Tornado and Flooding in Indiana, July 20, 2018

Name: Tornado and Flooding in Indiana, July 20, 2018
Start: 2018-07-20T11:25
End: 2018-07-20T18:40
Location: Indiana

July 20, 2018 · NWS IND · 14 events in 6 counties and zones

A frontal system moved through central Indiana during the afternoon of July 20th, producing thunderstorms. Some of the storms were severe with damaging winds, large hail, and one EF-1 tornado in Madison County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $62,000
Crop damage: $500
Events: 14

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS IND wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 20, 9:27 AM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 9:27 AM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1027 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

.UPDATE...
Aviation section updated

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 351 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

A unseasonably strong low pressure system moving through the
Great Lakes and into the Ohio Valley will bring showers and
thunderstorms to central Indiana for the weekend, as well as the
potential for severe storms today. After today temperatures will
drop to below normal for the remainder of the weekend before
returning to normal for the work week. Next week looks mainly dry
after Monday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /This afternoon/...

Issued at 955 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

Surface analysis late this morning shows a deep low over southern
Wisconsin...with cyclonic flow across Central Indiana. Showers and
storms associated with a wave around the low was found across
Eastern Indiana and was pivoting northeast within the flow. GOES16
shows clearing skies across Illinois and Indiana...however dew
points remain quite highs...in the 60s to lower 70s across
Illinois.

Forecast soundings across Central Indiana this afternoon show very
steep lapse rates favorable for convection with CAPE over 3000
J/KG. A dry mid level is also noted...favorable for the production
with damaging wind gusts within storms. HRRR suggests TSRA
development this afternoon as instability develops. Thus have kept
the next 1-2 hours mainly dry expect across the east...and then
trended toward higher pops this afternoon.

Given the expected sunshine...trended highs warmer than the
Forecast builder blends as has been the pattern the past several
days.

&&

.SHORT TERM /Saturday through Sunday night/...

Issued at 351 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

An upper low will settle in over central Indiana and a surface low
will slowly traverse the area. Thus expect off and on showers for
Saturday along with temperatures staying in the 70s under mostly
cloudy skies. Precip chances will continue through the weekend as
lobes of energy move through the upper low. High confidence
temperatures will run below normal. High confidence of off and on
rain for Saturday, coverage may be less on Sunday.

&&

.LONG TERM (Monday through Thursday)...

Issued at 211 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

Mostly dry weather is likely Tuesday night into Wednesday night.
Otherwise forecast confidence is low.

The GFS and European models don't agree well about fronts that will
be critical to Indiana weather. Also, the latest and previous runs
of the GFS differ considerably. Possible temperature errors are 3-5
degrees.  For most of the period possible POP errors are 10-20
percent.

The exception is Tuesday night into Wednesday night. The models
concur that period will be mostly dry as high pressure crosses our
area.

&&

.AVIATION /Discussion for the 201500Z IND Taf update/...

VFR conditions are expected the next few hours...however TSRA
development is expected this afternoon and evening. Any TSRA that
does strike a TAF site will produce brief MVFR or IFR conditions.
At this point after 18Z better chances for TSRA will be possible
as peak heating commences.

Previous Discussion below

(Discussion for 201200Z TAFs)...

Issued at 658 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

Low pressure passing north of the area will cause thunderstorms.
While storms are possible almost any time, the highest chance is
mid afternoon to evening, when there is a risk of severe weather.
Storms may cause brief very poor flight conditions in downpours.

VFR should prevail between storms. The wind is predicted to veer
from south to west today. then stay west tonight. Expect speeds of
10-15 knots during the day, decreasing to 5-10 knots after dark.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SYNOPSIS...CP
NEAR TERM...Puma
SHORT TERM...CP
LONG TERM....JK
AVIATION...JK/JP

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 8:12 AM EST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
912 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-211315-
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
912 AM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Outlook: Severe storms are expected today.

Hazards: Large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, localized flash
flooding and frequent lightning.

Timing: Thunderstorms are possible throughout the day, but the most
likely window for severe storms is from 1 to 10 pm.

Discussion: An unseasonably strong low pressure system will bring
thunderstorms, some severe, to central Indiana today and early
tonight. Hail larger than golf ball size is likely in some of these
storms, along with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Outlook: Thunderstorms will be possible most times from Saturday
through Monday, but severe storms are not expected. There are also
small chances for storms off and on from Tuesday through Thursday,
but again none of these appear to have severe potential.

Discussion: A strong low pressure system moving through the Great
Lakes and Ohio Valley will keep chances for thunderstorms in the
forecast through Monday. After that surface fronts will bring small
off and on chances for thunderstorms through Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon and evening.

&&

More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate
information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind

DRT

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 9:03 AM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1003 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

INZ039>041-201445-
Madison IN-Delaware IN-Hamilton IN-
1003 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MADISON...DELAWARE AND
NORTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 AM EDT...

At 1001 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Elwood, or 9 miles northwest of Anderson, moving east at 45
mph. An additional strong thunderstorm was impacting northeast
Delaware County to the northeast of Muncie.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Muncie, Anderson, Elwood, Alexandria, Yorktown, Chesterfield, Albany,
Lapel, Edgewood, Frankton, Eaton, Daleville, Gaston, Selma, Orestes,
Woodlawn Heights, Country Club Heights, River Forest, Ball State
University and Prairie Creek Reservoir.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4012 8523 4007 8589 4022 8593 4022 8586
      4026 8586 4038 8522
TIME...MOT...LOC 1401Z 258DEG 37KT 4018 8582

Ryan

Local storm report, Jul 20, 9:30 AM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1030 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1020 AM     HAIL             1 SW RUSHVILLE          39.60N 85.45W
07/20/2018  M0.25 INCH       RUSH               IN   PUBLIC

&&

KEH

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 9:41 AM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1041 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

INZ040>042-049-201530-
Randolph IN-Henry IN-Madison IN-Delaware IN-
1041 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MADISON...WESTERN
RANDOLPH...DELAWARE AND NORTHERN HENRY COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM EDT...

