Tornadoes and Flood in Indiana, February 20, 2014

Name: Tornadoes and Flood in Indiana, February 20, 2014
Start: 2014-02-20T19:40
End: 2014-02-20T22:30
Location: Indiana

February 20, 2014 · NWS IND · 22 events in 14 counties and zones

A potent area of low pressure pushed a strong cold front across central Indiana during the evening of February 20. Ahead of the front, very warm and moist air surged north.

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: $137,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

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.

A potent area of low pressure pushed a strong cold front across central Indiana during the evening of February 20. Ahead of the front, very warm and moist air surged north. This melted much of the snow cover across the area, resulting in some flooding. The rain that accompanied the front led to additional flooding problems. A line of severe thunderstorms along the front brought damaging winds to many areas, along with some large hail at a few locations. A brief tornado touched down in Rush County, and another tornado touched down in Montgomery County.

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 Feb 20, 6:25 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 20, 6:25 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
625 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

.UPDATE...
THE AVIATION SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
ISSUED AT 351 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE
WILL BRING STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS...FLOODING...AND STRONG WINDS TO
THE AREA TONIGHT. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON
FRIDAY. AFTER A WEEKEND WITH NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES THINGS WILL
COOL DOWN AGAIN WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES BACK FOR THE REST OF
THE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT/...

ISSUED AT 351 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

FORECAST FOCUS IS ON TIMING OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE
EVENING...SEVERE AND FLOODING POTENTIAL...AND WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT.

CURRENT INDICATIONS FROM SHORT RANGE MODELS IS THAT STORMS WILL
REACH THE WESTERN BORDER OF THE AREA AROUND 0Z. WITH THIS IN MIND
HAVE POPS LOWER THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS RAMPING UP WITH
CATEGORICAL POPS IN THE WEST STARTING AT 23Z. THE LINE ACROSS
WESTERN ILLINOIS IS MOVING FAIRLY QUICKLY AND EXPECT IT TO BE THROUGH
THE EASTERN COUNTIES BY AROUND 3-4Z. WILL CONTINUE WITH DECREASING
POPS IN THE EAST UNTIL 6Z TO ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE LINE
COULD SLOW DOWN.

WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 50S TO LOW 60S AND DEW POINTS IN THE
MID 50S THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY TO FUEL THE STORMS AS
THEY APPROACH...AND WIND SHEAR IS AS STRONG AS PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED WITH
0-6KM BULK SHEAR AROUND 60-70 KTS AND 0-3 KM HELICITY IN THE 200-500
RANGE. COULD SEE THE LINE WEAKEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA WITH LOSS OF ANY HEATING...BUT WARM MOIST ADVECTION MAY BE
ENOUGH TO KEEP THE INSTABILITY SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN THE SEVERE
THREAT UNTIL AFTER THE LINE IS OUT OF HERE. BROUGHT MENTION OF
DAMAGING WINDS INTO THE AREA AFTER 6 PM AND KEPT IT UNTIL 10
PM...ALTHOUGH IT COULD BE THROUGH BEFORE THEN.

FLOODING HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN SOME OF THE NORTHWESTERN
COUNTIES MAINLY FROM SNOW MELT. EXPECT THAT MORE FLOODING WILL
DEVELOP ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES...IF NOT BEFORE
THEN...THEN AS THE LINE MOVES THROUGH. EVEN THOUGH RAIN AMOUNTS ARE
NOT EXPECTED TO BE MORE THAN HALF AN INCH...THE SNOW MELT COULD BE
SUFFICIENT ON IT/S OWN. THUS WILL CONTINUE WITH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH
THE NIGHT.

ON POSTFRONTAL WIND THREAT...FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE POTENTIAL
TO MIX DOWN WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH FOR A FEW HOURS AFTER THE
FRONT PASSES TONIGHT...MAINLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT. AFTER THAT INVERSION
ESTABLISHES ITSELF AND WINDS SHOULD LESSEN. WIND THREAT APPEARS TO
PICK UP AGAIN AROUND 13Z FRIDAY AND THUS WILL CONTINUE WITH WIND
ADVISORY...ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A PERIOD AFTER MIDNIGHT THROUGH
THE EARLY MORNING WHEN WIND GUSTS WILL NOT BE NEAR CRITERIA.

ANOTHER NOTE...FOG IS BEING REPORTED IN SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS
NORTHERN PARTS OF THE AREA. THIS SHOULD BE SPORADIC WITH LIGHT RAIN
OFF AND ON AND THEN SHOULD BE GONE COMPLETELY WITH PASSAGE OF THE
LINE OF STORMS AND THEN COLD FRONT. THUS WILL INCLUDE PATCHY FOG IN
THIS AREA THROUGH AROUND 8 PM.

