A warm and rather humid air mass across central Indiana, combined with an approaching cold front in the afternoon to produce a line of strong to severe thunderstorms. Wind damage was focused over the region's south-central counties; the line also spawned two brief EF0 tornadoes before a longer track EF1 lifted and touched down several times across southern Shelby 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 warm and rather humid air mass across central Indiana, combined with an approaching cold front in the afternoon to produce a line of strong to severe thunderstorms. Wind damage was focused over the region's south-central counties; the line also spawned two brief EF0 tornadoes before a longer track EF1 lifted and touched down several times across southern Shelby County. A forth and final EF1 tornado tracked briefly over far southwestern Shelby 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 May 21, 12:50 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 150 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .Forecast Update... Issued at 947 AM EDT Sat May 21 2022 Active...changing...developing weather pattern expected today. Surface analysis shows a frontal boundary stretching from lower MI to NW Indiana to southern IL. GOES16 shows three clusters of storm systems along this boundary...one over lower MI...a second pushing across Western Indiana and the third and largest over MO. Radar shows storms with the second cluster over Indiana decreasing in intensity on crossing Indiana. HRRR suggests continue development of showers and storms across Central Indiana today. Favorable lapse rates and CAPE will be present ahead of the front. The big question is will we hit convective temps? Cloud cover with this second cluster of storms will inhibit heating somewhat this morning and additional CI/convective debris blow off from the storms over MO are expected to arrive this afternoon across Indiana. Thus peak heating may not be reached across much of the forecast area due to high cloud shield. Southeastern areas...Columbus...Seymour...Rushville...Bedford may see best chances for convection given the lack of thicker cloud cover and interaction with the currently progressing area of showers and storms across the area. Thus have timed pops this morning along with the band currently pushing across the forecast area and then reverted toward a likely pops across most areas this afternoon to account for expected development. Given the cloud cover...have trended temps cooler (inhibiting convection) except across the SE parts of the forecast area...where heating will be a bit more likely. && .Short Term...(Today through Sunday) Issued at 305 AM EDT Sat May 21 2022 There are uncertainties with today's convection that are inherent to modestly forced and moderately to strongly unstable environments. Mesoscale features dictate convective initiation in these regimes, with storm-scale interactions and cold pools regulating subsequent behavior. Primary forecast uncertainties: 1) Exact position of the front once convective temperatures are reached 2) Amount of convection that can initiate ahead of the boundary 3) Longevity and magnitude of the severe threat due to some limiting factors Analysis: Two bands of convection developed earlier this evening in Illinois. The first was surface based and relatively sparse convection along the cold front, and the second was behind the front closer to subtle midlevel cooling and rooted within ~850-700-mb layer moisture advection. The latter of the two has continued to expand per longwave IR satellite cloud top temperature trends. The consensus among high resolution models is that this convection likely won't augment the frontal position substantially. A steady southeastward progression of the cold front into central Indiana through the morning is expected, as regulated primarily by the synoptic-scale pattern. A swifter eastward nudge to the front is expected late in the day as upstream shortwave perturbation over the northern Rockies moves eastward. Several convective allowing models initiate convection this afternoon ahead of the front. This appears to be due to a combination of (a) some influence from aforementioned upstream shortwave trough traversing the northern Plains, (b) upstream change in diabatic process resulting in less pronounced warm plume/elevated mixed layer, and (c) deeper and greater magnitude moisture advection as is evident in precipitable water satellite (TPW) and model depictions, as well as model forecast soundings. There still some question on specific foci for the convection that is shown in the CAMs, and/or if it is perhaps rooted within a moist layer above residual elevated mixed layer, albeit not as strong as yesterday's EML. Furthermore, subtle details in the thermodynamic profiles will dictate when convective temperature are reached. Thus, spatial and temporal details of today's convective forecast is below average and refinements to the forecast will be needed once mesoscale details can better be assessed in observational data later this morning. Subtle midlevel perturbations/MCVs from upstream convection are hinted at in models and may be the most significant influence in initial convective evolution. The first may evolve from deeper convection now noted near Springfield, Missouri and could result in at least isolated weaker midlevel convection moving into central Indiana (mostly focused north of the front) by late morning or midday. The second midlevel perturbation seems to evolve from convection now over northern Oklahoma that could aid in deeper and more widespread convection later this afternoon. Otherwise, a more reliable impetus would be convergence along the front by early afternoon. This front should be oriented northeast to southwest from near Kokomo to Terre Haute by the time sufficient PBL mixing occurs for convective initiation. Though, again, we reiterate that subtle details within lower tropospheric thermodynamics will dictate how long it takes for the convective temperature to be reached. Last Saturday, convection developed earlier than expected, but today we will probably have a more pronounced residual EML to cap convection longer requiring more diabatic surface heating before surface-based convective initiation can occur. Convective threat assessment: The nature of the synoptic pattern favors stronger midlevel flow and higher shear values to be on the cold side of the boundary. This will result in limited tilt of convective single- and multi-cells once surface-based convection initiates. Effective shear values are marginal for storm organization but could still support a few sustained multi-cell clusters and event perhaps transient supercell characteristics. Attendant hazards include hail with the most intense/organized cores, and