Warm and humid air moved into central Indiana, with an upper level high across the southeastern states, producing instability and shear across the area. A line of thunderstorms moved across central Indiana during the early morning hours of May 23rd.
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.
Warm and humid air moved into central Indiana, with an upper level high across the southeastern states, producing instability and shear across the area. A line of thunderstorms moved across central Indiana during the early morning hours of May 23rd.
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 23, 2:22 AM EST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 322 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 .UPDATE... The SYNOPSIS...NEAR TERM and SHORT TERM Sections have been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 322 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 A frontal boundary will slide into the region today bringing multiple rounds of heavy rain and intense thunderstorms early this morning and again later this afternoon and into the evening. The front will lift north on Friday before becoming quasi-stationary through the upcoming holiday weekend. This will result in a very warm and humid airmass remaining over the Ohio Valley along with periodic threats for strong to possibly severe storms. && .NEAR TERM /Today/... Issued at 322 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 Severe convection was moving into central Indiana from the west ahead of a frontal boundary. A humid airmass was present in front of the line with mesoanalysis highlighting a low level jet which was transporting deeper moisture and instability into the area from the southwest which is steadily weakening a stronger boundary layer inversion. 07Z temperatures were generally in the upper 60s and lower 70s. The primary focus right out of the gate are the inbound thunderstorms that are likely to provide a noisy wakeup call for many over the next couple of hours. CAMs support convection tracking into the northern half of the forecast area over the next 2-4 hours and while storms may weaken slightly as they encounter more inhibition...the presence of 1500-2000 J/KG of MLCAPE with the persistent low level jet will be more than sufficient to maintain robust convection into the forecast area. The storms over central Illinois have carried a pronounced wind damage threat with several reports of gusts approaching 70 mph. Model soundings support that being the primary threat over the next few hours with DCAPE values pushing 1000 J/KG. However...soundings have also been consistent with elevated levels of BL shear and helicity immediately ahead of the line with noted veering in the lowest 2-3km on hodographs. Potential will exist for embedded couplets within the squall line and possibly a brief tornado risk as well. The potential for damaging winds should gradually decrease with eastward progression of the line towards daybreak. Will carry high pops through 13-14Z to time out the expected evolution of the line into the region before weakening later this morning as instability is lost and the low level jet diminishes. Besides the severe threat...heavy rainfall and localized flooding will be possible as precip water values peak in the 1.75 to 2 inch range. The frontal boundary will settle into southern counties this afternoon with scattered convection developing along it during peak heating. Soundings show ample amounts of instability in a moist environment with steep lapse rates and favorable 0-1km helicity values supporting the potential for any storm to go severe this afternoon. These storms will likely linger into the evening. Temps...steamy airmass over the region today and despite the clouds and convection this morning and again later today...expect high temps into the lower and middle 80s. An overall model blend will work well. && .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Saturday Night/... Issued at 322 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 Forecast challenges continue to focus on timing rain/storm chances into the holiday weekend as the frontal boundary shifts north but continues to meander across the region. Amplified upper level pattern will persist across the country through the short term...anchored by an upper low that will kick out of the Intermountain West and into the Canadian Prairies by Saturday. Downstream across the eastern half of the country...strong ridging aloft will center over the mid South and remain in place through the upcoming weekend. Central Indiana will reside on the periphery of the ridge for much of the period with the exception of Friday and Friday night as the ridge axis flexes over the Ohio Valley. This places the region in a favorable location to be impacted by convective clusters associated with waves aloft rippling through the zonal flow. The position of the frontal boundary will become key as well and serve as a focus for storms to track through the weekend. Convection that develops this afternoon in vicinity of the frontal boundary over southern counties will likely continue into the evening before diminishing as forcing aloft is lost. The boundary will lift back north across the region late tonight into Friday morning and may bring isolated to scattered convection with it as it shifts north. However a lack of more extensive low level forcing should mitigate more substantial convective coverage. The front will continue north into the lower Great Lakes on Friday with the threat for storms shifting into the northern part of the state by late day into Friday night. The boundary will likely drop back south Saturday and Saturday night as heights aloft flatten. While there still remains plenty of uncertainty with respect to how far south the boundary comes...model guidance hinting at a surface wave tracking along the boundary Saturday afternoon and evening that would support the potential for more widespread convection impacting the forecast area near and north of I-70 at a minimum. Ample amounts of instability combined with enhanced low level flow and shear near the boundary would certainly support a severe weather risk with any storms Saturday afternoon and evening. Damaging winds would likely be the primary threat but model soundings suggest all