An area of thunderstorms across Wisconsin the early morning hours of May 16 moved south during the morning toward Indiana. Although the storms were initially though to weaken and dissipate, they were able to tap into instability to the west.
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.
An area of thunderstorms across Wisconsin the early morning hours of May 16 moved south during the morning toward Indiana. Although the storms were initially though to weaken and dissipate, they were able to tap into instability to the west. The storms strengthened and increased in coverage, bringing the severe weather to the area during the afternoon and early evening. The storms moved along a gradient in instability, aided by a mid-level jet. Stronger shear and instability near the Illinois border lead to the development of a supercell thunderstorm, which produced 2.5 diameter hail. The storms produced mainly damaging winds, but the one aforementioned storm produced large hail.
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 May 16, 3:43 PM EST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 443 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 .UPDATE... The AVIATION section has been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 352 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 A front will move into northern Indiana tonight and Friday bringing chances for showers and thunderstorms. After a brief break Saturday, another system could bring more thunderstorms Sunday. Another front will meander across the area next Tuesday through Thursday, bringing more rain chances. Temperatures will generally be near normal to above normal into next week. && .NEAR TERM...(Rest of This Afternoon and Tonight) Issued at 352 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 What's left from the Wisconsin MCS from this morning is moving into the northwest forecast area this afternoon. The strongest storms are following an instability gradient across the western forecast area, with weaker storms pushing into the more stable air east. Expect this area of thunderstorms to continue to push southeast, but confidence isn't great in its evolution. The storms should weaken some as they move into less favorable air, but they weren't supposed to survive this long. Will have high PoPs northwest this afternoon with chance PoPs farther southeast. Will adjust as needed through the remainder of the afternoon. Severe storms remain possible. Most of whatever's left of this complex should be out of the area by 00Z (start of the Tonight period). Will only have chance PoPs east to account for this, with slight chance PoPs elsewhere to account for any pop-up convection. A front will drop into northern Indiana tonight as some upper energy moves off north of the area. Best forcing will be across the far northeast closer to the upper energy. Will go likely PoPs there, tapering to nothing in the southwest. Highest PoPs will be overnight. Can't rule out a severe storm per the latest SPC outlook, but feel that odds of any severe storms will be low overnight with less instability around. && .SHORT TERM...(Friday through Sunday) Issued at 352 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 Models are close enough that the model blend initialization was accepted for most items. The front will remain across northern Indiana on Friday. The first initial wave of storms from the overnight will be diminishing, so will have some low PoPs diminishing in the morning. As instability builds, scattered convection will develop across the northeast half of the area in the afternoon. Will have chance PoPs there. The southwest area looks to remain dry. Will have some slight chance PoPs in the far northeast Friday evening, but most of the night will be dry as the front moves out of the area. Upper ridging will keep the area dry through Saturday evening. A low pressure system will then bring some showers and storms late Saturday night into Sunday. Could be some strong to severe storms Sunday if the low gets as wound up as some models suggest. However, since not all models agree, confidence remains low to medium. Warm temperatures will rule Friday and Saturday, but rain and clouds will cool readings some for Sunday. && .LONG TERM...(Sunday Night Through Thursday) Issued at 352 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 Uncertainty is high enough that the model blend initialization was accepted for most items. There are some differences in how an upper level low will move across the central USA and in the movements of a related surface front across the region. With the potential of the front meandering across the area during the long term, will keep the initialization's PoPs through most of the period. Temperatures will be near normal to above normal for most of the long term. && .AVIATION (Discussion for the 162100Z TAF Update)... Issued at 443 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 Added VCTS and TEMPO group for TS at KIND based on latest radar trends. Previous discussion follows... Outside of any convection, VFR conditions are expected through the period. Some low level wind shear is possible overnight. Will continue to monitor TSRA complex across Illinois. The eastern end is weakening while western end continues. Low confidence in its evolution into the TAF sites due to less instability locally. For now will just mention VCSH, but TS definitely still on the table. Additional SHRA/TSRA will develop tonight with another upper wave. Greatest coverage will be north of the TAF sites, but enough will be around to have a VCSH mention at the northern sites. Isolated convection is possible Friday, but odds are too low to mention that far out. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...50 NEAR TERM...50 SHORT TERM...50 LONG TERM...50 AVIATION...50
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 451 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-172100- 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 Delphi, Flora, Williamsport, West Lebanon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Attica, Covington, Veedersburg, Crawfordsville, Lebanon, Zionsville, Tipton, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, Winchester, Clinton, Newport, Rockville, Greencastle, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield, Cumberland, New Castle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Clay City, Spencer, Martinsville, Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, Rushville, Sullivan, Linton, Bloomfield, Bloomington, Nashville, Columbus, Greensburg, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford, Mitchell, Seymour, Brownstown, and North Vernon 451 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Outlook: Thunderstorms are possible. A few may be severe. Hazards: Damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes, brief heavy rain and lightning. Timing: Window for severe storms through 9 PM EDT. Discussion: A cold front will approach from the northwest and could trigger strong to severe thunderstorms this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Outlook: There is a chance for thunderstorms over parts of northern and central Indiana through Friday evening. A few storms could become strong to severe with damaging winds and large hail as the main threats. Thunderstorms will again be possible Saturday night through Sunday night and Tuesday night through Wednesday. Some of the storms could be strong at times. Discussion: A front will stall over northern Indiana Friday and separate strong systems will lift to the western Great Lakes late in the weekend and the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this evening. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
410 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0405 PM HAIL 2 NNE LAFAYETTE 40.43N 86.86W
05/16/2019 E0.25 INCH TIPPECANOE IN PUBLIC
&&
BHHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
442 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019
INZ036-037-045-046-162130-
Montgomery IN-Putnam IN-Hendricks IN-Boone IN-
442 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN HENDRICKS...
