A hot and humid airmass ahead of a slow moving boundary helped support the development of scattered thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening hours on July 20th, 2025. While many of these storms remained sub-severe, a few thunderstorms across southern portions of central Indiana produced wind damage.
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 hot and humid airmass ahead of a slow moving boundary helped support the development of scattered thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening hours on July 20th, 2025. While many of these storms remained sub-severe, a few thunderstorms across southern portions of central Indiana produced wind 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 Jul 20, 5:04 PM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 604 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Flash Flood Watch in effect through 8 PM Monday - Multiple rounds of showers and storms are expected through Monday, with locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding possible - Strong to severe storms will be possible this evening into tonight, with damaging winds the primary threat, although large hail or an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out - Hot and very humid next Wednesday-Friday, yielding widespread and potentially dangerous maximum heat indices in the 100s. && .MESOSCALE UPDATE... Issued at 603 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 Abundance of remnant weak boundaries still exist across the atmosphere over Central Indiana. Atmosphere overall still is a somewhat disorganized after the morning convection; however, there is some new agitation with vertical growth to the cumulus fields stretching from near Watseka IL southeast through Northern Tippecanoe County to near Kokomo. A few reports of funnel clouds have been noted within this area of vertical lift and modest shear, especially within the 0-3km layer. Deep layer shear is still robust as well, fortunately it appears winds are parallel to the mean flow which should not allow the atmosphere to get too out of control at least for the next hour or so north of Indy Metro. The bigger concern is a rapid destabilization to the atmosphere west of Terre Haute, where we are seeing a cluster of storms grow vertically and realize the unstable atmosphere. Growth is reaching glaciation quickly which is leading to lightning production quickly, but given the high wet-bulb zero heights it will be difficult to produce large hail and at worst pea size hail. The bigger concern still remains for efficient rain production given the volume of moisture within the sensible layer, and steady upslope to parcels feeding into the atmosphere near Vincennes to Bedford. All of this sets the stage for heavy rain potential in a short period of time with slow moving convective elements this evening && .SHORT TERM (This evening through Monday)... Issued at 302 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 A complex of thunderstorms moved across the northern half of the CWA this morning and into the early afternoon hours. Severe weather was not reported, but there were a few reports of localized flooding in the Pendleton and Anderson area. The aforementioned storm complex laid down an outflow boundary that has been slowly pushing southward. North of this boundary, temperatures have been in the 70s with abundant cloud cover and even some light residual rain showers. South of it, sunshine and continued southwesterly flow have allowed temps to climb to near 90. As such, quite the instability gradient currently exists throughout central Indiana. All available guidance shows regeneration of storms this afternoon. Our forecast challenge therein lies with this second round of storms and how it may evolve. The outflow boundary mentioned above will likely play a role, and the most probable scenario is convection develops along this boundary or near it and then propagates south southeastward. Convection may also develop further north, especially if the boundary is weak enough that it dissipates completely or moves back northward. Guidance has been wavering between the two scenarios. The HRRR, for instance, tends to regenerate convection further north compared to the NAM Nest. This makes sense given their biases regarding cold pool formation. CAMs will likely struggle today, so we'll have to rely on our atmospheric conceptual models. Satellite is showing some clearing over central Illinois with surface obs showing a more diffuse boundary. Eastward into central Indiana, where the storms occurred more recently, the boundary is stronger and the air more stable. Assuming some atmospheric recovery is possible under increased sunshine, a destabilizing atmosphere may be realized from Lafayette to Indy south and westward. Therefore, this portion of our CWA stands the best chance of seeing additional storms today. Places further north and east may remain stable enough to limit convective redevelopment. Like earlier rounds of convection, our primary hazards are strong to damaging wind gusts (within the strongest cells and embedded bowing segments) along with very heavy rain and flash flooding. Flooding potential will be maximized where storm motions are slow and or align for training / repetitive storm tracks. Soundings show a very moist column with a deep warm cloud layer...so rainfall production will be efficient. Extreme rainfall rates between 2-3"/hr or even higher may occur. Isolated pockets of 3-6 inches of rainfall are possible where storm training occurs. TONIGHT INTO MONDAY After today's storms exit we'll be left with northeasterly flow and a stabilized atmosphere. Temperatures should be quite nice to start the week, with highs in the 80s on Monday with reduced humidity. The boundary and axis of active weather will not be too far away, however, with some convection possible along the IL/IN state line and into our southern counties. && .LONG TERM (Monday night through Sunday)... Issued at 302 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 Upper-level ridging looks to build eastward