Unseasonably high amounts of moisture flowed into central Indiana from the southwest and south during the latter part of February. At times during the period of February 19th to the 24th, the precipitable water values (a measure of moisture in the atmosphere) reached record levels for February.
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.
Unseasonably high amounts of moisture flowed into central Indiana from the southwest and south during the latter part of February. At times during the period of February 19th to the 24th, the precipitable water values (a measure of moisture in the atmosphere) reached record levels for February.
Heavy rainfall fell early in the week (February 19/20) across northern sections of central Indiana. The second round of heavy rain on the 24th fell across southern sections of the area. In all, 7-day totals ending the morning of February 25th were from 3 to 6 inches across much of central Indiana.
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 22, 9:50 AM EST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 950 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 .UPDATE... The NEAR TERM and AVIATION Sections has been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 415 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 Several upper waves of low pressure will lift northeast across central Indiana late this week and this weekend. In addition, a quasi-stationary front will meander over the Ohio Valley and tropical moisture will continue to flow over the area. Finally, a sharp upper trough will move over the Great Lakes late in the weekend. This will force a cold front over central Indiana. The combination of all these factors will bring several rounds of widespread rains to the area through Saturday night. More flooding will result, especially along area rivers and streams. After that, high pressure will provide a brief dry period through next Tuesday, but another frontal system will bring more chances of rain in by the middle of next week. Look for slightly above normal temperatures today with well above normal temperatures by Friday. && .NEAR TERM /This afternoon/... Issued at 950 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 Surface analysis late this morning shows dirty high pressure in place across the Great Lakes. A frontal boundary had departed to the southeast...stretching across eastern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. Cool NE surface flow was in place across Central Indiana....with temps mainly the mid 30s. GOES16 shows abundant cloud cover remaining across the state...with moist SW flow still in place aloft as evident on the water vapor imagery. The GFS and NAM suggest that Indiana will be caught between upper waves this afternoon. This lack of upper support should lead to a brief period of dry weather this afternoon. Time height sections indicate dry air within the mid and lower levels with saturation remaining near the surface. Forecast soundings agree showing some dry air also. Thus other than a few departing showers this morning...have trended toward a dry forecast this afternoon. Given the cool NE flow and plentiful cloud cover this afternoon...trended highs at or below the forecast builder blend. && .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Saturday night/... Issued at 415 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 Widespread rain and flooding will be the main concerns for the late week and weekend. Models are in good agreement that a Tennessee Valley front will lift north and become quasi-stationary over the Ohio Valley. In the meantime several upper waves of low pressure will lift northeast across central Indiana in the fast southwest flow aloft and tropical flow will persist. Finally, a negatively-tilted trough will pivot over the Great Lakes Saturday night and Sunday and push a cold front through central Indiana. In addition, nocturnal low level jets will be in play overnight tonight, Friday night and again Saturday night. Precipitable water amounts will be around 300 percent of normal at times, and especially Saturday night, and mainly along and south of Interstate 70. Finally, the area will be within the right rear quadrant of a strong upper Great Lakes upper jet. The synoptic factors along with the deep moisture will result in widespread rain, overnight tonight and Friday morning and Friday night through Saturday night. Went with Categorical POPs overnight tonight and Early Friday and again Friday night through Saturday night. A Flood Watch will likely be needed in the next 12 to 24 hours for areas mainly near and south of Interstate 70. Could see up to an additional three inches of rain there through the weekend with inch to an inch and a half additional north. Good confidence in well above normal temperatures by Friday as low level flow shifts back to the south. && .LONG TERM /Sunday through Wednesday/... Issued at 257 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 A much deserved break from the active weather regime of late will dominate much of the extended as high pressure builds in behind the departing front on Sunday. Rain will be east of the forecast area by daybreak Sunday with deep subsidence poised to overspread the region as the aforementioned high builds into the Ohio Valley. The highly amplified flow regime aloft across the country will relax as well with the deeper moisture fetch shifting well south of the region. Return flow will develop by midweek as the high drifts away to the east. While differences exist with strength and track of the developing surface wave amongst the extended models at this early stage...consensus growing on low pressure tracking into the region out of the central Plains Wednesday and Thursday bringing rain into the forecast area. Temperatures will remain mild with 50s quite common for highs through the period as we wrap up February. && .AVIATION /Discussion for the 221500Z IND TAF Update/... IFR Conditions are expected to improved to MVFR or VFR CIGS this afternoon. Slight daytime heating and mixing should allow CIGS to increase in height to MVFR levels by late morning...with improvement toward VFR CIGS for a few hours this afternoon as dry air is suggested to be arriving. As the next short wave arrives tonight...a return to MVFR or worse conditions are expected. Previous Discussion Below /Discussion for 221200Z TAF Issuance/... Issued at 538 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 Subtle improvements in ceilings later today before widespread sub-IFR conditions return tonight. The back edge of the steadier rain is moving through central Indiana early this morning with pockets of lighter rain extending back into central and southern Illinois. Will highlight the potential for scattered light showers this morning with a VCSH mention at all terminals through midday. Ceilings may hover near IFR levels through the morning but the arrival of drier air aloft should enable ceilings to rise this afternoon. Model soundings show moisture remaining trapped beneath an inversion all day so expect the primary ceiling to linger around 2kft into the evening. Deeper moisture will advect into the region tonight ahead of a surface wave riding along a frontal boundary set to track into the region early Friday. High confidence in ceilings tumbling back to sub-IFR levels mainly after 06Z as steadier rainfall returns into central Indiana. Visibilities will drop as well to 2-3SM with higher rainfall rates. E/NE winds at 10-15kts will continue throughout the day today...shifting to SE and diminishing below 10kts tonight and early Friday. The arrival of a low level jet Friday morning will bring an increasing threat for low level wind shear. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...Puma SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....Ryan AVIATION...Ryan/JP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 437 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-231000- 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 437 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Outlook: Localized flooding will be ongoing. A wintry mix of precipitation may briefly develop over far northern portions of central Indiana early this morning...but no impacts are expected with surface temperatures above freezing. Hazards: Flooding of low lying areas. Timing: Flooding will be ongoing through today and tonight. Any wintry mix will occur prior to 7-8 am this morning. Discussion: Moderate rain will continue across the area early this morning before shifting east. Mainly dry weather is expected this afternoon and evening before more widespread and locally heavier rain returns late tonight as a frontal boundary lifts into the region. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Outlook: Heavy rainfall will return at times for Friday and especially Saturday and Saturday night. Ongoing flooding may become significant as a result of this rainfall. Embedded thunderstorms are possible Friday night through Sunday morning. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is possible late Saturday night with a cold front...especially south of Interstate 70. Damaging winds will be the primary threat. Discussion: A slow moving front will interact with warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico to bring rain to central Indiana. The rain could be heavy at times with an additional 2 to 3 inches expected with locally heavier amounts by Sunday. The heaviest rainfall is expected to focus over southern portions of central Indiana. Lowland flooding is expected, with the possibility of the development of significant river flooding later this week as well. A thin line of strong to severe thunderstorms is possible late Saturday night ahead of a cold front. After a few dry days...rain will return Wednesday as low pressure moves into the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report rainfall totals over the next few days. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind Ryan
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
State Road 234 was shut down due to flooding from heavy rainfall.
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, February 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: 742573.