A fast moving upper level system sparked a few rounds of strong to severe storms across southern Indiana during the late afternoon and evening hours. The main hazard was damaging winds and large hail.
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 LMK wrote it up.
A fast moving upper level system sparked a few rounds of strong to severe storms across southern Indiana during the late afternoon and evening hours. The main hazard was damaging winds and large hail.
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 May 7, 7:30 PM EST, 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 830 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016 ...Forecast Update... Issued at 829 PM EDT Sat May 7 2016 The storms moving into the area continue to pose a wind threat. In addition, some hail will be possible with any stronger storms that pop up ahead of the main convective complex along leftover outflow boundaries. In addition there is a wind convergence boundary along the front moving south. The grids were updated to update pops with current thinking as well as add mention of hail to the grids. Issued at 710 PM EDT Sat May 7 2016 The complex of storms over south central IL continues to be a concern as it approaches the region. Strong to severe storms will likely maintain themselves as they move into the forecast area. This complex of storms are expected to mainly move across the Ohio River south of I-64 and continue to dive southeast. In addition some storms are popping up out ahead of this complex and could move into areas north of I-64. Thus a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued. The main threat is damaging winds with these storms. Issued at 545 PM EDT Sat May 7 2016 A cluster of storms will continue to move southeast into the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Some of these storms have the potential for damaging wind gusts and hail close to 1 inch. The next round of storms is currently stretching from around St. Louis northeast into central IL. This cluster will continue southeast and move into southern IN by around 23-00Z. In addition, a few storms could pop up ahead of this cluster. CAPE values will still be around 1000J/kg as the next wave of storms moves in with bulk shear values of 35-45 knots. Therefore, the potential remains for these storms to keep their intensity and potentially be severe. However, conditions should become less favorable into the evening, so they could weaken as they move across the forecast area. .SHORT TERM (Now through Sunday Night)... Issued at 316 PM EDT Sat May 7 2016 ...Some Strong to Severe Storms Possible This Afternoon... The main concern for the short term period remains this afternoon and evening. There are a couple of areas of storms that could result in stronger storms this afternoon. The first one is along the IL/IN border and will continue to track southeast into southern IN and areas along and north of I-64. The latest HRRR guidance brings some of these storms into the Louisville metro by around 6 pm, so this will need to be watched. In addition, storms associated with an upper level wave over northern MO will continue to track southeast into the region. These two areas of storms could eventually merge and then sink southeast into central Kentucky through the evening. Instability has been increasing this afternoon, especially south of the cloud shield that is across portions of southern IN and north central KY. Some differential heating is going on along this boundary. Instability should continue to increase for at least the next few hours as heating continues. Dewpoints remain a bit on the lower side, but we should see some modest moisture increase this afternoon. Shear is generally unidirectional with deep layer shear values of 35-40 knots. Given all this, damaging winds are expected to be the main concern with some marginally severe hail possible as well in the strongest storms. The bulk of the stronger storms are expected to move out by 03Z or so. Some showers or storms will linger into the overnight hours across north central KY as a cold front moves through. Rain should dissipate by Sunday morning with a dry day then expected. Temperatures will vary widely tomorrow across the region with highs in the north topping out in the upper 60s and highs across south central KY reaching the lower 80s. .LONG TERM (Monday through Saturday)... Issued at 303 PM EDT Sat May 7 2016 Monday will start out under weak upper level ridging. The ridge will move east through the day with southwesterly flow setting up. This southwesterly flow aloft will remain in place through Wednesday and then transition to more zonal. Multiple disturbances will move through this flow bringing rounds of showers and thunderstorms. The first round of showers and storms will move in from the west Monday afternoon. Think any storms on Monday will be confined to west central KY and southern IN. As the upper level disturbance moves closer late Monday night storms will become more numerous. This wave should move out on Tuesday afternoon with another one moving in late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. There