Storm system approached from the southwest bringing multiple shots of rain during the morning and afternoon of December 31st. Up to one and a half to two inches of rain fell across central Indiana.
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.
Storm system approached from the southwest bringing multiple shots of rain during the morning and afternoon of December 31st. Up to one and a half to two inches of rain fell across central Indiana. Some minor flooding was noted in Decatur County due to heavy rainfall.
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 Dec 31, 4:02 PM EST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 402 PM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 .UPDATE... The SYNOPSIS...NEAR TERM and SHORT TERM Sections have been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 400 PM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 Rain will move east of the area over the next few hours, but winds will pick up as it does so. Cloudy skies with some chances for drizzle are then expected for the rest of the night and day on Tuesday, with potential for freezing drizzle Tuesday. The next system will approach Thursday bringing some chances for rain and snow Thursday night through Friday night. && .NEAR TERM /This Evening and Tonight/... Issued at 400 PM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 Rain continues across central and eastern parts of the forecast area at 330 pm, with pockets of heavier embedded showers. Wind gusts have remained tame thus far across central Indiana within and outside of the showers, with only a few places measuring gusts and those staying in the 20 to 30 mph range. Rainfall amounts thus far have ranged from around three quarters of an inch to an inch and a half or more, and this is starting to cause standing water in low spots around the area. Forecast soundings and high res model guidance continues to suggest wind gusts will pick up in a few hours as low pressure center moves across northern Indiana and off to the northeast increasing the pressure gradient across the area. Dry air aloft arriving will help mix down some of these higher wind gusts, thus will continue with the wind advisory across the southeastern half or so of the area, although it did start a little early. Western counties are showing gusts but not as strong so will continue to monitor for an expansion. Rain will move east of the area by around 0 to 2z. After this could still see some wraparound in the northern counties for a bit. Later though expect to see drizzle take its place as dry air advects in aloft and low level moisture gets trapped. Temperatures will not drop too rapidly as much of the cold air will be shunted further north as the low pulls off to the northeast. With all the cloud cover lows should stay in the mid 30s to low 40s. && .SHORT TERM /Tuesday through Thursday/... Issued at 400 PM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 Tuesday will see a building inversion across the area as high pressure tries to build east from the northern plains. Low level moisture across the area will be trapped, with subsidence aloft. With subtle surface convergence, should see stratus and off and on drizzle through the day. The setup changes little for Tuesday night, but with temperatures falling below freezing will see a transition from drizzle to freezing drizzle from north to south Tuesday night. Uncertainty exists in whether or not any lift will be available especially Tuesday night, and thus freezing drizzle is pretty low confidence. Also could see some visibility issues even if drizzle does not develop, and the impacts of a freezing fog scenario wouldn't be much different than freezing drizzle. Thus even with low confidence think mention of chance for freezing drizzle Tuesday night remains prudent. By Wednesday morning the surface high should be close enough to the forecast area that should start to see some breaks in the clouds. The inversion looks like it will continue, though, so may struggle to get out of "mostly cloudy" territory. Wednesday night should continue to be dry with high pressure aloft. Thursday the next low pressure system will start to eject from the Gulf and late Thursday afternoon could see a small chance for rain sneak into the southwestern counties. Temperatures will run near/just above normal through the short term with highs in the 30s to low 40s and lows in the 20s. && .LONG TERM (Thursday Night Through Monday)... Issued at 220 PM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 Models are close enough that the model blend initialization was accepted for most items. Models have come into better agreement with the upper level low and surface low pressure that will impact the area late this week. Thus, feel more comfortable with the initialization's chances of precipitation. The system will bring the threat for some rain and snow Thursday night into Friday night across the area. At the moment it appears that the air will be warm enough for the bulk of the precipitation to fall as rain, with perhaps just a little snow near the beginning and end of the precipitation. High pressure will then provide dry conditions into the weekend. Another system could bring some precipitation on Monday. Temperatures will be above normal through the period. && .AVIATION (Discussion for the 312100Z TAF Update)... Issued at 325 PM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 Heavier rain has pushed east of KIND for the moment so allowed visibility to come up to MVFR. Looks like there will be some breaks in the IFR ceiling at times for a couple of hours, so added a tempo for this. Previous discussion follows... Good confidence in poor flying conditions expected through much of the period. Rain will continue much of the time through the remainder of the daylight hours. Isolated thunder is possible at mainly KBMG mainly 19-23Z, but odds are too low to include in the TAF. Strong winds aloft will begin to mix down by 21Z with low level wind shear before that. Wind gusts over 35kt are possible mainly in the 23-03Z time frame. Winds will veer through the day as low pressure moves nearby. IFR (or lower at times this afternoon) will persist through most of the valid time, with perhaps MVFR conditions during late afternoon into evening. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for INZ039>042-046>049- 053>057-061>065-067>072. && SYNOPSIS...CP NEAR TERM...CP SHORT TERM...CP LONG TERM...50 AVIATION...50
