A low pressure system generated numerous thunderstorms across central Indiana on April 3rd. The first few rounds of thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flooding across the area, while the final round of thunderstorms brought damaging winds and a couple of tornadoes.
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.
A low pressure system generated numerous thunderstorms across central Indiana on April 3rd. The first few rounds of thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flooding across the area, while the final round of thunderstorms brought damaging winds and a couple of tornadoes.
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 Apr 3, 3:40 AM EST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 440 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 .UPDATE... The AVIATION Section has been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 246 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 A low pressure system is expected to move through the area this afternoon and evening. Another weaker frontal system will move through around Thursday. A third frontal system may affect the area early next week. && .NEAR TERM /Today and Tonight/... Issued at 246 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 Area of rain and thunderstorms currently over the southern and central zones associated with a strong warm advection pattern on the nose of a low level jet. Expecting fairly widespread rain and thunderstorm activity to continue and drift slowly north through about the midday hours today as the low level jet remains anchored over the area. Last evening's upper air indicates lapse rates were not particularly steep at this time, but short term model guidance suggests steeper lapse rate will probably begin bleeding into the area after sunrise. As a result, risk of hail may be muted somewhat until after sunrise. Lift and low level jet may tend to weaken towards the midday hours today, so activity may tend to diminish around that time. Questionable how far north warm front will get today, depending on how much morning convection lingers, but finer scale model data suggest front may make it into the central zones this afternoon. Appears cold front will be approaching the western border zones around 032300Z, passing east of the area by 040300Z. Most of the model guidance suggests a line of convection will be associated with this feature. Appears best threat for severe convection will be later this afternoon and early evening, as steeper lapse rates will be in place by then, along with strong deep layer shear. Environment appears favorable for potentially some supercell development ahead of the cold front in the warm sector later this afternoon and early evening. Convection currently beginning to shift off to the north of the current Flood Watch. Will probably do some last minute adjustments to the watch closer to issuance time. Appears there will be some threat for heavy rain over the central zones through the morning hours as the nose of the low level jet will be focused in this area. Severe threat expected to end with the passage of the cold front this evening, along with the higher PoPs. Will keep some chance PoPs going later in the night for potential wrap around activity. May be cold enough for mixed precipitation in the north, but any QPF looks to be very light. Based on low level thicknesses and questions revolving around how far north warm front will get today, will bump the GFS MOS highs today down a category in the north. Will also cut about 3-5 degrees off of the guidance lows tonight. && .SHORT TERM /Wednesday through Thursday night/... Issued at 246 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 Dry conditions expected Wednesday and Wednesday night as high pressure drifts through. Model guidance suggests a disturbance will move through the area Thursday and Thursday night. Will go with some chance PoPs for showers at those times. Progged low level thicknesses suggest the GFS MOS highs for Wednesday and probably on the warm side. Will bump the guidance down a category in that period. Remainder of periods look Ok for now. && .LONG TERM /Friday through Tuesday/... Issued at 357 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 Models continue to be in close agreement during the period. The challenge to monitor for the next few days is precipitation type and temperatures. Ensembles show that region will be under west-northwest flow aloft through the period. First mid/upper level trough will move southward into the Upper Great Lakes and through the Great Lakes/Upper Ohio Valley. This will bring a cold front southward through Indiana right at the start of Friday, accompanied by gusty northwest winds. A cold day for April for sure. Some scattered light rainshowers will be around on Friday moving out by Friday evening. Cold high pressure is then expected to move in keeping temperatures below normal. The high will move off to the east as the next low pressure system moves east-southeast from the Northern Rockies. Models may be a bit fast with precipitation with this system bringing on when we still have southeast winds from recycled dry air from the high over the east coast. But, precipitation will move in by Sunday evening as rain at this point. So, will keep a low confidence on timing of precipitation for late Sunday into Monday at this time. && .AVIATION /Update Discussion for the 03/06Z TAF Issuance/... Issued at 440 AM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018 TSRA has been thr rule over much of central IN this morning; earlier at KBMG, and prominent at KHUF and KIND. IR satellite imagery has been show cooling cloud tops which has increased the intensity of rain and lightning activity to the storms. Warm front is south of the area, looks like these storms are elevated along the thermal gradient at 850 mb. These storms should be a factor resulting in IFR and occasional LIFR conditions through the morning. ...Previous Discussion.. IFR and LIFR will become the predominant flight categories after Tue 09Z with only little improvement to MVFR by Tue 16Z. However, another round of convection is expected to impact TAF sites this afternoon and evening in the form of a squall line. This could result in a return to IFR (or worse) conditions at times in heavy rain. Meanwhile, winds through the period will start out southeasterly, veering to the southwest. Sustained speeds will range between 5 to 10 kts until this afternoon when they increase to 13 to 16 kts with gusts up to 30 kts outside of any thunderstorms that form. