Where: Clay County, 2.29 mi N of Old Hill to 2.33 mi N of Old Hill
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $500
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.333, -87.195

A small storm, with a weak radar signature, produced a brief tornado near Cory in Clay County. This EF-0 tornado had a path length of 0.1 mile and was 50 yards wide, touching down at 2:33 PM EDT. A few trees and some corn stalks were damaged from this tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 1, 2:00 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, 0.27 mi SE of Ellettsville
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.228, -86.616

Isolated reports of trees being down in the Ellettsville area were due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, Brown

When: May 1, 2:47 PM EST to 2:49 PM EST
Where: Brown County, 0.4 mi NE of Nashville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.205, -86.245

Hail, Bartholomew

When: May 1, 2:50 PM EST to 2:52 PM EST
Where: Bartholomew County, 1.35 mi WSW of Riverview Acres
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.244, -85.944

Quarter sized hail was observed in northwest Columbus on Lowell Road, just west of Highway 31.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When: May 1, 2:53 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, 1.48 mi NNW of Smith Valley
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.620, -86.210

A measured 59 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in this location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bartholomew

When: May 1, 2:53 PM EST
Where: Bartholomew County, 0.15 mi S of Taylorsville
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 39.298, -85.950

Trees were reported down in this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Flood, Marion

When: May 1, 3:14 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Marion County, 1.41 mi S of Ravenswood to 1.07 mi SSE of Ravenswood
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.860, -86.126

Street flooding was observed along Keystone and Kessler Avenues due to thunderstorm heavy rainfall.

Hail, Decatur

When: May 1, 3:23 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
Where: Decatur County, Milford
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.350, -85.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur

When: May 1, 3:23 PM EST
Where: Decatur County, Milford
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.350, -85.620

An estimated 78 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in Milford.

Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur

When: May 1, 3:27 PM EST
Where: Decatur County, 2.24 mi N of Greensburg
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.362, -85.488

A semi trailer was blown over due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: May 1, 3:49 PM EST
Where: Henry County, 0.52 mi NE of Sulphur Spgs
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.006, -85.444

An estimated 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in Sulphur Springs.

Hail, Morgan

When: May 1, 3:50 PM EST to 3:52 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 3.5 mi S of Paragon
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.350, -86.560

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: May 1, 3:56 PM EST
Where: Henry County, 0.87 mi SE of Straughn
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.810, -85.290

An estimated 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in Straughn.

Hail, Lawrence

When: May 1, 4:25 PM EST to 4:27 PM EST
Where: Lawrence County, 0.69 mi N of O Olitic
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.910, -86.520

Nickel sized hail was accompanied by 40 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, Jackson

When: May 1, 5:02 PM EST to 5:04 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, 2.69 mi W of Crothersville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.796, -85.900

Hail, Warren

When: May 1, 5:31 PM EST to 5:33 PM EST
Where: Warren County, 1.26 mi WSW of Foster
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.140, -87.490

Hail, Fountain

When: May 1, 5:41 PM EST to 5:43 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, 3.49 mi S of Covington
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.080, -87.390

Hail, Fountain

When: May 1, 5:50 PM EST to 5:52 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, 0.87 mi SE of Veedersburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.110, -87.260

Tornado, Fountain

When: May 1, 5:57 PM EST to 5:58 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, 4.13 mi SE of Steam Corner to 4.25 mi SE of Steam Corner
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.14 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 40.013, -87.189

This tornado-producing storm formed in Illinois before traveling into central Indiana. The storm produced a tornado in central Indiana near the town of Yeddo in Fountain County. The EF-0 rated tornado touched down at 6:57 PM EDT and was on the ground briefly. The tornado's width was 50 yards and the path length was approximately one tenth of a mile.

Hail, Hendricks

When: May 1, 6:00 PM EST to 6:02 PM EST
Where: Hendricks County, 0.77 mi SSE of North Salem
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.860, -86.644

Hail, Hendricks

When: May 1, 6:00 PM EST to 6:02 PM EST
Where: Hendricks County, 0.77 mi SSE of North Salem
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.860, -86.644

Hail, Knox

When: May 1, 6:03 PM EST to 6:05 PM EST
Where: Knox County, 0.4 mi SW of Monroe City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 38.615, -87.354

Hail, Knox

When: May 1, 6:07 PM EST to 6:09 PM EST
Where: Knox County, 0.43 mi SSW of Monroe City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.614, -87.353

Hail, Owen

When: May 1, 6:08 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where: Owen County, 1.75 mi ESE of Adel
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.190, -86.770

Hail, Knox

When: May 1, 6:13 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where: Knox County, 0.6 mi SW of Wheatland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 38.664, -87.308

Hail, Hendricks

When: May 1, 6:25 PM EST to 6:27 PM EST
Where: Hendricks County, 0.53 mi E of Plainfield
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.700, -86.390

Hail, Hendricks

When: May 1, 6:29 PM EST to 6:31 PM EST
Where: Hendricks County, 0.53 mi E of Plainfield
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.700, -86.390

Tornado, Montgomery

When: May 1, 6:36 PM EST to 6:37 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 2.38 mi SSE of Linnsburg to 2.69 mi SSE of Linnsburg
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.46 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Property damage: $48,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.968, -86.784

The same storm that produced the Yeddo tornado went on to produce this EF-1 tornado in Montgomery County, near the town of New Ross. The tornado touched down at 7:36 PM EDT and was on the ground for about a minute. Wind speeds for the tornado were 100-110 mph, and the width was 150 yards. The tornado was on the ground for about a half mile as it hit a house, destroyed a barn, and downed trees onto a house and two cars.

Hail, Monroe

When: May 1, 7:04 PM EST to 7:06 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, Unionville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.230, -86.420

Flood, Hancock

When: May 1, 7:11 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Hancock County, 0.9 mi NNE of Greenfield to 0.97 mi ENE of Greenfield
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.791, -85.771

Heavy flooding was reported along Highway 9 in Greenfield due to thunderstorm heavy rainfall.

Hail, Brown

When: May 1, 7:18 PM EST to 7:20 PM EST
Where: Brown County, 0.42 mi NNE of Nashville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.206, -86.248

Hail, Morgan

When: May 1, 8:28 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 3.5 mi S of Paragon
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.350, -86.560

What these are

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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, May 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: 384895, 381732, 379690, 379695, 379696, 386885, 386920, 379697, 379698, 379703, 379704, 379729, 379705, 379706, 379708, 379709, 379710, 379711, 384878, 379714, 379716, 379717, 379718, 379719, 379721, 379723, 379724, 384893, 379726, 386923, 379727, 379728.