damaging wind gusts. The tornado threat is low mainly due to expected storm mode, but nonzero due to presence of modest low level shear. Hodographs do arch more as the low level jet increases by evening. We will need to watch trends in storm mode closely during this time period. Heavy rainfall could be problematic for areas where heavy rainfall occurred over the last ~48 hours resulting in depressed flash flood guidance values. There are several pockets of around 1.5 inch one hour (and even three hour) flash flood guidance across portions of southern Indiana (i.e., Greene, Daviess, Martin, Lawrence, Jackson and Jennings counties in particular). MRMS CREST soil moisture values are particularly high from just south of Bloomfield to Loogootee eastward to Bedford and Brownstown areas. HREF mean QPF approaches these values in a 6-hour period, and HREF max exceeds them fairly significantly. But, again, this is conditional on convective placement and evolution. Also, the west side of Indianapolis into Hendricks county has depressed FFG values due to Friday night's convection. Preceding the afternoon convective cycle, there's still at least a modest signal for elevated post-frontal moisture advection to continue to drive anafrontal convection, albeit probably in a weakened state from what is being observed currently. Midlevel lapse rates are fairly steep, however, so some hail may occur with this into the northwest portion of our forecast area during the morning. Tonight and Sunday: The transient low-amplitude shortwave trough will dislodge cooler high latitude air mass and send it southeastward into our area as the cold front moves east. It may take some time for anafrontal precipitation and clouds to depart late tonight. Some residual moisture may contribute to diurnal flat cumulus beneath stout subsidence inversion, and gradient should relax enough for generally light winds with some gusts up to around 15 mph during peak mixing. Overall a dry and cooler day with temperatures almost 10 degrees below normal for late May. && .Long Term...(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 305 AM EDT Sat May 21 2022 Sunday night-Tuesday will find dry and rather cool conditions returning to central Indiana as a dome of surface high pressure slowly crosses the Great Lakes. Light to moderate easterly breezes will maintain dewpoints in the 40s as clouds scatter out to start the workweek. This passing cool blast will be modest enough to ensure no frost even across northern zones, which will drop into the mid-40s. Tuesday will see the transition back to a more disturbed pattern as dewpoints and cloud cover both increase on southeasterly flow. The Blend also brought low-chance POPs for late day Tuesday which was generally accepted as surface low pressure reaching the Ozarks should bring adequate moisture and lift along the approaching warm frontal zone. Tuesday night-Friday will feature several rather damp days as confidence is increasing a slowly-approaching wave will position Indiana amid its warmer, moist sector. Likely POPs will prevail for all 12-hr periods through Wednesday-Thursday, although confidence in appreciable rainfall will remain low for any location with heavy precipitation instead favored among better isentropic lift across the Great Lakes, as well as within the H500 trough's best forcing well south/west of Indiana. Nevertheless precipitable water values, usually within the upper portions of a 1.00-1.80 inch range will bring the potential for locally moderate-heavy rainfall. Embedded thunderstorms would be mainly widely scattered and diurnally-driven, per generally modest shear and considerable cloudiness limiting daytime heating on both Wednesday/Thursday. The upper trough will eventually progress eastward into the Mid-West during the late workweek...which should push any axis of greater Gulf moisture into Ohio..with opportunities for both a weak dry conveyor and less- organized precipitation surrounding the upper feature then crossing the region through the end of the long term. Temperatures through the long term will be near to slightly below normal...except for mid-week overnight lows that will be held well above normal by moderate humidity. && .Aviation...(18Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 149 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 IMPACTS: * Multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms possible * IFR to MVFR conditions through 0z, predominantly MVFR through the night * Ceiling and visibility restrictions possible in storms, along with gusty/erratic winds. DISCUSSION: Flying conditions will deteriorate today with a line of showers and thunderstorms approaching the region over the next few hours. Adjustments to timing were made for earlier onset and continued refinement will be needed based on trends. Temporary sub-VFR conditions due to low ceilings and visibility in storms can be expected. Multiple rounds of rain and storms are likely from this afternoon through tonight. MVFR ceilings will develop later this evening or tonight for most TAF sites. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && Update...Puma Short Term...BRB Long Term...AM Aviation...Melo
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 325 AM EDT Sat May 21 2022 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-220730- 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, Union City, Farmland, Parker City, Clinton, Fairview Park, Rockville, Montezuma, Rosedale, Greencastle, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield, New Castle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Spencer, Gosport, Martinsville, Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, Rushville, Sullivan, Carlisle, Shelburn, Farmersburg, Linton, Bloomfield, Jasonville, Worthington, Bloomington, Nashville, Columbus, Greensburg, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford, Mitchell, Seymour, and North Vernon 325 AM EDT Sat May 21 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Thunderstorm chances will increase by midday, with scattered to numerous thunderstorms expected during the afternoon and early evening. Severe storms are possible. Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail up to golf ball size are the main threats with the most intense storms. Lightning is a threat in all thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms are possible late Tuesday through Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter should closely monitor the weather situation today. && 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
244 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022
INZ042-049-211915-
Randolph IN-Henry IN-
244 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Randolph
and eastern Henry Counties through 315 PM EDT...
