Two rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms impacted central Indiana with the first round predominately impacting the central portions of the state with a few reports of large hail and damaging winds. Multiple structures were impacted in Rush county where a swath of 75-80 mph winds moved through.
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.
Two rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms impacted central Indiana with the first round predominately impacting the central portions of the state with a few reports of large hail and damaging winds. Multiple structures were impacted in Rush county where a swath of 75-80 mph winds moved through. A second round arrived during the early evening hours and mainly hit the southern portions of central Indiana with marginally severe hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding in spots where as much as 4 inches of rain fell.
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 Apr 29, 6:38 AM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN Issued by National Weather Service Northern Indiana 738 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Active weather today with a potential of strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon into the early evening. The greatest potential of severe thunderstorms generally east of Interstate 69. - Shower and storm chances return later Wednesday and Thursday. - Dry and turning cooler this weekend. && .SHORT TERM (Today and tonight)... Issued at 322 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 Surface analysis this morning shows a potent cold front extending from strong low pressure over the upper Midwest southwestward into the mid Missouri valley and into southwest Texas. This front will serve as the primary focus for showers and thunderstorms today, including a threat for severe storms this afternoon. Plentiful moisture transport continues in the open warm sector ahead of the front early this morning, and regional radar imagery does show some light shower activity which may move through the area early in the day, though the impact of this activity looks to be relatively minor with a potential lull in precip late morning before additional convective development along the advancing front moves through the area during the afternoon hours, with an attendant severe threat owing to at least moderate instability and deep layer shear and weak-moderate low level shear. Damaging winds look to be the primary threat, though depending upon convective evolution/eventual storm mode, at least an isolated tornado and large hail threat will also be present. Given frontal timing, early day activity, and latest CAM guidance, day one convective outlook appears to outline the threat fairly well, maximized in the southern/southeastern forecast area. This activity will wane this evening as the front settles through the forecast area and stalls somewhere near or just south of the Ohio River. Much of tonight looks to be relatively quiet as a result. Outside of thunderstorms, breezy conditions are expected today as momentum transfer shows potential for frequent gusts of 25-35 MPH during the daytime hours, weakening in typical diurnal fashion this evening. Temperatures will push well into the 70s again today across the area if not near or above the 80 degree mark again, depending upon eventual coverage and evolution of precip. In the wake of the front tonight, lows are likely to see a significant gradient from north to south across the area, with northern portions of the area down into the 40s, while southern portions drop only in the mid to upper 50s. && .LONG TERM (Wednesday through Monday)... Issued at 322 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 The cold front will stall across Kentucky Wednesday morning then lifts back north late Wednesday into Thursday in response to low pressure lifting out of the southern Plains . The low will strengthen as it tracks into the Great Lakes by late Thursday and finally force the cold front to the east of the region by early Friday. A trailing upper level wave will move across the region on Friday with additional scattered showers before high pressure builds in. After a brief cooldown into the first part of the weekend as an upper trough passes through...ridging aloft and at the surface will bring a return to warm and dry weather through the first part of next week. Wednesday through Thursday Night After a largely dry start on Wednesday courtesy of high pressure passing by to the north over the Great Lakes, periodic chances for showers and storms will resume as the front lifts back north across the entire forecast area into early Thursday. Scattered strong convection is possible in the vicinity of the northward moving front Wednesday afternoon across the southern half of the forecast area. The arrival of stronger 850mb flow Wednesday night will increase convective coverage and enable deeper low level moisture to return into central Indiana. Strengthening low pressure will track from the Missouri Valley into the Great Lakes Thursday with a noted increase in 850mb flow late day immediately ahead of the approaching cold front. MLCAPEs between 1000-1500 j/kg along with an increase in storm relative helicity levels within the near surface layer support the potential for better organized convection ahead of the boundary despite modest cloud cover anticipated for much of the day Thursday. Signs are there for at least a low end threat for severe weather late afternoon and evening with damaging winds as the primary concern. Rain will diminish Thursday night as the cold front sweeps east of the region. Friday through Monday A trailing upper wave swing across the area Friday afternoon with hints of a surface trough in the areas as well. With model soundings showing steepening lapse rates developing underneath the mid level cold pool...there is potential for scattered showers during peak heating in the afternoon and early evening. The arrival of high pressure Friday night will set the stage for a dry weekend with mainly clear skies. Highs will likely only be in the 60s