A band of scattered thunderstorms storms stretched from northeast to southwest across central Indiana during the evening of July the 26th. One of these thunderstorms produced wind damage in Decatur County.
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 band of scattered thunderstorms storms stretched from northeast to southwest across central Indiana during the evening of July the 26th. One of these thunderstorms produced wind damage in Decatur 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 26, 3:37 PM EST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 437 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 .UPDATE... The AVIATION Section has been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 306 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 Scattered showers and storms are possible through this evening as a cold front drops through the area. High pressure will build in with dry and cooler weather Friday into the weekend. More unsettled weather will return by late weekend into the first half of next week as low pressure slowly tracks into the Ohio Valley. && .NEAR TERM /Rest of This Afternoon and Tonight/... Issued at 249 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 Area of cirrus has expanded across much of the northern half of the forecast area this afternoon in advance of the cold front poised to sag into our northern counties momentarily. The presence of the cirrus has limited cu formation to some degree and at least to this point...has capped any convective development over central Indiana. Starting to see a few small showers develop over west central Indiana and this may the beginning of at least an uptick in activity. 18Z temperatures were generally in the low to mid 80s. Primary focus is on convective development over the next several hours as the front sags through the area. Mesoanalysis indicating an axis of instability at 1500-2000 J/KG MLCAPE immediately ahead of the front with downdraft CAPE peaking near 1000 J/KG over northern Indiana. While upper level diffluence is noted over the region and should help storms develop...bulk of the deeper forcing aloft should largely remain northeast of the forecast area into the evening. Some shear and helicity present but by no means overwhelming with noted paltry amounts in the lowest 1-2kft. Model soundings indicate drier air present aloft...a hint of a subtle capping feature centered at 700mb and a general veer-back-veer wind profile through the boundary layer which also would suggest some challenges in more extensive upscale convective growth over the forecast area. Expect scattered storms to develop but think overall coverage will be broken as opposed to a more complete line considering the above thoughts. To this point...the HRRR has done a solid job in capturing southeast Michigan convection and generates scattered activity progressing southeast across the forecast area after 20Z. Bulk of the convection should remain subsevere but presence of the higher DCAPE values noted above does suggest more elevated cores will have potential to produce stronger wind gusts as they collapse. Will maintain general 30-40 pops at most with highest pops focused over eastern counties in closer proximity to deeper forcing aloft. Convective coverage will diminish this evening with loss of heating and expect precip out of the area by midnight as the front moves away to the southeast. Skies will gradually clear overnight with cooler and drier air expanding into the region. Temps...generally utilized a model blend for lows as temperatures should bottom out in the upper 50s and lower 60s for most. && .SHORT TERM /Friday through Sunday/... Issued at 306 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 Forecast challenges focus on precip chances late Saturday night into Sunday. Amplified flow regime aloft across the lower 48 through much of the period highlighted by strong ridging focused over the Intermountain West and an unusually sharp trough and upper low rotating through Ontario and Quebec. This will result in a broad northwest flow across the upper Midwest...Great Lakes and Ohio Valley into the weekend bringing cooler weather. High pressure at the surface will influence weather Friday and Saturday with dry conditions and partly cloudy to mostly clear skies. A slowly amplifying upper wave traversing through the flow will develop late Saturday into Sunday over the upper Mississippi Valley and swing east through the weekend. This feature combined with an expanding warm front out of the central Plains will bring a slowly increasing threat for rain and storms for the tail end of the weekend as moisture slowly increases. The absence of more substantial forcing aloft and generally light flow through the boundary layer warrants only low chance pops into Sunday with more substantial impacts from this system likely coming early next week. Temps...pleasant temperatures expected throughout the weekend with highs mainly in the upper 70s and lower 80s and lows ranging from the 50s to the lower 60s. An overall model blend looks reasonable. && .LONG TERM /Sunday night through Thursday/... Issued at 152 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 Models in general agreement that a cold front and trailing upper trough will result in unsettled weather for much of the extended. Best chances for showers and thunderstorms are now delayed to Monday night and Tuesday. With run to run changes, confidence in exact timing of most widespread convection is not low. Low level thermal progs and troughiness suggest below normal temperatures for the extended per the blend. && .AVIATION /Discussion for the 26/2100Z IND TAF Update/... Issued at 424 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 Went slightly earlier with the timing of the potential for convection into the IND terminal based on the current radar trends. Currently, only pulsing, light showers are upstream of IND. It is still not out of the question for thunderstorms to occur this afternoon and early evening. Continuing to monitor for impacts to the terminal. The previous discussion follows... Issued at 1138 AM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 Confidence is good that flying conditions will be mostly VFR with perhaps brief worse conditions in isolated to scattered thunderstorms late this afternoon and early evening. Confidence is not high enough that a storm will hit a particular TAF site, and thus will only go for a brief 2 or 3 hour window with VCTS 21z- 24z. Winds will shift from west to northwest behind a cold front that should move through 21z-24z from northwest to southeast. Wind speeds will be up to 12 knots until after 00z and then will decrease to 4 to 7 knots. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...Ryan NEAR TERM...Ryan SHORT TERM...Ryan LONG TERM...MK AVIATION...MRD/MK