this week, allowing hot and humid weather to return. Height anomalies do not appear to be that high, perhaps 1-2 sigma above the mean. Still, 500mb heights are anomalous and favor above-normal temperatures. Anomalous heights peak around the Wednesday timeframe, with ridging drifting eastward and flattening by the end of the week. High temperatures likely climb to near 90 Wednesday onward, perhaps a few days earlier across our southwest. Humidity likely builds as well with surface high pressure moving eastward and southwesterly flow returning. Combined with the humidity, heat indices could climb into the 100-105 degree range which would be approaching advisory-level criteria. Rain/storm chances return later in the week, with a pattern developing similar to the one we're currently seeing - namely, ridging to our west with a jet stream that's NW-SE oriented. Our convective chances therefore will depend on mesoscale features not resolvable at this range. We will keep broad but low PoPs in the forecast for now. Increased precip and cloud cover may limit 90 degree readings this coming weekend. && .AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 138 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 Impacts: - VFR Conditions this afternoon and evening. - MVFR or IFR late overnight - Scattered showers or thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening. Discussion: A stalled frontal boundary over Central Indiana has allowed for a very moist and stagnant air mass to remain across Central Indiana. An upper level disturbance was exiting Central Indiana. This was allowing scattered light rain showers across northern Central Indiana to depart to the east. A few more showers were found upstream, over central IL, but these were weak and IR shows no significant cooling cloud tops. HRRR suggests redevelopment along the boundary this afternoon, but confidence for this is low as daytime heating has had a minimal impact due to thick cloud cover across the sites. For now, a VCTS mention has been used. The lingering lower level boundary and moisture is expected to remain in place across the area overnight, with very high dewpoints, light winds and low dew point depressions. This should again result in fog overnight, some of which may become IFR or LIFR, mainly at the more rural TAF sites. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Monday evening for INZ021-028>031-035>049- 051>057-060>065-067>072. && MESOSCALE...Beach SHORT TERM...Eckhoff LONG TERM...Eckhoff AVIATION...Puma
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 431 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-212045- 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- 431 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are expected at times tonight, including a threat for strong to severe storms. Damaging winds will be the primary threat, along with heavy rainfall and flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Thunderstorms will remain possible at times through Tuesday. Locally heavy rain and flash flooding will be the primary threats through the early portion of the week. Storm chances return to the forecast late in the week as well. Lightning is a threat with any thunderstorm. Heat indices over 100 degrees will be possible from Wednesday onward. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed today or 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
548 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025
INZ021-029>031-038-202230-
Howard IN-Clinton IN-Tipton IN-Tippecanoe IN-Carroll IN-
548 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Carroll, northern
Tippecanoe, northern Clinton, Howard and northern Tipton Counties
through 630 PM EDT...
At 547 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms capable of producing a landspout along a line extending
from 11 miles west of Kokomo to near Watseka. Movement was east at 65
mph.
HAZARD...Landspouts, Funnel Clouds, and winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds
could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured
objects.
Locations impacted include...
Kokomo, West Lafayette, Delphi, Windfall, Greentown, Flora,
Rossville, Battle Ground, Russiaville, Camden, Sharpsville,
Burlington, Yeoman, and Indian Heights.
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 175 and 184.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4060 8637 4056 8637 4056 8618 4049 8586
4033 8586 4034 8636 4050 8709 4056 8709
4056 8677 4066 8677 4067 8675 4068 8676
TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 284DEG 55KT 4049 8635 4078 8768
LANDSPOUT...POSSIBLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
751 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025
INZ062-063-070-071-210030-
Brown IN-Lawrence IN-Jackson IN-Monroe IN-
751 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Monroe,
southwestern Brown, northeastern Lawrence and northwestern Jackson
Counties through 830 PM EDT...
At 749 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bloomington, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and minor flooding.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Bloomington, Fairfax State Recreation Area, Norman, Charles Deam
Wilderness, Smithville, and Monroe Reservoir.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
If on or near Lake Monroe, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM EDT for
south central Indiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3907 8661 3915 8655 3905 8618 3889 8628
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 291DEG 17KT 3908 8650
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CMThe Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 54 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:30 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous small tree limbs and trees snapped by thunderstorm wind gusts along with 2 larger trees.
Thunderstorm wind gusts downed multiple trees.
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, July 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: 1270548, 1280342.