A record breaking low pressure system impacted Indiana on March 3rd initially bringing rain and strong to damaging gradient winds to the area. During the early afternoon hours, a weakening area of storms moved into southern Indiana and caused isolated damaging winds gusts while the gradient winds continued to gradually increase causing additional tree damage and power outages.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 record breaking low pressure system impacted Indiana on March 3rd initially bringing rain and strong to damaging gradient winds to the area. During the early afternoon hours, a weakening area of storms moved into southern Indiana and caused isolated damaging winds gusts while the gradient winds continued to gradually increase causing additional tree damage and power outages. Across northern Indiana, rain then transitioned to snow with light but non-impactful accumulations. Peak power outages across the state were briefly over 40,000 with much of them along the Ohio River where the thunderstorm winds were more widespread.
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 Mar 3, 6:02 AM EST, 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 602 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .Short Term...(Today and tonight) Issued at 244 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 * A WIND ADVISORY remains in effect. * A FLOOD WATCH remains in effect. * Windy conditions with gusts to 45 mph possible today. * Rain, Heavy at times, expected today. * Rain ends tonight, then colder Surface analysis early this morning shows deep low pressure centered over Arkansas. A warm front extended northeast from this low across Arkansas into northern Tennessee. Radar shows a well defined area of precipitation with this system, as showers were found along and ahead of the warm front over southern MO and pushing into western KY. A line of convection associated with the cold front was found over western Arkansas and eastern TX. Water vapor imagery shows a deep upper trough over Central TX. Southerly flow with tropical moisture ahead of the low was streaming north into the middle Mississippi Valley and the Ohio Valley. More locally, radar showed precipitation pushing into the southern parts of the forecast area but some of this precip has yet to reach the ground as dew point depressions remained near 8-10F. Today... A very active weather day is in store for Central Indiana today. Models continue to suggest the strong upper low is expected to become negatively tilted as it quickly swings to Central Indiana by late afternoon. The accompanying surface low is expected to track across southern Indiana and these systems are expected to continue to deepen upon approach. This will result in a sharp pressure gradient as a LLJ of 40-50 knots is expected to be found across Central Indiana. Stronger winds will be found across KY, where the LLJ may reach 70 knots this afternoon. Given the path of the surface low, Central Indiana never really makes it into the warm sector, but will be in a favorable path for rain, and plenty of it. Forecast soundings today show saturation through the day along with pwats in excess of 1 inch. Meanwhile the 295K isentropic surface shows strong up glide with specific humidities of 8-10 g/kg available. Given the expected forcing and moisture headed to Central Indiana, widespread rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches will be likely, with isolated amounts in excess of 2 inches. Given 12hr Flash Flood guidance across the area is around 2-3 inches, our ongoing Flood watch looks reasonable. Flooding problems today will likely be more of the areal flooding type as rainfall is expected to be steady through the day. Clouds and rain may inhibit peak gusts today as Central Indiana will not make it into the warm sector as we did on Monday. However, given the expected pressure gradient and LLJ, again the ongoing wind advisory is prudent. Thus we will use 100 pops today. Given the expected clouds and rain, will trend highs toward the wet bulb temps mainly in the low to middle 40s. Additional caveat...forecast soundings remain above freezing at most locations through the day. However as cold air advection begins in the northwest parts of the forecast area late this afternoon, forecast soundings show a saturated column dropping below freezing as the wrap around deformation band pushes across our area. This could result in some wet snow mixing in with rain late in the day across the northwest areas, including Lafayette, Attica and Veedersburg. Snow ratios would be quite low, resulting in minimal accumulations that are slushy and melting. Tonight... As evening arrives across Central Indiana this dynamic low will be found over east central Indiana and western Ohio. The system will be making quick progress northeast at that time, and wrap around moisture and precipitation will be our main concern. Prior to 03Z, HRRR continues to suggest light precip on the backside of the low sweeping across the northern parts of the forecast area. Even at that time, forecast soundings continue to show pwats near 0.6 inches, but falling. Thus will again use some likely pops for the first three hours of the evening, but quickly trending to a dry forecast overnight. Forecast soundings through the evening hours begin to show a top down drying, indicative of subsidence in the wake of the system. A dry column, with the exception of the lowest levels, appears to arrive by 03Z-06Z, at which time the deep low should be reaching central Lake Erie. Thus by the overnight hours stratus clouds will linger amid the ongoing broad cyclonic flow across the region and cold air advection. Thus we will trend to mostly cloudy skies overnight with lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s. && .Long Term...