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 1238 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 INZ021-028>030-035>037-043>046-051>053-060>063-067>072-271000- Carroll-Warren-Tippecanoe-Clinton-Fountain-Montgomery-Boone- Vermillion-Parke-Putnam-Hendricks-Vigo-Clay-Owen-Sullivan-Greene- Monroe-Brown-Knox-Daviess-Martin-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings- Including the cities of Lafayette, Frankfort, Crawfordsville, Terre Haute, Bloomington, Vincennes, Bedford, and Seymour 1238 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Outlook: Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and early evening. Hazards: Cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain. Timing: Late this afternoon and early evening. Discussion: A cold front will move through the forecast area today, triggering showers and thundestorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Outlook: Additional thunderstorms are possible late this weekend through the middle of next week. Cloud to ground lightning, gusty winds and brief heavy rain are possible with any storm. Discussion: A slow moving low pressure will move into the area late this weekend followed by additional disturbances next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind INZ031-038>042-047>049-054>057-064-065-271000- Howard-Tipton-Hamilton-Madison-Delaware-Randolph-Marion-Hancock- Henry-Morgan-Johnson-Shelby-Rush-Bartholomew-Decatur- Including the cities of Kokomo, Anderson, Muncie, Indianapolis, Shelbyville, and Columbus 1238 PM EDT Thu Jul 26 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Outlook: Severe thunderstorms. Hazards: Damaging winds, cloud to ground lightning, and heavy rain. Timing: Late this afternoon and early evening. Discussion: A cold front will move through the forecast area today, triggering showers and thundestorms. Some could become severe at times. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Outlook: Additional thunderstorms are possible late this weekend through the middle of next week. Cloud to ground lightning, gusty winds and brief heavy rain are possible with any storm. Discussion: A slow moving low pressure will move into the area late this weekend followed by additional disturbances next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening. && 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 522 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 INZ054-055-262200- Johnson IN-Morgan IN- 522 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MORGAN AND SOUTHERN JOHNSON COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM EDT... At 522 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles east of Martinsville, or 23 miles south of Indianapolis, moving east at 15 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Franklin, Edinburgh, Bargersville, Princes Lakes, Trafalgar and Morgantown. 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. && LAT...LON 3936 8629 3949 8632 3955 8599 3935 8595 TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 261DEG 14KT 3945 8625 Ryan
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 549 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 INZ055-056-262230- Johnson IN-Shelby IN- 549 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SHELBY AND SOUTHEASTERN JOHNSON COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM EDT... At 549 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Franklin, or 13 miles west of Shelbyville, moving east at 25 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Shelbyville, Franklin, Edinburgh, Flat Rock, Geneva, St. Paul, Marietta, Waldron and Boggstown. 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. && LAT...LON 3936 8563 3936 8604 3954 8607 3961 8563 TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 258DEG 24KT 3946 8602 Ryan
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 637 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 INZ062-063-070-071-262300- Brown IN-Lawrence IN-Jackson IN-Monroe IN- 637 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MONROE...SOUTHERN BROWN...NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE AND NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM EDT... At 635 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13 miles southeast of Bloomington, moving east at 30 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Spurgeons Corner, Norman, Monroe Reservoir, Elkinsville, Freetown, Kurtz, Charles Deam Wilderness, Stone Head and Story. 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. If on or near Lake Monroe, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. && LAT...LON 3909 8648 3917 8608 3895 8608 3893 8641 TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 254DEG 24KT 3902 8636 Ryan
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 723 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 INZ042-270015- Randolph IN- 723 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY UNTIL 815 PM EDT... At 722 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles northwest of Fountain City, or 16 miles north of Centerville, moving east at 35 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Lynn. 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. && LAT...LON 4001 8510 4013 8512 4014 8481 4001 8481 TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 264DEG 31KT 4005 8502 Ryan
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
730 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018
INZ065-262345-
Decatur IN-
730 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN DECATUR COUNTY UNTIL
745 PM EDT...
At 730 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Greensburg, or 9 miles west of Batesville, moving east at 30 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Greensburg, Millhousen, Newpoint and Lake Santee.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3921 8540 3922 8548 3940 8548 3942 8530
3927 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 270DEG 24KT 3932 8539
RyanThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:30 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were reported to be down near the intersection of Highway 421 and County Road 300 South due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
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, July 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: 777029.