SOUTHWESTERN BOONE...MONTGOMERY AND NORTHEASTERN PUTNAM COUNTIES
UNTIL 530 PM EDT...
At 441 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 15 miles south of Lafayette to 9 miles west of
Crawfordsville. Movement was southeast at 35 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Crawfordsville, Pittsboro, Ladoga, Jamestown, Waynetown, Roachdale,
Darlington, Bainbridge, New Market, North Salem, Lizton, Advance, New
Ross and Carpentersville.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for
central and west central Indiana. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch also
remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for central and west central
Indiana.
LAT...LON 4019 8680 3990 8641 3974 8680 4007 8709
4011 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 314DEG 29KT 4018 8681 4007 8708
AW/50Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
444 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019
INZ030-036-037-039-046-047-162130-
Montgomery IN-Clinton IN-Hendricks IN-Boone IN-Hamilton IN-Marion IN-
444 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CLINTON...NORTHERN
HENDRICKS...NORTHWESTERN MARION...BOONE...WESTERN HAMILTON AND
NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT...
At 444 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles southeast of Frankfort to 12 miles
northwest of Lebanon. Movement was southeast at 40 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Brownsburg, Lebanon,
Zionsville, Westfield, Pittsboro, Whitestown, Sheridan, Meridian
Hills, Thorntown, Jamestown, Kirklin, Colfax, Lizton, Advance,
Williams Creek and Ulen.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for
central and west central Indiana. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch also
remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for central Indiana.
LAT...LON 4024 8624 4022 8624 4022 8622 3996 8596
3976 8658 4019 8679 4031 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 334DEG 33KT 4023 8636 4015 8666
AW/50Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 446 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 INZ039-046>048-055-056-162130- Johnson IN-Hendricks IN-Shelby IN-Hancock IN-Hamilton IN-Marion IN- 446 PM EDT Thu May 16 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SHELBY...HANCOCK... NORTHEASTERN JOHNSON...SOUTHEASTERN HENDRICKS...MARION AND SOUTH CENTRAL HAMILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT... At 446 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Carmel to near Plainfield. Movement was east at 30 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Lawrence, Plainfield, Greenfield, Beech Grove, Speedway, Southport, Avon, Cumberland, McCordsville, New Palestine, Meridian Hills, Warren Park, Homecroft, Rocky Ripple, Williams Creek and Fairland. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for central Indiana. LAT...LON 3955 8586 3967 8642 3997 8618 3986 8560 TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 288DEG 28KT 3989 8615 3972 8629 AW/50
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
457 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0437 PM HAIL 3 NW EAGLE CREEK RESERV 39.88N 86.34W
05/16/2019 E0.25 INCH HENDRICKS IN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BHHThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:15 UTC.
29 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
An estimated thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was observed in this location. A gust of 53 mph was measured in this location as well.
A large tree split in two near the base along New Haven Drive in Westfield due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. There may have been another tree next to it that blew over.
A small tree was snapped at the trunk on Bridgeport Drive in Westfield due to strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
A construction trailer was rolled over at 146th Street and Towne Road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A small tree fell on a car due to strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
A 12-inch diameter, live branch was downed at 156th Street and Ditch Road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Numerous similar sized trees were down in the area.
A roughly 4-inch diameter tree branch was broken due to strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
This report was received via spotternetwork.org.
A measured thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph was observed in this location. No hail was present.
An estimated thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was observed in this location.
The Home Place area had numerous trees down blocking roads due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
An estimated thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was observed near 126th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway.
An estimated thunderstorm wind gust of 70 mph downed a one-foot diameter tree in this location.
A 50-foot, healthy tree was uprooted near this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Multiple trees were down and blocking Dean Road near the 6800 block due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
An uprooted tree blocked traffic between Greyhound Pass and 146th Street on Spring Mill Road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A large tree and power lines were downed at 71st Street and Cranbrook Drive due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A measured thunderstorm wind gust of 61 mph was observed in this location.
A large tree was downed near Hague Road and Saint George Boulevard in Fishers due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
There was some damage to siding of a home along the peak of the roof line due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. A small branch was also reported down.
Report was received from 4.5 miles southwest of Cayuga on the Indiana state line via spotternetwork.org.
A two-foot diameter, healthy tree was down across the road, falling on a utility pole and power lines, due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A power line was reported down due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Power lines were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A power line was reported down due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree was downed on a house and 2 cars due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. No injuries were reported.
This event was described as occurring west of Clinton.
A power line was reported down on a road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Power lines were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree was down, blocking the road, due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree fell on a power line in this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree was down in this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, May 2019
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: 828348, 827136, 827139, 828347, 828349, 832333, 828350, 828351, 830219, 830220, 832338, 830221, 830224, 832317, 832316, 832321, 832324, 830226, 832337, 832325, 830211, 830214, 832326, 832327, 830215, 832328, 832329, 830216, 832330, 830180, 832331, 830182, 830217, 832332, 832334, 832336, 830218, 832339.