During the late evening hours of June 12th, a series of thunderstorms slowly moved through central Indiana from the north. An outflow boundary in eastern Marion county led to additional thunderstorm growth north of Indianapolis that eventually would bring damaging winds and large hail to portions of Indianapolis and western Hancock 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.
During the late evening hours of June 12th, a series of thunderstorms slowly moved through central Indiana from the north. An outflow boundary in eastern Marion county led to additional thunderstorm growth north of Indianapolis that eventually would bring damaging winds and large hail to portions of Indianapolis and western Hancock County. Slow storm motions and backbuilding led to some areas to receive up to 3 inches of rain which caused isolated flash flooding. Over 20,000 power outages were caused by the thunderstorms with some noted to be from lightning strikes and others from tree and power pole damage.
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 Jun 12, 5:49 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 649 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .Short Term...(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 320 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 MARGINAL RISK OF DAMAGING WINDS LATE TODAY...UNSEASONABLE HEAT THROUGH THIS WEEKEND Central Indiana will continue to see hot summertime this weekend... amid a zonal-like upper-level northwest flow as the predominant upper ridge builds across the central/western US. A subtle mid- level wave sliding through the eastern extent of the ridge will work with the hot and somewhat humid air mass providing 1000-2000 J/kg MLCAPE to promote scattered convective showers late today/early this evening. Isolated thunderstorms are possible, especially along northern/western zones where instability will be greatest. Isolated strong to possibly marginally severe winds are possible, as current DCAPE values range from 800 west of Indianapolis to 1400 J/kg over far eastern counties. Low shear and most recent guidance's slightly downward trend in convection suggest more isolated than scattered activity...yet made only small changes to POPs since earlier today, given PWATs to increase to locally 2.00" amid H700 RH of 70-80% early this evening. Expect greatest coverage in the 22-00z time frame, with at least isolated showers lingering further into the evening while slowly sliding to the east/southeast. Localized rainfall heavy enough to cause brief ponding in low-lying areas is possible given storm motion of 10-15 kts at best. Very low chances of any flash flooding with 3-hr guidance in the 3-4" range. For locations dodging the isolated/scattered convection, unseasonable heat will continue into this evening, with low to mid 90s continuing across the region...with temps possibly topping out near 95-100 along the Wabash valley. A weak boundary, that will help to initiate convection today...will pass south through the region tonight. The subsequent northerly winds will be light, and skies mainly clear for the remainder of the period, allowing for another very warm to hot day Sunday...however humidity will be noticeably lower as dewpoints finally nudge below 60F for the first time in several days. Temperatures will drop to near 70F tonight...rebound to upper 80s to near 90F Sunday...and reach a much more seasonable 60-65F range by early Monday. && .Long Term...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 300 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 Monday through Tuesday Night... The long term will start off dry Monday as an expansive upper ridge envelopes areas west of the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, eastern Canada, the eastern Great Lakes and northern Appalachia will be under the influence of an upper trough. A pair of sharp waves will dive southeast in the northwest upper flow in between the ridge and trough and will move across central Indiana Monday night and Tuesday night. However, a very dry column, northerly winds on the front side of broad Canadian surface high pressure and low level subsidence support keeping PoPs out, despite the GFS showing some QPF. The northerly winds will bring in a much drier and less warm airmass, with seasonable afternoon temperatures in the upper 70s to middle 80s by Tuesday and cool overnight lows in the 50s Tuesday night. Wednesday through Saturday... Temperatures will even be slightly cooler Wednesday as surface high pressure builds in. By Thursday, an upper ridge will be moving overhead and the surface high will move off to the eastern states. This will swing the winds back around to the southwest which will allow temperatures and humidity to be back on the rise and for the potential for some late week and early weekend showers. Look for slightly below normal temperatures with highs in the middle 70s to lower 80s Wednesday to heat back up to the lower 80s east to around 90 degrees northwest by Friday. && .Aviation...(00Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 649 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 IMPACTS: -Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms through this evening -Otherwise VFR conditions expected through Sunday evening DISCUSSION: Isolated to scattered convection continues early this evening...largely being driven by diurnal heating and available instability. The best instability remains over the Wabash Valley and points west which is where the most robust activity has been largely to this point. Will need to monitor an intensifying cluster of storms north of KCMI in the near term as a S/SE motion would potentially bring the storms into the northern Wabash Valley prior to 00Z. At this point...will maintain VCTS wording at both KHUF and KLAF with VCSH at KBMG and KIND where the airmass is more unstable. Once heating is lost...storms should gradually diminish by the end of the evening. Moisture will shift southeast of the region by Sunday morning as a cold front ushers in a drier airmass. May still see a few afternoon cu Sunday otherwise the trend will be towards mainly clear skies with increasing subsidence. Northerly winds on Sunday will be around 10kts. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && Short Term...AGM Long Term...Koch Aviation...Ryan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 404 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-132015- 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 404 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms expected this afternoon and evening with highest coverage across western central Indiana. Marginally severe winds will be the main threat...with lightning and heavy rainfall leading to very localized flooding also possible. General storm motion will be from the north at 10-15 mph. Heat indices will remain in the mid 90s to 103 for much of the central Indiana through this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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 AGM
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
446 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021
INZ051-060-122115-
Vigo-Sullivan-
446 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN VIGO AND NORTH CENTRAL
SULLIVAN COUNTIES...