forms of severe weather would be possible. In addition...precip water levels will remain elevated through the period. Unfortunately...that means potential for additional torrential rains from these storm cluster on top of saturated soils over the region. Temps...very warm and humid air will remain across the Ohio Valley through the period. Temps may be held back just a bit on Friday with clouds and scattered convection as the front shifts back north. Mid and upper 80s though look solid for the entire forecast area Saturday and a few locations may make a run at 90 degrees. Utilized a model blend for lows through the period. && .LONG TERM /Sunday through Wednesday/... Issued at 235 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 Appears pattern will become more progressive early next week as ensembles indicate a large chunk of the persistent western trough will eject into the western Great Lakes by the middle of next week. This should allow for the current upper ridge to move to a position near the East Coast. Ensembles continue to indicate daily chances for convection as a frontal boundary lingers over the area. There are still some indications that the front may shift more to the north by Monday and Tuesday, as western trough starts to eject towards the area. This may result in a relative minimum threat for precipitation around Monday and Tuesday, before the threat increases again by next Wednesday as the trough, and associated frontal system, arrive. && .AVIATION /Discussion for 23/06Z TAF Issuance/... Issued at 1100 PM EDT Wed May 22 2019 Good confidence in mostly VFR conditions but MVFR and worse are possible in showers and thunderstorms 07z-15z and again after 20z as a cold front moves in from the northwest. Winds will start off south and southwest less than 10 knots but will increase to around 10 knots with gusts possible after 15z. Low level wind shear will also be a concern 06z to 15z or so. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...Ryan NEAR TERM...Ryan SHORT TERM...Ryan LONG TERM....JAS AVIATION...MK
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 944 PM EDT Wed May 22 2019 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 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 944 PM EDT Wed May 22 2019 ...Slight Risk Severe Weather Overnight... This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Outlook: Severe thunderstorms are possible overnight. Hazards: Damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes, heavy rain, lightning. Timing: After 3 AM. Discussion: Strong or severe thunderstorms are possible overnight ahead of an approaching cold front. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Outlook: Periodic thunderstorms will be possible at times Thursday through Memorial Day. Some of the storms could be strong. Discussion: A frontal boundary will set up over the lower Great Lakes Thursday...then meander across the region through the weekend. This will provide a focus for periodic threats for strong thunderstorms. A few severe storms are possible as well Thursday afternoon and evening. Afternoon heat indices will reach the lower to middle 90s for areas south of Interstate 70...especially Friday and Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed Overnight. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind MK/Puma
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:28 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 12 to 14 inch diameter tree was downed across County Road 825 South due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Several other downed trees were reported from rural portions of the county.
The 911 Center reported numerous downed trees and power outages across the county due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. The highest concentration of damage was southeast of Attica.
A tree was down near this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. This report was relayed by broadcast media.
A 62 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured in this location.
A tree was down on a house due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. This report was relayed by broadcast media.
Several large trees were uprooted in and around the Waynetown area due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Power was also out across portions of the town. There were also sporadic trees down across the rest of the county.
Several 4 to 6 inch tree limbs were snapped near West Strawberry Road in Rockville due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Several trees were downed on roads near Marshall due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree fell onto an apartment complex due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A large uprooted tree was reported from near County Road 1240 West due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A roof was torn and raised off of the Wabash National Corporation due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Trailers were also overturned.
Utility poles were downed on County Road 900 East from State Road 28 to County Road 200 South due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Power lines were down across a home due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A 24-inch diameter, live tree was downed in this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
There were several reports of broken tree limbs and power outages northeast of Greentown due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured in this location by a mesonet station.
A 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed at the Indianapolis International Airport.
Multiple tree limbs were reported down in this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
A 64 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured in this location. Torrential rain accompanied the damaging winds.
Live tree limbs were down in several places due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. A live tree also fell across a privacy fence and landed on 2 cars. A wind gust of 64 mph was measured in this location.
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: 832361, 832362, 832363, 832072, 832365, 832366, 832367, 832368, 832369, 832372, 832374, 832466, 832467, 832469, 832470, 832073, 832079, 832471, 832087, 832473.