At 244 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
New Castle, or 11 miles northwest of Cambridge City, moving northeast
at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southern Randolph
and eastern Henry Counties, including the following locations...
Summit Lake State Park, Mount Summit, Losantville, Modoc, Lynn,
Cadiz, Blountsville and Mooreland.
This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 124 and 131.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for
east central Indiana.
&&
LAT...LON 4000 8520 3988 8520 3987 8522 3986 8522
3981 8538 3995 8549 4008 8525 4008 8521
4010 8522 4022 8499 4001 8484
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 240DEG 34KT 3991 8534
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
50The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:42 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Grain bin blown on top of house by thunderstorm wind gusts. Report relayed from twitter by broadcast media.
Large trees and power line downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm wind downed large trees into power lines. Reported via twitter with video.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines south of Smithville on Fairfax Road and Strain Ridge Road.
Thunderstorm winds damaged buildings across the county with no specific location noted.
Thunderstorm winds downed tree onto house.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and large branches in the Martinsville area, including a tree onto a house.
Widespread thunderstorm straight-line winds of 80 to 90 mph created significant uprooted and broken trees within a wide area as well along the damage path of a nearby brief, EF0 tornado.
The first tornado to impact central Indiana on May 21st, an EF0 tornado, downed numerous trees in a convergent pattern through a densely wooded area. Peak winds estimated at 84 mph.
The second tornado to impact central Indiana on May 21st, was a weak EF0 that briefly touched down in Camp Atterbury. The steeple at a church was blown over while shingles were blown off, and several vehicles were lifted slightly with plywood debris from the roof of the church underneath the tires of the cars. Peak winds estimated at 84 mph.
Thunderstorm produced widespread straight line winds of 80 to 90 mph that downed and uprooted numerous trees within a wide area as well as along the damage path of a nearby EF0 tornado in southeastern Johnson County. A downed tree blocked a road in Edinburgh at 1456 EST.
Widespread thunderstorm straight line winds of 75 to 90 mph downed or uprooted numerous trees near and along the track of the brief EF1 tornado in far southern Shelby County. Thunderstorm winds also downed large tree limbs onto house per a report from Twitter.
Thunderstorm winds downed large tree limbs on northeast side of Columbus through 1456 EST, with multiple pictures via social media. Also, the Columbus Bakalar Municipal Airport (KBAK) AWOS recorded a maximum wind gust of 62 kts at 1505 EST.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous tree limbs in the area and folded over a highway sign. Received via Twitter.
Widespread thunderstorm straight line winds of 80 to 90 mph downed or uprooted a significant number of trees within a wide area as well along the damage path of the long-track EF1 tornado. Tree damaged observed as far east as Waldron.
The third tornado to impact central Indiana on May 21st, a long-track EF1, skipped along its entire path. Many trees were downed or uprooted, with the damage path maximized in town of Mount Auburn where tornado width reached 100 yards. Peak winds estimated at 110 mph.
The fourth tornado to impact central Indiana on May 21st, an EF1, uprooted and snapped trees as the very small tornadic circulation moved through the Auburn Hills subdivision.
Thunderstorm produces heavy rain and measured gust of 58 mph which damaged trees.
Thunderstorm winds downed multiple trees over a widespread area, including large trees, with some trees landing on homes. Trained spotter estimates wind gusts approaching 75 mph.
Thunderstorm wind gust destroyed a garage, approximately 30 by 50 feet, due to lack of significant anchoring on garage walls, and the garage door facing the wind was compromised. Two other nearby barns sustained roof loss but homes between had no damage. Debris was thrown about 20 yards to east. Little if any debris was lofted into nearby woods where no trees were down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Indiana, 2022Warnings in Indiana, May 2022
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: 1015278, 1015279, 1015280, 1015281, 1015282, 1015283, 1015285, 1015286, 1015516, 1015517, 1015299, 1015289, 1015290, 1015292, 1015297, 1015518, 1017428, 1015300, 1015298, 1032118.