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 244 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 * Mostly dry and warming into Monday, with temperatures moderating thereafter. * Minor chances for precipitation next week, but no significant weather impacts anticipated beyond ongoing flooding from short term rainfall. Saturday through Monday night... Flow aloft will become quasi-zonal as the strong low impacting the area in the short term departs. At the surface, high pressure builds in over the weekend with mostly quiet conditions expected. Although light sprinkles cannot be ruled out Saturday evening across the north as a weak disturbance tracks across northern IL and southern MI. Measurable precipitation is unlikely due to subsidence induced dry air over central Indiana, but northern portions of the area could see an increase in clouds. Temperatures will warm up early in the period due to heights gradually increasing aloft. Expect this warming trend to continue into Monday as highs reach the mid 60s and low 70s with surface flow becoming southerly in response to a low moving across MI. The upper level forcing associated with the parent wave should stay well north of the area. However, a cold front extending southwest from the low may produce scattered showers late Monday. The best chance for precipitation will likely be across southeast portions of the area where the better moisture return and daytime heating is expected. Due to weak overall forcing, expect any precipitation to be light. Tuesday through Thursday... Confidence decreases for the latter half of the long term period as model spread increases. Guidance generally shows some weak disturbances moving across the region through the work week. With no significant systems expected and differences between models, will stick with NBM for POPS. There is some chance that light snowfall could occur mid-late week, but given the fairly consistent anomalous warmth recently, impactful wintry precipitation is going to be tough to come by without a very strong system at the proper time in the diurnal cycle. The primary concern for the long term will be the progression and hopefully recession of any flooding that continues and/or develops as a result of the short term significant rainfall. && .Aviation...(12Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 601 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 Impacts: * VFR conditions rapidly deteriorating to MVFR this morning and then IFR by late morning. * Steady rain arriving across the TAF sites. Rain will continue through mid to late afternoon. Rain may be heavy at times. Thunder possible at BMG. * Winds increasing with peak gusts to 40kts. Discussion: Flying conditions will continue to deteriorate this morning as low pressure over Arkansas pushes toward before crossing the state this afternoon. Forecast soundings show a saturated column today, with deep saturation persisting until 21Z-24Z. Ceilings across the area have already begun to fall as rain arrives from the southwest, saturating the initially dry lower levels. Current radar trends show the large swath of rain pushing into Indiana from southwest to northeast. As the low continues to strengthen upon approach, a sharp pressure gradient is expected to develop. This will allow for gusty winds as a strong LLJ will be in place aloft. This will result in some LLWS due to speed and direction. Wind gusts to 40 knts will be possible. Precip is expected on end on Friday night as the low departs. However forecast soundings continue to show trapped lower level clouds amid cold air advection and a strong pressure gradient in play. This will result in continued IFR Ceilings on tonight along with continued gusty winds. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through late tonight for INZ021-028>031-035>042-049. Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EST this evening for INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072. Flood Watch through late tonight for INZ043>048-051>057-060>065- 067>072. && Short Term...Puma Long Term...Melo Aviation...Puma
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 319 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-040830- 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 319 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A WIND ADVISORY is in effect today. Winds of 20 to 30 MPH with gusts to 45 MPH are possible. A FLOOD WATCH is in effect today and this evening. Rain amounts of 2 to 3 inches are expected today. This will lead to renewed or continued areal and river flooding for portions of Central Indiana. There is a SLIGHT RISK for severe thunderstorms over southern Central Indiana. The main threat will be damaging straight line winds. Rain may mix with or changeover to snow late Friday afternoon and evening across parts of north central Indiana and the northern Wabash Valley. A light slushy accumulation is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a chance for snow on Wednesday through Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage and flooding today and tonight. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind JP
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:01 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 high wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Nine reports of downed trees or power lines over the course of the day due to strong gradient winds.
Heavy rain led to standing water on several roads in Vincennes and across the county. State Road 550 was briefly closed due to standing water.
Several trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts across the county with no specific location noted.
Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts across the county with no specific location noted.
Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts across the county with no specific location noted.
Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts across the county with no specific location noted.
Gradient winds uprooted a tree that crashed into the top of the drivers side of a car. The driver and a passenger were killed by the falling tree with two additional injuries.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Putnam | 2023-03-03 | 46 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Putnam | 2023-03-03 | 64 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, March 2023
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: 1078366, 1078367, 1073822, 1073823, 1073825, 1073824, 1074596.