At 445 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles southeast of
Dennison, or 8 miles southwest of Terre Haute, moving southeast at 5
mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Terre Haute, West Terre Haute, Prairieton, Prairie Creek,
Farmersburg, Fairbanks, Riley, Pimento and Indiana State University.
This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 1 and 9.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
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 3934 8758 3934 8756 3935 8754 3935 8753
3945 8753 3950 8745 3934 8724 3918 8752
3932 8760
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 323DEG 6KT 3939 8749
RyanSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
828 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021
INZ021-030-130100-
Clinton-Carroll-
828 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL CARROLL AND
CLINTON COUNTIES...
At 828 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 10 miles northwest
of Frankfort, moving south at 20 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Frankfort, Rossville, Mulberry and Colfax.
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 151 and 159.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
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 4021 8634 4018 8655 4018 8666 4033 8670
4046 8669 4051 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 339DEG 19KT 4041 8663
RyanSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 841 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 INZ047-048-055-056-130115- Johnson-Shelby-Hancock-Marion- 841 PM EDT Sat Jun 12 2021 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN SHELBY... SOUTHWESTERN HANCOCK...NORTHEASTERN JOHNSON AND SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES... At 840 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Beech Grove, or 9 miles east of Indianapolis, moving south at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Indianapolis, Shelbyville, Cumberland, New Palestine, Fairland and Boggstown. This storm will impact the southeast Indianapolis suburbs. This includes the following highways... Interstate 65 near mile marker 93. Interstate 74 between mile markers 94 and 113. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause 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 3977 8604 3979 8589 3955 8577 3953 8603 TIME...MOT...LOC 0040Z 348DEG 12KT 3973 8597 Ryan
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:51 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Nine power poles knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts with some broken at ground level along County Road 1550 North just west of State Route 9. Power lines down as well. Wind damage to a wheat field just south along County Road 1450 North.
Barn roof was uplifted by thunderstorm wind gusts and collapsed. Debris from barn was blown downwind.
Tree downed by thunderstorm wind gusts along County Road 700 West, south of State Road 32. Trees and tree limbs noted to be down across several other portions of the county with no specific location mentioned.
Lightning struck a large tree near the intersection of Westview St and Taft Avenue. This and other tree damage in town caused over 1500 power outages in Muncie.
Large tree limb of unknown size downed onto car by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Utility pole and lines downed by thunderstorm wind gusts at the intersection of State Road 234 and Shirley Road.
Large barn that holds trucks destroyed by thunderstorm wind gusts. The barn was open to the side that the wind was blowing from which allowed the roof to be lifted and the rest of the barn to collapse. Pieces of roof and wooden beams blown into nearby field.
Tree downed by thunderstorm wind gusts near the intersection of State Road 103 and County Road 300 South.
One inch hail also reported at the same time as the estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Multiple power poles knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts in Union City.
Several repots of trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts in rural portions of eastern Randolph county with concentration south of Union City.
Hail of varying sizes up to 1 inch near the intersection of Raymond Street and Franklin Road.
Water flowing over a road in Winchester with standing water noted along many side streets in town.
Several large tree limbs downed by thunderstorm wind gusts and on road just off US Highway 52.
Video received via social media showing water flowing over a road in Irvington.
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, June 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: 956867, 956883, 956869, 956870, 956871, 956873, 956882, 956872, 956875, 956876, 956877, 956874, 956878, 956879, 956880, 956881.