COULD SEE SOME BRIEF SNOW FLURRIES LATE TONIGHT WITH THE UPPER
TROUGH AXIS MOVING THROUGH...AND THESE COULD CONTINUE INTO THE
MORNING ON FRIDAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...

ISSUED AT 351 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

FORECAST FOCUS IS ON WINDS EXPECTED FRIDAY. MODELS ARE IN DECENT
AGREEMENT AND WILL USE AN AVERAGE. THOUGHT TEMPERATURES IN GUIDANCE
WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO USE A CONSENSUS.

FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW POTENTIAL FOR WIND GUSTS OF
40-50 MPH DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY...STARTING AROUND 13Z. WITH THE
TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT AS THE LOW MOVES OFF TO THE NORTHEAST THINK
THIS IS REASONABLE AND WILL CONTINUE WITH THE WIND ADVISORY THROUGH
THE DAY ON FRIDAY.

BROAD CYCLONIC UPPER FLOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM AND
MODELS ARE SHOWING THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME LITTLE SHORT WAVES TO MOVE
THROUGH WITH JUST ENOUGH LIFT TO CAUSE SOME SLIGHT CHANCES FOR
PRECIPITATION. HARD TO GET A GOOD HANDLE ON WHEN THE BEST TIMING IS
FOR THESE. WITH THE LACK OF ANY DECENT MOISTURE/FORCING KEPT
SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT DRY. FOR SUNDAY GFS IS SHOWING SOME
DECENT Q VECTOR CONVERGENCE ALONG WITH PRETTY GOOD FRONTOGENESIS SO
MAY BE ABLE TO EEK OUT A LITTLE QPF EVEN WITHOUT MOISTURE SO
INCLUDED A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SNOW IN THE NORTH AND A RAIN SNOW MIX
IN THE SOUTH.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...

ISSUED AT 216 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

ECMWF AND GFS INDICATE A COOLER PATTERN RETURNING FOR MUCH OF NEXT
WEEK. THIS IS THE ALL TOO FAMILIAR PATTERN WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS
CENTRAL INDIANA DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS WITH LARGE BROAD TROUGH
IN PLACE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY. NORTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT AND HIGH PRESSURE IN PLACE AT THE SURFACE WILL RESULT IN
MAINLY DRY AND COLD WEATHER MUCH OF NEXT WEEK WITH BELOW NORMAL
TEMPERATURES.

ECMWF AND GFS BOTH HINT AT A CLIPPER PUSHING THROUGH THE REGION ON
MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...HOWEVER WITH NORTH FLOW THROUGH THE
PERIOD...MOISTURE WILL BE LACKING. THUS WILL INCLUDE SOME CHC POPS
FOR SN RIGHT NOW...SURELY TO BE FINE TUNED LATER.

&&

.AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 21/0000Z TAF ISSUANCE/...

ISSUED AT 330 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

SQUALL LINE STILL PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH KLAF AND KHUF IN THE FRI
00-01Z TIME FRAME...AND THROUGH KIND AND KBMG FROM FRI 01-02Z.
CONDITIONS COULD DETERIORATE TO IFR OR WORSE WITH THE LINE.  UNTIL
THEN...VFR CONDITIONS WILL BE THE PREVAILING FLIGHT CATEGORY.
SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS AND
BECOME STRONG WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 16 TO 20 KTS AND GUSTS UP TO
34 KTS. STRONG LOW LEVEL JET WILL KEEP WINDS STRONG OUT OF THE WEST
THROUGH TONIGHT WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 KTS AND GUSTS UP
TO 38 KTS. GUSTS WILL TAPER OFF AFTER DAYBREAK TOMORROW BUT REMAIN
STRONG OUT OF THE SOUTH.  MVFR CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO LINGER
THROUGH TONIGHT...AND THEN IMPROVE TO VFR AFTER FRI 14Z AS DRIER AIR
FILTERS INTO THE REGION.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR INZ021-028>031-035>043-
047>049-055>057-063>065-071-072.

WIND ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY FOR
INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072.