will then be another relative lull with the final round moving through on Thursday as a front pushes through the region. Given the area will generally be in the warm sector with decent instability developing, some stronger storms are possible through this time frame, though the specific timing of waves will need to be refined at a later time. Rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches area wide will be possible with this activity, though with the convective nature of it, some locations could see up to 3 inches. Friday should see a break in the precipitation as high pressure builds in. Another round of rain looks to then move in Friday night. Temperatures this week will be a bit above normal with highs in the mid 70s to low 80s. Lows will be in the 50s to low 60s. && .AVIATION (00Z TAF Update)... Updated at 712 PM EDT Sat May 7 2016 In the very front part of the forecast period, VFR conditions are expected at the terminals. However, conditions will deteriorate at KSDF between 08/01-03Z as upstream squall line pushes in from the west. It is difficult to predict the specific strength of this line as it pushes through. However, upstream radar data shows a decent cold pool developing and the line is surging with a slight turn to the left (north/poleward). This would place the line in the KSDF terminal around 08/01Z or so. Some scattered convection may affect the terminal prior to 08/01Z. As the line pushes through, expect a period of IFR/MVFR cig/vsbys with wind gusts of 40-45kts. For KLEX, VFR conditions are expected for the next few hours, but convection is likely to impact the terminal after 08/02Z through about 08/06Z. Similar to KSDF, a period of MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys with wind gusts of 30-40kts can not be ruled out. For KBWG, the forecast is not as clear with respect to convection chances. VFR conditions with a gusty southwest/west-southwest wind is expected this evening. If current squall line maintains its SE push, we could see a period of convection affect KBWG between 08/03- 05Z. After 08/06Z, precipitation is expected to be generally east of the terminals with a light northwest wind expected. Plenty of mid-high level cloudiness is expected overnight and some patchy fog may develop. The outlook for Sunday is for VFR conditions with a light southwest wind. && .LMK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && Update.........EER Short Term.....EER Long Term......EER Aviation.......MJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 719 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016 INZ076-077-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>031-034-038-039-045>047-053>055- 061>067-071-074-076>078-081-082-082330- ORANGE-WASHINGTON-DUBOIS-CRAWFORD-PERRY-HARRISON-FLOYD-CLARK-HANCOCK- BRECKINRIDGE-MEADE-OHIO-GRAYSON-HARDIN-BULLITT-JEFFERSON-OLDHAM- SHELBY-SPENCER-ANDERSON-NELSON-MERCER-LARUE-MARION-BOYLE-BUTLER- EDMONSON-HART-GREEN-TAYLOR-CASEY-LINCOLN-WARREN-BARREN-METCALFE- ADAIR-RUSSELL-CUMBERLAND-CLINTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...JASPER...ENGLISH... TELL CITY...CORYDON...NEW ALBANY...JEFFERSONVILLE...LEWISPORT... HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG...HARTFORD...LEITCHFIELD... ELIZABETHTOWN...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE... SHELBYVILLE...TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...BARDSTOWN... SPRINGFIELD...HARRODSBURG...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON...DANVILLE... MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...HORSE CAVE...GREENSBURG... CAMPBELLSVILLE...LIBERTY...STANFORD...BOWLING GREEN...GLASGOW... EDMONTON...COLUMBIA...JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE...ALBANY 719 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016 /619 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 2016/ ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 147 IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. IN ADDITION...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AND AGAIN ON THURSDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT ANY DAMAGING WINDS OR HAIL THIS AFTERNOON. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. INZ078-079-KYZ032-033-035>037-040>043-048-049-056-057-070-072-073- 075-082330- SCOTT-JEFFERSON-TRIMBLE-HENRY-FRANKLIN-HARRISON-WOODFORD-FAYETTE- BOURBON-NICHOLAS-JESSAMINE-CLARK-GARRARD-MADISON-LOGAN-SIMPSON-ALLEN- MONROE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON...BEDFORD...MILTON... NEW CASTLE...FRANKFORT...GEORGETOWN...CYNTHIANA...VERSAILLES... LEXINGTON...PARIS...CARLISLE...NICHOLASVILLE...WINCHESTER... LANCASTER...RICHMOND...RUSSELLVILLE...FRANKLIN...PROVIDENCE... SCOTTSVILLE...TOMPKINSVILLE 719 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016 /619 PM CDT SAT MAY 7 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AND AGAIN ON THURSDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. EER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
730 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
INZ083-080015-
DUBOIS-
730 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT DUBOIS COUNTY...
