Northwest flow in the upper atmosphere allowed multiple waves to move across the area. The atmosphere had a high moisture content and was unstable.
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 IND wrote it up.
Northwest flow in the upper atmosphere allowed multiple waves to move across the area. The atmosphere had a high moisture content and was unstable. The waves interacted with the moisture and instability to produce the severe weather and heavy rain. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms moved over the same locations, creating the flooding problems. Several rounds of thunderstorms, from July 10th through the 13th, brought a tornado, damaging winds, large hail, and flooding to central Indiana. Flooding and strong thunderstorm wind gusts occurred on the north side of Indianapolis during this period. Damaging thunderstorm wind gusts was noted in Knox County.
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 Jul 13, 2:35 PM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 335 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 .UPDATE... The Synopsis, Near Term, and Short Term sections have been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 335 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 A cold front will slowly move through the area tonight into early Friday, with additional chances for showers and storms, some of which will likely produce heavy rainfall. An ongoing flash flood watch will be left in place. High pressure in the wake of the front will bring a sorely needed break from the recent wet weather to the area for much of the weekend. Another upper level disturbance and weak surface front moving through the area on Sunday may spark a few afternoon showers and storms, but much of next week looks to be a bit drier. && .NEAR TERM /Tonight/... Issued at 335 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 A weak cold front is expected to move through the area tonight. Along with remnant outflows over the southern portions of the area, this will serve as a potential focus for convective development. Will focus the highest pops across the south this evening. Chances will diminish late tonight with waning instability. Cannot rule out a few severe storms but the major threat continues to be hydrologic in nature. Precipitable water values are near 99th percentile for the time of year and the ground remains saturated from recent heavy rains. Additionally, very high freezing levels in excess of 15kft suggest warm rain processes/highly efficient rainfall producing storms. Will keep the current flash flood watch in place through the night. Consensus temperatures appeared a bit warm and were tweaked downward a bit due to combination of weak cold front and lower dewpoints moving into the area. && .SHORT TERM /Friday through Sunday/... Issued at 335 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 Will accept consensus low pops across the far south/southeast tomorrow morning as the front slowly makes its way out of the area, but confidence is low in these chances. The majority of the day should be dry, and dry weather will persist through Sunday morning as high pressure moves through the region. A weak cold front and associated upper level disturbance will move into the area Sunday afternoon, and this will have the potential to spark a few showers or storms. Cannot justify more than chance pops at this point, however. Consensus temperatures appeared reasonable throughout with only mionr tweaks. && .LONG TERM /Sunday Night through Thursday/... Issued at 255 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 Much of the extended is likely to give central Indiana a much needed break from the active weather...storms and flooding. However...signs growing towards a transition back into a stormier pattern by the second half of next week. Scattered convection with the upper wave moving through the region on Sunday is likely to linger into Sunday night before diminishing completely. High pressure will then build in with a resumption of the cooler and less humid conditions expected for Friday and Saturday to start the work week. The humidity levels will begin to creep back up by the middle of the week as the high shifts east and southerly flow returns into the Ohio Valley. The upper ridge over the western U S will shift back east into the central Plains and several of the extended models trying to build 590dam heights and greater into the region by Tuesday and Wednesday. Am skeptical that these mid level heights can make it into central Indiana as the models have been consistently hinting at that in the 5-7 day range for the last few weeks before eventually backing off in the following days. Think the more likely scenario is the ridge expands into the central Plains...placing the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley back into a northwest flow regime aloft for the second half of next week. Ultimately...that would cause a return to the active and stormy pattern experienced of late over the forecast area. && .AVIATION /Discussion for 131800Z TAF Issuance/... Issued at 1253 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 VFR conditions expected throughout with restrictions possible within rain and thunderstorms. Humid and unstable airmass over central Indiana has helped fuel scattered convection so far today...especially over southern portions of the forecast area