A low pressure system brought thunderstorms to central Indiana during the evening of March 19. The storms produced an EF-2 tornado to Bartholomew County along with wind damage and large hail to much of central Indiana.
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 low pressure system brought thunderstorms to central Indiana during the evening of March 19. The storms produced an EF-2 tornado to Bartholomew County along with wind damage and large hail to much of central Indiana.
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 19, 3:58 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 458 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Windy today with gusts 35 to 45 mph, Wind Advisory in effect until 9pm. - Numerous T-storms later this afternoon and evening, with a few severe storms possible. Damaging winds are the primary threat, though isolated tornadoes and severe hail are also possible. - Becoming cooler, with rain and snow showers Thursday morning. - More showers are expected at times this weekend and next week as temperatures hover mostly around normal. && .MESOSCALE UPDATE... Issued at 457 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 The atmosphere out ahead of the approaching low in continuing to develop parameters conducive to organized convective cells this afternoon. This had led to widespread thunderstorm initiation over central IL. Initially, the thought was the dry mid level air would inhibit initial updraft growth leading to more of a discrete convective mode, but observational analysis is showing very little limitations with a the beginning formation of a QLCS. This is expected to continue the surge of moisture pushes into central Indiana over the next few hours. VWP observations show low level veering quickly increasing as the LLJ strengthens. This is aligning with the more aggressive CAMs like the HRRR and FV3. This could allow for the more discrete cells out in front of the main QLCS to become organized including the potential for organized mesocyclones. These more discrete cells within the drier mid-levels would also have the best chance of producing severe hail. The hail threat is likely to diminish some as the QLCS arrives. As far as the QLCS, the bulk shear vector will be best aligned for segments that are oriented slights west of north, and these segments will be the most likely to produce damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Overall storm motion will generally be around 230 degrees at about 50kt. This will become more westerly with time and as the cold pool strengthens. && .SHORT TERM (This evening through Thursday)... Issued at 315 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 Current surface analysis and satellite observations show a strong surface low centered near northwest Missouri with thunderstorms developing ahead of an advancing cold front across Illinois. This front will continue to push eastward towards central Indiana during the afternoon. Moisture advection combined with additional diurnal heating supports the development of numerous thunderstorms around the 5-7pm timeframe. Severe storms are possible as strong deep-layer wind shear and modest instability favor supercells capable of all hazards. A Tornado Watch is in effect across west-central Indiana through 10pm. The greatest threats later this afternoon and into the evening are damaging wind gusts and tornadoes, especially across west-central Indiana. Forecast soundings show slightly backed surface flow beneath a strong southwesterly LLJ promoting veering low-level hodographs. This setup will lead to strong SRH around 200-300 (m^2/s^2) favoring supercells and an increasing tornado threat. Steep 0-3km lapse rates along with organized rotating updrafts also favors the potential for damaging wind gusts. The hail threat is somewhat limited due to modest instability, but severe hail is still possible with any organized storms. The severe weather threat tapers off early tonight once the aforementioned front shifts east. PBL mixing into a strong LLJ overhead will continue to produce strong wind gusts through this evening. A Wind Advisory remains in effect through 9pm for the potential of southerly wind gusts up to 45 mph. Isolated higher non-thunderstorm wind gusts cannot be completely ruled out. Despite PBL stabilization overnight, winds remain elevated into Thursday with a strong pressure gradient in place. A lull in precipitation is expected tonight due to dry air filtering in behind the front. However, rain quickly returns late tonight as moisture wraps around the surface low. Model guidance suggest precipitation remains mostly confined to areas near or north of I-70 where stronger low-level convergence should be. Colder air advection on the backside of the low will likely allow light snow to mix in. No accumulations are expected due to warm ground temperatures. Isolated lake enhanced rain or snow showers may then continue through the early afternoon hours before quiet weather conditions return. Highs ranging from the upper 30s to mid 40s combined with breezy conditions will make it feel more like Winter on Thursday. && .LONG TERM (Thursday night through Wednesday)... Issued at 315 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 The long term period will see steadier and nearer to normal temperatures than we've had the last could of weeks. This will be paired with a couple of upper waves moving through that will bring multiple chances of precipitation through next week. Temperatures are forecasted to be pretty consistent through the period with highs in the 50s each day and lows in the 30s. The coldest night of the period will be Thursday morning with lows below freezing. The first round of precipitation will be Friday night, due an upper wave extending south into the region. Central Indiana will have minimal moisture and lift to work with while better precipitation chances will be to the north. Likely only the northern half of the forecast area will see light rain from this system, but at this time confidence isn't high so have kept PoPs at slight chance and chance. Saturday will be quiet and dry as a quick upper ridge passes over the region. The next system will be an upper low tracking across the Great Lakes, coming from the northern Plains. This system will see greater moisture than the previous one as models show a line of showers and potentially thunderstorms to track across the eastern U.S. and prompting PoPs from Sunday morning through Monday. At this time, not seeing indicators of severe weather for central Indiana but breezy non-thunderstorm winds with gusts of 25 to 30 mph are expected especially for Monday... SPC shows that there could be some day 5 severe down in