for much of the area Friday and Saturday as an upper level trough passes through. The center of the high will move into the Mid Atlantic Saturday night then off the coast Sunday enabling return southerly flow into the Ohio Valley set to last into the first part of next week. Highs will be back near 70 Sunday then rise to near 80 early next week and possibly warmer than that beyond. && .AVIATION (12Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 736 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 Impacts: - Wind gusts at times around 30KT today - Showers and thunderstorms at times today, especially during the midday to afternoon hours - Potential MVFR ceilings very late in the period at BMG Discussion: VFR conditions are expected throughout the period, with the exception of transient periods of restrictions in any showers or thunderstorms that happen to impact a terminal, and possibly at BMG late in the period with proximity to the stalled boundary to our south. Cloud cover continues to increase as a frontal system approaches the area, and a few light showers and isolated storms are present to our west at this time. The cold front is expected to pass through the area this afternoon, with showers and thunderstorms along and ahead of it. Uncertainty remains regarding exact timing and placement of these storms and will be dealt with accordingly in the individual TAFs, but the highest chances for convection continue to be midday into the afternoon hours. The organized thunderstorm threat also appears to be highest with southern extent per the latest high resolution model guidance. This threat will end with the passage of the front. Onset of boundary layer mixing this morning will result inbreezy conditions, with gusts at times approaching or even exceeding 30KT. Surface winds will be southerly or southwesterly through much of the day today, becoming westerly after frontal passage and then continuing to veer more northwesterly and northerly late in the TAF period. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Nield LONG TERM...Nield AVIATION...Nield
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN Issued by National Weather Service Northern Indiana 352 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-300800- 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- 352 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are likely today with the potential for strong to severe storms. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats, but locally heavy rainfall is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Additional storms are possible on Wednesday and Thursday with a few strong to severe thunderstorms possible. Main threats would be damaging wind gusts and large hail along with locally heavy rainfall. .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
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
Issued by National Weather Service Northern Indiana
733 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025
INZ037-039-046-047-291200-
Hendricks IN-Boone IN-Hamilton IN-Marion IN-
733 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN HENDRICKS...
NORTHERN MARION...EASTERN BOONE AND SOUTHWESTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES
THROUGH 800 AM EDT...
At 733 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Brownsburg, or 16 miles northwest of Indianapolis, moving northeast
at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Geist Reservoir, Castleton, Pittsboro, Carmel, Crows Nest, Lizton,
Eagle Creek Reservoir, Meridian Hills, Fishers, Whitestown, Williams
Creek, Rocky Ripple, Zionsville, Brownsburg, Westfield, North Crows
Nest, Clermont, Broad Ripple, Sheridan, and Lebanon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3992 8594 3975 8648 3990 8659 4018 8633
4018 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 1133Z 238DEG 49KT 3987 8643
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MARSILISpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
Issued by National Weather Service Northern Indiana
756 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025
INZ038>040-291230-
Tipton IN-Madison IN-Hamilton IN-
756 AM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MADISON...NORTHEASTERN
HAMILTON AND SOUTHEASTERN TIPTON COUNTIES THROUGH 830 AM EDT...
At 756 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elwood, or 13 miles northwest of Anderson, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Alexandria, Orestes, Elwood, Frankton, and Summitville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4019 8558 4013 8594 4024 8599 4038 8562
4038 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 1156Z 251DEG 36KT 4021 8590
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MARSILIThe Indianapolis radar (KIND), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:42 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A vehicle was struck by lightning on Interstate 69. No injuries were reported but the vehicle was a total loss after catching in fire.
Several structures and numerous trees impacted by thunderstorm wind gusts near and south of Linton.
A 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at this location.
A 64 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at the GEZ ASOS.
Tree downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Five power poles and a tree downed on 450 east. Nearby there was a swath of damage from 950 East to 700 East and from 1000 South to 900 South where 4 structures were damaged including one large utility barn.
Tree snapped by thunderstorm wind gusts onto a garage.
Tree downed by thunderstorm wind gusts onto Enley Road.
Tree downed by thunderstorm wind gusts onto Hart Street Road.
Water was flowing through a field onto a farm. Rainfall reports within the warning were as high as 4 inches.
Minor structure damage to the Decker town hall building.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, April 2025
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: 1239556, 1239570, 1239557, 1239558, 1239559, 1239562, 1239560, 1239561, 1239563, 1239564, 1239565, 1239567, 1239568, 1239569.