A vigorous storm system over the central Plains, with a sub 980mb surface low over Kansas, induced a very strong pressure gradient across southwest Indiana. The result was strong south southeast winds through the afternoon and evening and into the early overnight hours.
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 PAH wrote it up.
A vigorous storm system over the central Plains, with a sub 980mb surface low over Kansas, induced a very strong pressure gradient across southwest Indiana. The result was strong south southeast winds through the afternoon and evening and into the early overnight hours. Gusts 35-40 mph were common throughout southwest Indiana through the period. The strongest gusts, around 40 mph, were focused over Posey and Vanderburgh 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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 14, 2:06 PM CST, 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
306 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A Wind Advisory remains in effect through 4 AM for gusts of
40-50 mph.
- All modes of significant severe weather are expected with tonight's
storms, large hail (2+ inches), damaging winds of 70-80+ mph,
and significant tornadoes (EF2+).
- Saturday maintains a severe threat during the morning into the
early afternoon. All modes of severe remain possible. This is
mainly across western KY and southwest IN.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 255 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
A strong, negatively tilted 500mb trof will move through the upper
midwest this evening and tonight. A strong 978-976mb sfc low will
track through eastern NE into MN this evening and tonight. We are
warm sectored today throughout the day w/a dry line to our west.
Windy conditions today ahead of this system with gusts of 40-50 mph.
A Wind Advisory is in effect through 4am.
Very concerning situation unfolding tonight with all modes of
significant severe possible. Models are setting up further west and
timing has slowed a little. Dew points are still forecast to surge
northward from southern AR over the next several hours and have a 70-
90% chance of reaching or exceeding 60 degrees. SBCAPE is still
around 1,000-2,000 J/kg. 0-1 km SRH is rather high at around 300+
m2/s2, and 0-3 km SRH is 600+ m2/s2. STP in the HRRR is 7-8. Bulk
shear is 60+ kts. Mid level lapse rates are still rather steep at
7.5-8 degC. Models are still showing a broken line of storms moving
through which means both linear dynamics and supercells are
possible. All hazards are possible wtih 70-80+ mph damaging winds,
large hail (2+ inches), and significant tornadoes (EF2+) some of
which could be long track. These storms will also be moving rather
quickly at around 60-70 mph. Storms are expected to weaken some as
they move further east late tonight as dewpoints drop off and
instability decreases.
How tonight evolves will determine how tomorrow plays out. A
secondary system comes up from the south tomorrow and brings storms
to eastern portions of the area (mainly the KY pennyrile and
southwest IN). The best instability is in the morning to early
afternoon with about 1,000-1,500 J/kg of MUCAPE which is when we
could see severe storms (SPC slight risk). There is also the
possibility for training storms. Some areas could see 1-2" of rain
with flash flooding possible and we are in a slight (level 2 of 4)
for the excessive rainfall outlook.
Behind the cold front with this system highs will fall back into the
50s for Sunday. Upper level ridging builds in early next week and
temperatures then moderate back into the 60s and 70s. Another trof
and sfc low come through on Wednesday bringing more storms to the
area along with a cold front Wednesday night.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 255 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
It's a windy day today with gusts of 30-35 kts out of the south.
A strong storm system is coming through tonight and will bring
strong to severe thunderstorms to the area. Large hail, damaging
winds, and tornadoes are possible.
&&
.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Wind Advisory until 4 AM CDT Saturday for ILZ075>078-080>094.
MO...Wind Advisory until 4 AM CDT Saturday for MOZ076-086-087-100-
107>112-114.
IN...Wind Advisory until 4 AM CDT /5 AM EDT/ Saturday for INZ081-
082-085>088.
KY...Wind Advisory until 4 AM CDT Saturday for KYZ001>022.
&&
DISCUSSION...SHAWKEY
AVIATION...AD/SHAWKEYHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 347 AM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-150900- Jefferson-Wayne IL-Edwards-Wabash-Perry IL-Franklin-Hamilton- White-Jackson-Williamson-Saline-Gallatin-Union-Johnson-Pope- Hardin-Alexander-Pulaski-Massac-Gibson-Pike-Posey-Vanderburgh- Warrick-Spencer-Fulton-Hickman-Carlisle-Ballard-McCracken-Graves- Livingston-Marshall-Calloway-Crittenden-Lyon-Trigg-Caldwell- Union KY-Webster-Hopkins-Christian-Henderson-Daviess-McLean- Muhlenberg-Todd-Perry MO-Bollinger-Cape Girardeau-Wayne MO-Carter- Ripley-Butler-Stoddard-Scott-Mississippi-New Madrid- 347 AM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025 /447 AM EDT Fri Mar 14 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong gusty winds of 40 to 50 mph are forecast this afternoon and evening. Refer to the Wind Advisory for additional details. Widespread thunderstorms are expected this evening into tonight with the potential for significant severe weather. Hazards include damaging winds in excess of 70 mph, tornadoes, and large hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Additional thunderstorms are possible on Saturday, some of which may be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes. This threat is primarily across west Kentucky and southwest Indiana. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding across west Kentucky on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this evening into the night and may be possible again on Saturday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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, March 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: 1247726, 1247727.