the ArkLaTex/Mississippi region so will continue to monitor should the risk expand northward. Finally, another weaker system could bring additional rain chances mid-next week. && .AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 113 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 Impacts: - Strong wind gusts between 30-40 kts likely through early this evening. Isolated higher gusts possible. - MVFR ceilings possible at times this afternoon. - Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 20z - Wind shift to southwesterly this evening then northwesterly around around daybreak Thursday. Discussion: A strong low-level jet and daytime mixing will support surface wind gusts around 30-40 kts through the early evening hours. Winds will generally be from the south before turning southwesterly this evening and then northwesterly around daybreak Thursday. Winds are likely to remain gusty through Thursday though winds may briefly weaken early tonight behind a passing cold front. The front approaching from the west will lead to increasing coverage of showers and storms. A few strong to severe storms are possible. In addition to the showers and storms, low-level moisture should continue to increase leading to a BKN cloudy layer between 2000 and 3500ft. Rain and snow should return towards daybreak Thursday at some TAF sites after a brief lull in precipitation, mainly KLAF. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for INZ021-028>031- 035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072. && MESOSCALE...Updike SHORT TERM...Melo LONG TERM...KF AVIATION...Melo
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 346 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 INZ021-030-031-037>042-046>049-054>057-062>065-070>072-202000- Carroll-Clinton-Howard-Boone-Tipton-Hamilton-Madison-Delaware- Randolph-Hendricks-Marion-Hancock-Henry-Morgan-Johnson-Shelby-Rush- Monroe-Brown-Bartholomew-Decatur-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings- 346 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Through Tonight. Thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening. A few could be strong or severe with all hazards possible. In addition, windy conditions will develop this afternoon even outside of thunderstorms, with gusts up to 45 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to monitor forecasts through tonight in case activation becomes necessary then. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind INZ028-029-035-036-043>045-051>053-060-061-067>069-202000- Warren-Tippecanoe-Fountain-Montgomery-Vermillion-Parke-Putnam-Vigo- Clay-Owen-Sullivan-Greene-Knox-Daviess-Martin- 346 PM EDT Wed Mar 19 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Through Tonight. Thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening. Some could be strong or severe with all hazards possible. There is a tornado watch out for west-central Indiana through 10pm ET. In addition, windy conditions will develop this afternoon even outside of thunderstorms, with gusts up to 45 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to monitor forecasts through tonight in case activation becomes necessary then. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind
The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:47 UTC.
21 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at this location. Pea sized hail also fell.
A 64 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at the HUF ASOS.
A tree of unknown size was downed by thunderstorm wind gusts onto a house.
Multiple reports of thunderstorm winds downing trees and or power poles in Crawfordsville along with minor roof damage on a house on Ladoga Road.
Thunderstorm winds downed roof and siding material off of a barn on US 231 in Brick Chapel.
Multiple reports of hail as large as 1.2 inches with some siding damage caused by the hail.
Dozens of trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts near Delphi and points to the northeast.
Thunderstorm wind gusts downed 9 power poles along County Road 750 West.
Trees of unknown size downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
A 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at this location with a semi truck blown over on Interstate 65 between mile markers 156 and 157.
A 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at this location along with 1 inch hail.
Part of a barn blown off and a fence blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hailed for about a minute.
A tree fell on a residence along Ohio Street and a tree fell onto a car on Park Street. This damage was caused by thunderstorm winds.
A roof on a skating rink was partially peeled up by thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm wind gusts downed 3 power poles.
Power lines downed by thunderstorm winds breaking tree limbs.
A 61 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at this location.
A barn roof was blown off and a trailer was blown over by thunderstorm wind gusts along with several nearby reports of tree and tree limb damage.
The tornado produced nearly continuous, yet mainly EF1-intensity damage across its relatively long track from about one mile west-southwest of the Rosstown community to about one mile south-southeast of Newbern. Beginning just east of Interstate 65, damage occurred on the northwest side of both the Rosstown and Waynesville communities, and then about 2-3 miles west and north of the Elizabethtown area, which included two areas of more intense damage consistent with low end EF2 winds: walls and roofs collapsed on well built metal farm buildings, with debris lofted and thrown a quarter to one half mile to the north and northeast at both locations. Elsewhere, most county roads within the circulation's path had several utility poles broken, as well as small metal high transmission towers (not heavier steel structures) twisted and bent down. This damage was EF1-rated given adjacent wooden double poles (H-frame) that had no damage. Maximum winds were estimated at 112 mph.
Power lines downed by tree limbs snapped by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Tree of unknown size downed by thunderstorm wind gusts over County Road 1100N.
A 6 to 8 inch tree limb was snapped by thunderstorm wind gusts over County Road 800N.
Trees and power poles downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Indiana, 2025Warnings 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: 1237097, 1237117, 1237100, 1237118, 1237119, 1237402, 1237403, 1237404, 1237405, 1237406, 1237407, 1237409, 1237408, 1237410, 1237411, 1237412, 1237413, 1237414, 1237415, 1237416, 1237417, 1237418, 1237419, 1237420, 1245326, 1237421, 1237422, 1237423, 1237425, 1237426.