&&

SYNOPSIS...CP
NEAR TERM...CP
SHORT TERM...CP
LONG TERM....PUMA
AVIATION...TDUD

VISIT US AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IND

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND YOUTUBE AT:
WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSINDIANAPOLIS
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSINDIANAPOLIS

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 20, 6:26 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
626 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-212330-
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-
626 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

OUTLOOK: A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO
SWEEP EAST ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA FROM 6 PM TO 10 PM. TORNADOES...DAMAGING
WINDS AND FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE AS THE LINE MOVES THROUGH. STRONG
WINDS WILL ALSO OCCUR BEHIND THE COLD FRONT AS THE PRECIPITATION
ENDS. PATCHY DENSE FOG IS ALSO POSSIBLE BEFORE THE LINE MOVES
THROUGH AS THE SNOW CONTINUES TO MELT.

HAZARDS: FLOODING. THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES. STRONG WINDS OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS. POTENTIAL FOR
ICE JAM FLOODING. PATCHY DENSE FOG.

TIMING: FLOODING THROUGH THE NIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES THROUGH 10 PM. STRONG WINDS THIS
EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY. PATCHY FOG PRIOR TO THE LINE.

DISCUSSION: A POTENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTHEAST
THROUGH WISCONSIN TONIGHT AND DRAG A COLD FRONT THROUGH CENTRAL
INDIANA THIS EVENING. A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDER STORMS
WILL PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...ISOLATED TORNADOES AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL. THIS RAIN COMBINED WITH SNOW MELT COULD LEAD TO
FLOODING PROBLEMS...AND ICE COVERED RIVERS COULD EXPERIENCE ISSUES
WITH ICE JAM FLOODING AS WELL. AFTER THE COLD FRONT PASSES WINDS
WILL STRENGTHEN WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH OR GREATER POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

OUTLOOK: RIVER FLOODING COULD BE A PROBLEM THROUGH THE PERIOD.
WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST UP TO 50 MPH THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY.
SNOW IS POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT...SUNDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT BUT
ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT.

DISCUSSION: THE POTENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL KEEP STRONG WINDS
ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY. A COUPLE OF WEAK UPPER WAVES WILL
BRING LIGHT SNOW CHANCES FRIDAY NIGHT...SUNDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...
OTHERWISE HIGH PRESSURE WILL PROVIDE DRY CONDITIONS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS EVENING.

&&

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

FISHER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 20, 3:15 PM EST, 4 hours 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
315 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

INZ030-031-037>042-202215-
CLINTON-HOWARD-BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FRANKFORT...KOKOMO...ANDERSON...MUNCIE
315 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

...PATCHY DENSE FOG...

PATCHY AREAS OF DENSE FOG ARE EXPECTED INTO EARLY EVENING AS MILD
AND HUMID AIR SPREADS NORTH ACROSS THE AREA.

VISIBILITY NEAR ONE QUARTER MILE HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM NEAR
GEIST RESERVOIR UP TOWARDS ANDERSON.

MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AS ABRUPT CHANGES IN VISIBILITY
MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IN THESE FOGGY AREAS.

DRT

Local storm report, Feb 20, 7:25 PM EST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
725 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0721 PM     TSTM WND GST     TERRE HAUTE             39.47N  87.38W
02/20/2014  E50 MPH          VIGO               IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            JUST EAST OF TERRE HAUTE ALONG I-70

&&

DRT

Local storm report, Feb 20, 7:29 PM EST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
729 PM EST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0724 PM     HEAVY RAIN       7 S HILLSBORO           40.01N  87.16W
02/20/2014  U0.00 INCH       FOUNTAIN           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VISIBILTY IS REDUCED DUE TO RAINFALL. WIND JUST PICKED
            UP. NO DAMAGE TO REPORT.

&&

MMB

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 2 tornado, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Montgomery

When: February 20, 7:40 PM EST to 7:48 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 2.5 mi SE of Crawfordsville to 0.7 mi S of Darlington
Rating: EF0
Path length: 7.48 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.004, -86.867

A National Weather Service Indianapolis survey team identified weak tornado damage in the Crawfordsville area which occurred during the severe weather on February 20. The survey team rated this tornado an EF0 with winds estimated around 80 mph. The tornado began around 740 PM near County Road 150 South and County Road 200 East on the southeast side of Crawfordsville, and continued a path northeast to near Darlington, lifting around 748 PM. During that time the tornado damaged numerous outbuildings, removed shingles from homes, damaged a part of the Pilot truck stop canopy, and sheared off numerous tree tops.

Thunderstorm Wind, Vigo

When: February 20, 7:42 PM EST
Where: Vigo County, 0.53 mi W of Preston
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.500, -87.380

An estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in this location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Boone

When: February 20, 8:01 PM EST
Where: Boone County, 0.11 mi S of Advance
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.998, -86.620

An estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in the town of Advance.

