During the late afternoon and early evening hours of July 15th, scattered thunderstorms associated with a diffuse cold front moved across central Indiana. Many of the storms remained sub-severe, but two of the storms caused isolated pockets of damaging wind gusts across Hendricks and Owen counties.
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.
During the late afternoon and early evening hours of July 15th, scattered thunderstorms associated with a diffuse cold front moved across central Indiana. Many of the storms remained sub-severe, but two of the storms caused isolated pockets of damaging wind gusts across Hendricks and Owen counties. Another storm caused roof damage and flash flooding in Carroll 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 15, 1:58 PM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 258 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021 .Short Term...(This afternoon through Friday night) Issued at 256 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021 Widely scattered convection is developing across northern Indiana into east central Illinois, near an outflow or differential heating boundary. Expecting scattered convection to continue developing for the rest of the afternoon hours as the boundary interacts with an unstable air mass. Will keep chance PoPs going for the rest of the afternoon, with the highest PoPs over the west central through northern zones closest to the boundary. It appears there may be a better threat for organized convection towards and after sunset, as a mid level area of vorticity, currently over northeast Missouri, is progged by the short term models, to move through the area. Will increase the PoPs this evening, as a result. Lapse rates and deep layer shear not particularly favorable for severe storms at this time, but deep layer shear may become enhanced locally later this afternoon and evening, due to the approach and passage of the vorticity center. Based on this, stronger convection may produce high winds, along with heavy rainfall, due to the high precipitable waters. Will keep PoPs high overnight, but precipitation may tend to diminish by the early morning hours of Friday, as the mid level feature passes off to the east. The forecast for Friday and Friday night is a little murky at this time, and will be dependent on how far south the effective boundary will be pushed by tonight's activity. Some of the finer scale models shove this boundary near or south of the Ohio River by Friday morning, while the actual front may not make it into the southern zones until Saturday morning. In addition, some of the models suggest a surface wave may develop nearby Friday night, which may serve to push the outflow boundary back north and slow the front down as well. For now, will keep PoPs rather high for both Friday and Friday night. If the surface wave does come to fruition, deep layer shear and low level helicity may be enhanced across the area, particularly Friday night. High precipitable waters suggest heavy rainfall potential will continue into Friday night. && .Long Term...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 256 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021 Second lobe of the upper trough will pivot southeast across central likely on Sunday. Meanwhile, the cold front looks like it will move southeast across central Indiana on Saturday and south of the Ohio River by Saturday night. As the front moves southeast, precipitable water values will come down a bit but still be near 1.5 inches, especially over southeastern sections, closer to the front. Although instability will drop off, especially over northwestern sections, it looks there will still be enough instability around for thunderstorms on Saturday. Look for the convection to end or at least to decrease in coverage from northwest to southeast Saturday night as the front moves to the southeast. That said, lobe of the upper trough moving through on Sunday may generate a wave along the front and allowing for thunderstorms once again on Sunday, mainly during the afternoon and mainly near and south of Interstate 70. Do not expect enough rain will fall over a widespread enough area to add to contribute to any further potential flood issues. Should see mostly dry and seasonable weather next week as a ridge builds over the west which will bring a dry northwest flow to central Indiana. That said, anytime there is northwest flow over the area this time of year, there has to be some concern for ridge riding storm complexes. So, will keep an eye out for that, especially later in the work week. Afternoon temperatures do not look like they will stray too far from normal with highs mostly in the 80s and lows in the 60s. && .Aviation...(151800Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 1230 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021 IMPACTS: - Scattered thunderstorms after about 151900Z, mainly in the KLAF vicinity. - Organized convection possible in the vicinity of all the terminals after about 160100Z. - Frequent surface wind gusts around 20 kts from 220-240 degrees this afternoon. DISCUSSION: Short term models suggest scattered convection may develop by early to mid afternoon over northern Indiana, near a outflow or differential heating boundary. This activity may sink into the KLAF vicinity later this afternoon. It appears there may a more organized convective threat over the terminals this evening, as a mid level area of vorticity currently over northern Missouri, begins moving into the area. Brief IFR visibility restrictions and gusty shifting winds possible in/near any convection. CB bases 030-040. Otherwise, frequent surface gusts around 20 kts from 220-240 degrees expected throughout the afternoon hours, given the mixed boundary layer due to heating. These gusts expected to end with sunset, as the boundary layer stabilizes. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && Short Term...JAS Long Term...Koch Aviation...JAS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 327 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-161000- 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, 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 327 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon through tonight. Strong or severe storms may be possible from late this afternoon through tonight. Locally heavy rain and lightning will also be possible with any storm through the period. Flooding could develop in areas that see repeated storms and heavy rain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Thunderstorms are expected again from Friday through Sunday. A few strong or severe storms may be possible late in the day Friday and Friday night. Periodic heavy rain and lightning will also be possible with any storms Friday. Flooding could develop in areas that see repeated storms and heavy rain Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed late this afternoon and tonight. && 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
358 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021
INZ043-044-051-152030-
Parke-Vermillion-Vigo-
358 PM EDT Thu Jul 15 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN VIGO...SOUTHWESTERN
PARKE AND SOUTHERN VERMILLION COUNTIES...
At 358 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Vermilion, or 8
miles east of Paris, moving east at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Terre Haute, Clinton, West Terre Haute, Fairview Park, Seelyville,
Rosedale, Universal, Mecca, Fontanet, Blanford, Shepardsville, North
Terre Haute and Sandford.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 3968 8753 3974 8727 3952 8723 3952 8724
3947 8724 3947 8753
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 260DEG 17KT 3958 8755
MKThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:14 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Tv media received a photograph from a viewer of metal roofing removed from a small barn by thunderstorm wind gusts. The viewer also reported small limbs down.
Trees were downed by thunderstorm wind gusts in the town of Quincy. An estimated 60 mph wind gust was also recorded at this location.
A tree branch with diameter of 4 inches was snapped at the trunk by thunderstorm wind gusts. A tree was also blown down nearby.
Trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts in Avon with a trampoline badly damaged after it was blown into the street.
Small tree branches downed by thunderstorm wind gusts on State Highway 135.
Water was estimated to be 6 to 8 inches deep on State Road 18 between County Roads 300 East and 350 East. Water was also estimated to be 5 to 6 inches and deep flowing across County Road 350 East just south of State Road 18.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, July 2021
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: 960652, 960653, 960654, 960655, 960657, 960658.