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 414 AM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 INZ039>042-046>049-053>057-061>065-067>072-011000- Hamilton-Madison-Delaware-Randolph-Hendricks-Marion-Hancock-Henry- Owen-Morgan-Johnson-Shelby-Rush-Greene-Monroe-Brown-Bartholomew- Decatur-Knox-Daviess-Martin-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings- Including the cities of Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, Winchester, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield, New Castle, Spencer, Martinsville, Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, Rushville, Linton, Bloomfield, Bloomington, Nashville, Columbus, Greensburg, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford, Mitchell, Seymour, Brownstown, and North Vernon 414 AM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Outlook: Heavy rain...isolated strong to severe storms over southern portions of central Indiana and strong gusty winds. Hazards: heavy rain and localized flooding...isolated strong to severe storms and wind gusts peaking at 40 to 45 mph. Timing: heaviest rainfall through late afternoon and early evening. Isolated strong to severe storms most likely from 2 to 6 pm. Highest wind gusts late afternoon and evening. Discussion: Active weather today as low pressure tracks through the Ohio Valley. Widespread and locally heavy rainfall is expected through late afternoon and early evening with the possibility for a few strong to severe storms over south central Indiana during the afternoon. In addition...winds will become gusty late this afternoon and evening. Drizzle and light rain showers will linger overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Outlook: Freezing drizzle is possible Tuesday night and Wednesday morning...especially near and north of Interstate 70. Snow is possible Thursday night and Friday morning. Discussion: Drizzle will linger Tuesday then transition to freezing drizzle Tuesday night and early Wednesday as surface temperatures fall below freezing. This could create slick spots on roads...bridges and overpasses. Chances for rain and snow will exist Thursday through Friday as a storm system passes to the south of the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Rainfall...wind and storm reports from spotters will be appreciated through this evening. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind INZ021-028>031-035>038-043>045-051-052-060-011000- Carroll-Warren-Tippecanoe-Clinton-Howard-Fountain-Montgomery-Boone- Tipton-Vermillion-Parke-Putnam-Vigo-Clay-Sullivan- Including the cities of Delphi, Flora, Williamsport, West Lebanon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Attica, Covington, Veedersburg, Crawfordsville, Lebanon, Zionsville, Tipton, Clinton, Newport, Rockville, Greencastle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Clay City, and Sullivan 414 AM EST Mon Dec 31 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Outlook: Heavy rain...isolated storms over southern portions of the Wabash Valley and strong gusty winds. Hazards: heavy rain and localized flooding...isolated strong to severe storms and wind gusts peaking at 30 to 40 mph. Timing: heaviest rainfall through late afternoon. Isolated storms early to mid afternoon. Highest wind gusts mid afternoon through early evening. Discussion: Active weather today as low pressure tracks through the Ohio Valley. Widespread and locally heavy rainfall is expected through late afternoon and early evening with the possibility for a few storms over southwest Indiana during the afternoon. In addition...winds will become gusty this afternoon and evening. Drizzle and light rain showers will linger overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Outlook: Freezing drizzle is possible Tuesday night and Wednesday morning...especially near and north of Interstate 70. Snow is possible Thursday night and Friday morning. Discussion: Drizzle will linger Tuesday then transition to freezing drizzle Tuesday night and early Wednesday as surface temperatures fall below freezing. This could create slick spots on roads...bridges and overpasses. Chances for rain and snow will exist Thursday through Friday as a storm system passes to the south of the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Rainfall and wind reports from spotters will be appreciated through this evening. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind Ryan
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
331 PM EST MON DEC 31 2018
INZ071-072-312115-
Jackson IN-Jennings IN-
331 PM EST MON DEC 31 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON AND JENNINGS
COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EST...
At 331 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Brownstown, or 13 miles southwest of Seymour, moving east at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Seymour, North Vernon, Brownstown, Vernon, Crothersville, Medora,
Vallonia, Hayden, Paris Crossing, Butlerville and Nebraska.
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 3876 8591 3875 8598 3877 8598 3876 8603
3878 8609 3876 8613 3878 8618 3891 8617
3908 8544 3891 8545 3891 8554 3888 8554
3888 8557 3885 8557 3885 8561 3882 8561
3882 8570 3883 8572 3881 8579 3873 8587
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 252DEG 41KT 3880 8604
AW/CPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Standing water was reported in the right lane of Interstate 74 near mile marker 137 due to heavy rainfall. One and a half to two inches of rain was reported to have fallen in Decatur County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, December 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: 795588.