Hail, Boone

When: February 20, 8:02 PM EST to 8:03 PM EST
Where: Boone County, 0.09 mi S of Advance
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.999, -86.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Fountain

When: February 20, 8:02 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, 0.87 mi SE of Hillsboro
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.110, -87.160

Small limbs were broken off trees and some shingles were taken off a roof due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clinton

When: February 20, 8:05 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, 1.51 mi ESE of Fickle
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 40.261, -86.654

A semi-truck was overturned on Interstate 65 near Frankfort. The truck was leaking propane and the Interstate had to be shut down.

Hail, Boone

When: February 20, 8:24 PM EST to 8:26 PM EST
Where: Boone County, 1.85 mi ENE of Shepherd
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.979, -86.397

One inch diameter hail was observed near the intersection of State Route 267 and Interstate 65.

Flood, Monroe

When: February 20, 8:30 PM EST to 10:30 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, Bloomington to 0.25 mi E of Bloomington
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.170, -86.520

Streets were reported to be flooded due to heavy thunderstorm rainfall. The campus bus routes were suspended.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hendricks

When: February 20, 8:31 PM EST
Where: Hendricks County, 3.8 mi ENE of Brownsburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.880, -86.340

An estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in this location, along with pea sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tipton

When: February 20, 8:37 PM EST
Where: Tipton County, 0.53 mi E of Tipton
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 40.280, -86.040

An estimated 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in Tipton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: February 20, 8:39 PM EST
Where: Marion County, 0.55 mi SSW of Indianapolis Intl Ar
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 39.713, -86.285

A 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the ASOS at the Indianapolis International Airport.

Hail, Hamilton

When: February 20, 8:41 PM EST to 8:43 PM EST
Where: Hamilton County, 3.79 mi W of Noblesville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.060, -86.090

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: February 20, 8:42 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, 0.87 mi SE of Kirby
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.120, -86.590

An estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in this location.

Hail, Hamilton

When: February 20, 8:45 PM EST to 8:47 PM EST
Where: Hamilton County, 0.87 mi NW of Noblesville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.060, -86.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: February 20, 8:48 PM EST
Where: Monroe County, 0.87 mi SE of Kirby
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.120, -86.590

An estimated 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in this location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tipton

When: February 20, 8:49 PM EST
Where: Tipton County, 0.13 mi ENE of Tipton
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 40.281, -86.048

Roof damage was observed on the west side of town due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Extensive power outages were noted as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tipton

When: February 20, 8:49 PM EST
Where: Tipton County, 0.23 mi NE of Tipton
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.282, -86.047

An aluminum outbuilding was destroyed on the west side of the Tipton due damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: February 20, 8:50 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.82 mi NW of Elwood
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.278, -85.842

The roof of the First United Methodist Church was damaged due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When: February 20, 9:04 PM EST
Where: Johnson County, 1.99 mi NNW of Franklin
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 39.508, -86.061

A railroad crossing gate arm was damaged by the wind on Commerce Road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, Shelby

When: February 20, 9:25 PM EST to 9:27 PM EST
Where: Shelby County, Shelbyville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 39.520, -85.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Rush

When: February 20, 9:31 PM EST
Where: Rush County, 0.63 mi ENE of Arlington
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $13,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.654, -85.570

There was barn damage north of Arlington due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Numerous trees and power lines were also reported down in the area as well.

Tornado, Rush

When: February 20, 9:32 PM EST
Where: Rush County, 0.76 mi ENE of Arlington
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.04 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.656, -85.568

The line of severe thunderstorms took on a bowed structure as it entered northwest Rush County on Friday evening. Numerous areas of severe, straight-line wind damage were observed near the Arlington area. However, one homestead east of County Road 700 West on County Road 300 North did exhibit signs of damage that appeared tornadic. Based on the storm survey coupled with radar data...it has been determined that the damage at this homestead was consistent with an EF-0 tornado, with winds of approximately 85 mph. This tornado occurred at approximately 9:32 PM EST and was very short-lived...on the ground for less than a tenth of a mile and less than a minute. A few trees were downed...with one blown through the back side of a tin shed. Also, the roof was removed from an outbuilding on the premises.

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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Indiana, 2014 Warnings in Indiana, February 2014

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: 500306, 500486, 500491, 500533, 501059, 501063, 500534, 504103, 500492, 500493, 500495, 500536, 500517, 500535, 500528, 501064, 504113, 501066, 502866, 500538, 502840, 500307.