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 10 AM EDT this morning for INZ055>057- 062>065. && SYNOPSIS...JAS NEAR TERM...JAS SHORT TERM...JAS LONG TERM....DM AVIATION...TDUD/DM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 524 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 INZ021-028>031-035>044-040930- Carroll-Warren-Tippecanoe-Clinton-Howard-Fountain-Montgomery-Boone- Tipton-Hamilton-Madison-Delaware-Randolph-Vermillion-Parke- Including the cities of Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Crawfordsville, Anderson, and Muncie 524 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 There is a chance for severe thunderstorms across the area later this morning into early tonight. This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Outlook: Thunderstorms, some possibly severe, is expected through early tonight. Present indications are that severe storms are possible this afternoon and tonight with the main threat being damaging winds, some hail and an isolated tornado. Hazards: Damaging winds, hail, possibly a tornado, heavy rainfall, and cloud to ground lightning. Timing: The best threat for thunderstorms is this morning, and again after 1:00 p.m. until possibly 9:00 p.m. Discussion: A low pressure system over Kansas will be moving eastward and northeastward into northwest Indiana by later this afternoon. A cold front will cause a line of strong/severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outlook: Scattered rainshowers is expected again Thursday afternoon and evening, then again by Sunday evening. No hazardous weather is expected Wednesday into Sunday though mixed precipitation may occur Friday. Discussion: Two separate low pressure systems will effect the area between Thursday and Monday. There is a chance for mixed precipitation with the system on Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible this afternoon and evening. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind INZ045>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-040930- 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 Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Shelbyville, Bloomington, Columbus, Vincennes, Bedford, and Seymour 524 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 There is an enhanced threat for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early tonight. This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Outlook: Thunderstorms this morning will move off to the north later in the morning. Severe thunderstorms are possible ahead of a cold front this afternoon and tonight. Hazards: Main threat is damaging winds with other threats being hail and isolated tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and cloud to ground lightning. Timing: This morning, with severe thunderstorms possible after 1:00 pm EDT. Discussion: Thunderstorms this morning are associated with a warm front with a chance for some small hail. Severe thunderstorms are possible ahead of a cold front this afternoon into early tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outlook: Scattered rainshowers is expected again Thursday afternoon and evening, then again by Sunday evening. Discussion: Two separate low pressure systems will effect the area between Thursday and Monday. There is a chance for mixed precipitation with the system on Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon and early tonight. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 320 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 INZ030-035>049-051>054-060-061-067-068-031600- Clinton-Fountain-Montgomery-Boone-Tipton-Hamilton-Madison- Delaware-Randolph-Vermillion-Parke-Putnam-Hendricks-Marion- Hancock-Henry-Vigo-Clay-Owen-Morgan-Sullivan-Greene-Knox-Daviess- Including the cities of Frankfort, Crawfordsville, Anderson, Muncie, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Vincennes 320 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 ...Areas of Moderate to Occasionally Heavy Rain Expected This Morning... Periods of moderate to occasionally heavy rain can be expected through the morning hours today. Localized ponding of water on roads and in low areas is possible. The rain is expected to diminish towards the midday hours. Motorists should be alert for ponding of water on roads this morning.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
509 AM EDT TUE APR 3 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0505 AM HAIL 3 S PARAGON 39.35N 86.56W
04/03/2018 E0.25 INCH MORGAN IN PUBLIC
&&The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:48 UTC.
11 hail, 9 flash flood, 9 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A road was closed due to high water from heavy thunderstorm rainfall.
Bush Road was reported to be washed out due to heavy thunderstorm rainfall. Locust Lake Drive near this same location was flooded as well. Also, portions of Highway 231 North and Atkinsonville Road were reported to be flooded.
Low Gap Road and South Conservation Club Road was reported to be flooded due to heavy thunderstorm rainfall. State Road 37 was also flooded.
A water rescue from a vehicle was undertaken near the intersection of West County Road 240 North and North County Road 500 West. Several area within the county are impassable.
Water was reported over Landersdale Road due to heavy rainfall.
Six occupants of Royal Motel were evacuated due to rising water from heavy thunderstorm rainfall.
Roads were reported to be flooded in this location due to heavy thunderstorm rainfall.
White Lick Creek was reported to be well out of the creek's banks due to heavy thunderstorm rainfall.
Most hailstones were the size of nickels, with a few slightly larger than a quarter.
Numerous roads were closed due to flooding across the county from heavy thunderstorm rainfall. Flash flooding washed out several rural roads with debris left behind.
Numerous roads were closed due to flowing water across northern Vigo County from heavy thunderstorm rainfall.
Hail was a bit bigger than quarters.
The size of the hail was slightly larger than one inch.
A tree of unknown size was downed near the intersection of Bland Road and Camp Branch Road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
This EF-0 tornado, with a max wind speed of 75 mph, primarily went across cornfields while glancing two homesteads, where a few large tree branches were downed and one large trash dumpster blown over in a direction opposite from the environmental wind at the time.
Multiple mature trees were downed in downtown Lafayette due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
This EF-0 tornado, with a max wind speed of 85 mph, affected one homestead and a thin band of trees. Damage at the homestead included barn skylights being blown out from wind entering an east-facing opening, debris from half an outbuilding`s roof and collapsed wall sent into an adjacent field to the northeast, downed tree branches with one breaking the garage window, and the top horizontal portion of a power pole being broken off. Also, straight-line wind damage was noted south and east of Buck Creek including downed trees and an outbuilding shifted off its foundation.
High thunderstorm winds were observed in this location. Some tree limb debris was seen along with street signs blowing.
A thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph or more was estimated in this location.
Some tree damage and minor roof damage occurred to structures near Jasonville due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Trees and power lines were downed and a camper was turned over due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. This report was relayed by dispatch.
A tree was down blocking a road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A grain bin of approximately 30 feet tall by 30 feet wide had the top blown off and the bin was moved off the foundation due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was estimated in this location.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Indiana, 2018Warnings in Indiana, April 2018
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: 754047, 754048, 754049, 754050, 754046, 754051, 754052, 753761, 754053, 753763, 753764, 753765, 753766, 753767, 754055, 754056, 753768, 753769, 753770, 753771, 753772, 754037, 754070, 754038, 754075, 754039, 754044, 754041, 754042, 754043, 754040, 754045.