AT 730 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER WASHINGTON...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JASPER...HUNTINGBURG...BIRDSEYE...DUBOIS...KYANA...ELLSWORTH...SAINT
ANTHONY...BRETZVILLE...MENTOR AND CELESTINE.
LAT...LON 3851 8707 3850 8706 3851 8705 3851 8700
3850 8698 3850 8696 3849 8696 3849 8695
3851 8693 3850 8691 3850 8688 3853 8683
3852 8668 3825 8668 3825 8672 3829 8694
3839 8707
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 304DEG 33KT 3862 8720
ZTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
806 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 PM TSTM WND DMG JEFFERSONTOWN 38.21N 85.57W
05/07/2016 JEFFERSON KY PUBLIC
TREE DOWN ON CAR.
&&
SZAPPANOSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
806 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
INZ076-084-090-KYZ025-080030-
ORANGE-CRAWFORD-HARRISON-MEADE-
806 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN HARRISON...SOUTHERN
ORANGE...CRAWFORD AND NORTH CENTRAL MEADE COUNTIES...
AT 806 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER ENGLISH...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ENGLISH...CAREFREE TOWN...MARENGO...MILLTOWN...LEAVENWORTH...RAMSEY...
VALEENE...RICEVILLE...SULPHUR AND FARGO.
LAT...LON 3853 8666 3833 8607 3812 8626 3832 8668
3846 8668
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 295DEG 32KT 3834 8650
ZTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
825 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
INZ076-084-090-091-KYZ030-080100-
ORANGE-CRAWFORD-FLOYD-HARRISON-JEFFERSON-
825 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT HARRISON...FLOYD...SOUTHEASTERN
ORANGE...NORTHEASTERN CRAWFORD AND WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES...
AT 824 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR CAREFREE TOWN...MOVING
EAST AT 55 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LOUISVILLE...NEW ALBANY...CORYDON...ENGLISH...CAREFREE TOWN...ST. DENNIS...
PLEASURE RIDGE PARK...VALLEY STATION...GALENA AND PALMYRA.
THOSE ATTENDING OUTDOOR EVENTS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD
PREPARE FOR THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS.
LAT...LON 3845 8631 3842 8631 3842 8620 3833 8580
3804 8590 3825 8651 3847 8640
TIME...MOT...LOC 0024Z 291DEG 46KT 3829 8625
ZTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
830 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 PM HAIL LYNDON 38.26N 85.59W
05/07/2016 E0.25 INCH JEFFERSON KY PUBLIC
&&
SZAPPANOSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
833 PM EDT SAT MAY 7 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0832 PM HAIL NEW ALBANY 38.30N 85.83W
05/07/2016 E0.25 INCH FLOYD IN PUBLIC
&&
SZAPPANOSThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:34 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters reported widespread power outages in Ireland.
Trained spotter estimated wind gusts at 60 mph.
The Dubois County emergency manager estimated winds near 80 mph which brought down a utility pole on east 13th street.
Trained spotters reported trees down across the area.
Trained spotters reported trees down in the area.
Trained spotters reported numerous trees down in the city.
Trained spotters reported trees down across Highway 64.
The Crawford County emergency manager reported multiple trees down across the area.
Local law enforcement reported trees down in the area.
Broadcast media relayed a report of trees down in the area due to severe thunderstorm winds.
The public reported structural damage to a porch due to a fallen tree.
Broadcast media reports showed extensive damage to silos and outbuildings near Duff. Two 90 foot concrete silos were pushed off their foundations. One of the silos collapsed in half. There was considerable damage to nearby feeding barns and machine shops on the farm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 2016
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: 624061, 624062, 624052, 624053, 624054, 624055, 624056, 624057, 624058, 624059, 624060, 624063.