At 1040 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Albany to 9 miles south of
Anderson. Movement was east at 45 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Muncie, Anderson, Yorktown, Chesterfield, Albany, Eaton, Daleville,
Parker City, Farmland, Gaston, Selma, Ridgeville, Markleville,
Sulphur Springs, Mooreland, Mount Summit, Losantville, Modoc, Cadiz
and Springport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms 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 4000 8514 4000 8520 3997 8520 3994 8571
      4038 8549 4038 8522 4031 8522 4031 8493
TIME...MOT...LOC 1440Z 249DEG 37KT 4035 8535 3996 8562

Ryan

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 10:26 AM EST, 59 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1126 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

INZ041-042-049-201615-
Randolph IN-Henry IN-Delaware IN-
1126 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RANDOLPH...SOUTHEASTERN DELAWARE
AND NORTHEASTERN HENRY COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 PM EDT...

At 1126 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles southeast of Albany to New Castle.
Movement was east at 25 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Winchester, Union City, Parker City, Farmland, Lynn, Selma,
Ridgeville, Mooreland, Mount Summit, Saratoga, Losantville, Modoc,
Blountsville, Summit Lake State Park and Prairie Creek Reservoir.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms 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 4001 8484 4000 8490 4000 8520 3997 8520
      3996 8545 4031 8518 4031 8480 4005 8481
TIME...MOT...LOC 1526Z 261DEG 21KT 4026 8514 3995 8536

Ryan

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 11:24 AM EST, 1 minute before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1224 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

INZ064-065-071-072-201715-
Decatur IN-Bartholomew IN-Jackson IN-Jennings IN-
1224 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN DECATUR...CENTRAL
BARTHOLOMEW...NORTHEASTERN JACKSON AND NORTHERN JENNINGS COUNTIES
UNTIL 115 PM EDT...

At 1223 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Columbus, moving east at 30 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Columbus, North Vernon, Westport, Elizabethtown, Hartsville,
Jonesville, Millhousen, Letts, Newbern, Butlerville, Grammer,
Nebraska, Newpoint, Azalia and Country Squire Lakes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

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 3920 8544 3902 8545 3899 8597 3924 8601
      3933 8530 3927 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 1623Z 263DEG 26KT 3910 8589

Ryan

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Bartholomew

When: July 20, 11:25 AM EST to 11:27 AM EST
Where: Bartholomew County, 0.78 mi W of Columbus Arpt
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.149, -85.945

Hail, Jackson

When: July 20, 1:02 PM EST to 1:04 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, 1.28 mi WSW of Fleming
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.960, -85.840

Hail, Jennings

When: July 20, 1:03 PM EST to 1:05 PM EST
Where: Jennings County, 1.28 mi WSW of Queensville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.040, -85.690

Hail, Jackson

When: July 20, 1:20 PM EST to 1:22 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, 2.76 mi N of Uniontown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 38.870, -85.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: July 20, 2:06 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.69 mi S of Frankton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.210, -85.770

A utility pole was broken due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: July 20, 2:15 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.69 mi S of Gimco City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.260, -85.680

A tree was blown onto a house due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Tornado, Madison

When: July 20, 2:50 PM EST to 2:52 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.69 mi WSW of Moonsville to 0.11 mi SSW of Moonsville
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.6 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $500
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.195, -85.612

An EF-1 tornado was observed and recorded via video on Friday afternoon in Moonville in Madison County. Madison County Emergency Management, in coordination with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, conducted a storm survey and determined a tornado touched down and destroyed a barn, caused roof damage to an adjacent home, produced tree damage, and flipped a storage shed onto its side. The track of the tornado began in a soybean field to the west-southwest of the barn. The maximum winds were estimated at 100 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: July 20, 2:50 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.87 mi SE of Chesterfield
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.110, -85.590

Some damage to a barn occurred due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, Delaware

When: July 20, 3:34 PM EST to 3:36 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, 1.74 mi NW of Muncie
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.200, -85.420

Pea to dime-sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Delaware

When: July 20, 4:16 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, 2.14 mi SSW of Devon Park
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.200, -85.440

A large tree limb was down near the intersection of West Cardinal Drive and Jackson Street due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: July 20, 4:16 PM EST
Where: Shelby County, 1.48 mi NNW of Norristown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.390, -85.780

The Shelby County Sheriff Department was on scene with trees downed on County Road 900 South due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. The trees were large enough to require chainsaws for removal. Power lines are also affected and damaged.

Hail, Delaware

When: July 20, 4:17 PM EST to 4:19 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, 1.48 mi SSW of Devon Park
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.210, -85.440

Flood, Delaware

When: July 20, 4:40 PM EST to 6:40 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, 1.55 mi NNE of Muncie to 1.57 mi NNE of Muncie
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.200, -85.387

A car went around a barricade and into flood water where it stalled. The flooding was due to heavy rainfall.

Flood, Delaware

When: July 20, 4:40 PM EST to 6:40 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, 1.47 mi WSW of Morningside to 1.62 mi SW of Morningside
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.209, -85.394

Flooding occurred at the Deleware County Fairgrounds due to heavy rainfall. Four to six inches of water in paved areas and eight to ten inches in grassy areas.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Indiana, 2018 Warnings in Indiana, July 2018

Sources

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: 777031, 777032, 777033, 777034, 777037, 777038, 777030, 777039, 777035, 777040, 777041, 777036, 777085, 777086.