in closer proximity to a remnant outflow boundary from Wednesday evening. This activity is already southeast of the terminals early this afternoon. However with the cold front still off to the northwest of the region...additional convection is likely to develop over Illinois later this afternoon in the vicinity of an upper level wave and migrate into the forecast area during the late afternoon and evening. This seems the most likely timeframe for convection to directly impact the terminals...but details remain difficult in this pattern. Will indicate prevailing precip with a VCTS and update as the situation evolves. Any storm will likely produce restrictions at the terminals...possibly briefly significant visibility restrictions with the potential for torrential rainfall. Winds should be predominantly out of the southwest but local variation in speed and direction can be expected in and near convection. The front will shift south of the terminals Friday morning with clouds gradually scattering from the north as high pressure and subsidence expand into the area. Winds will veer to light northwesterly Friday. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Friday morning for INZ021-028>031- 035>049-051>057-062>065-072. && SYNOPSIS...Nield NEAR TERM...Nield SHORT TERM...Nield LONG TERM...Ryan AVIATION...Ryan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 108 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-141000- 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- Including the cities of Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Crawfordsville, Anderson, Muncie, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Shelbyville, Bloomington, Columbus, Vincennes, Bedford, and Seymour 108 PM EDT Thu Jul 13 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Outlook: Scattered severe thunderstorms possible through tonight... especially south of Interstate 70. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH is in effect for much of Central Indiana. Hazards: Ongoing Flooding. Damaging Winds, Heavy Rain resulting in Flash Flooding, and Dangerous Lightning. Timing: Flooding is ongoing. Thunderstorms possible anytime...but most likely this afternoon and evening. Discussion: A cold front, along with several upper level weather disturbances will generate thunderstorms through tonight. Some storms could be severe producing damaging wind gusts. All storms will be capable of producing heavy rain which could result in further flooding. Lightning is a threat from any storm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Outlook: Isolated Thunderstorms are possible on Friday morning...mainly across southern parts of Central Indiana. The main threats from these storms will be gusty winds...heavy rain and lightning. Flooding may be ongoing due to earlier heavy rains. More storms are possible Sunday and Sunday night. It is too soon to determine if these storms will be severe. Lightning is a threat with any thunderstorm. Discussion: A cold front will exit Central Indiana on Friday. A few Thunderstorms are possible on Friday Morning as the front departs. Heavy rain will be possible due to a very warm and humid air mass in place across Central Indiana. Another front will bring additional chances for showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and Sunday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed on This Afternoon and Tonight. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind Ryan
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
612 PM EDT THU JUL 13 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0609 PM FLOOD 2 SSE CARMEL 39.94N 86.09W
07/13/2017 HAMILTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
106TH & GRAY ROAD - UP TO 8 INCHES OF WATER
ON THE ROAD.
&&
JHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
613 PM EDT THU JUL 13 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0604 PM FLOOD 1 SE CARMEL 39.96N 86.09W
07/13/2017 HAMILTON IN TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY RAIN & FLOODING AT 116TH & GRAY ROAD
IN CARMEL. 4 INCHES OF WATER ON THE ROAD.
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 618 PM EDT THU JUL 13 2017 INZ053-054-061-062-132300- Owen IN-Morgan IN-Greene IN-Monroe IN- 618 PM EDT THU JUL 13 2017 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... At 618 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Spencer, or 18 miles northwest of Bloomington, moving southeast at 25 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Spencer, Ellettsville, Gosport, Paragon, Stinesville, Patricksburg, Solsberry, McCormicks Creek State Park, Devore and Freedom. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3946 8680 3940 8642 3907 8676 3931 8698 TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 305DEG 22KT 3934 8677 TDUD
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:32 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree branch, six inches in diameter, broke off a live tree due to strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
Street and yard flooding of unknown depth occurred due to heavy rainfall in the area.
One to two feet of water was on the road at 126th Street due to heavy rainfall.
A tree was down on Camp Arthur Road near Ford Road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, July 2017
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: 717109, 717112, 717110, 717111.