Flash Flood and Hail in Indiana, March 4, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
931 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Near daily rain and occasional thunderstorm chances this week into
  early next, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall likely
  through Saturday, will produce widespread minor to moderate flooding
  across central Indiana

- A few strong to severe storms possible late today into tonight south

- Much warmer late week into next week, with near record warmth
  likely Friday and potentially early next week as well

&&

.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
Issued at 931 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

Thunderstorms just over the state line in Illinois have exhibited a
signature for hail up to at least nickel size. These are elevated
with just enough instability to sustain. Effective shear in this
layer is strong enough for organization/sustenance in the near-term
as they enter Knox and Sullivan counties. Downstream sustenance of a
small to marginally severe hail threat will depend on storm-scale
interactions. They may tend to propagate slightly east-southeastward
along the apparent MUCAPE gradient.

&&

.SHORT TERM (Today and tonight)...
Issued at 351 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

Rain continues to fall across much of central Indiana this morning,
as a stalled boundary to our south combines with deep and plentiful
moisture transport in west/southwesterly mean flow aloft. Training
of convection initiating off this boundary produced a widespread 1-3
inches of rainfall across much of the area since yesterday morning,
which has produced widespread minor flooding along small waterways
in the axis of heaviest rainfall near and a couple counties south of
the I-70 corridor, and will eventually produce widespread minor
flooding and locally moderate flooding on the main stem rivers
across southern Indiana.

Precipitable water values will remain anomalously high throughout
the short term, near or above climatological max for the time of
year, though thankfully a respite in the widespread precip should
occur much of today as the rain reinforced boundary remains to the
south and forcing for ascent weakens. However, additional rounds of
rain are expected late today into tonight as a more substantial
upper level wave and surface low approach the area. Additionally,
though convective mode is uncertain and may be quite messy, a
locally strong to severe storm is not out of the question near the
boundary across the far southern portions of the forecast area late
today into tonight, with all hazards on the table, though this will
depend heavily upon how far north the warm front progresses.

Will maintain current Flood Watch, and hold off on further watch
headlines in collab w/ neighbors. Training potential should lessen
with time as the boundary begins to shift, though any moderate or
heavy precip in the aforementioned areas where the heaviest rain has
fallen in the past 24 hours will pose at least some flash flood
risk.

Temperatures today will climb back into the 50s north to the mid 60s
south, with fairly minimal diurnal cooling tonight as the warm front
begins to push further northward with time.

&&

.LONG TERM (Thursday through Tuesday)...
Issued at 351 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

Periods of showers and thunderstorms will continue into late week,
though significant breaks are likely at times. The anomalous
moisture and thus hydrologic threats will remain a concern through
at least Saturday, when cold frontal passage will bring at least a
temporary end to rain chances for the latter part of the weekend.

There will be at least a conditional severe threat with this cold
front, primarily late Friday into Saturday, though this remains
highly uncertain.

Additional rainfall through Saturday may be as much as 1-3+ inches,
which could bring several main stem river points in central and
southern Indiana into moderate flood.

After a dry period late in the weekend, the early to middle portion
of next week may again turn active as deep troughing over the
western CONUS promotes strong cyclogenesis somewhere in the central
US, though significant timing and positioning differences in this
troughing, including differences in how long a southwestern US
cutoff low remains cutoff is producing substantial variation in
precip amounts and length of rainfall. Will have to keep a close eye
on this as additional substantial rainfall could worsen and expand
the ongoing minor to moderate flood situation.

Well above normal temperatures are expected throughout the long
term, with record or near record highs in the mid 70s to near 80
appearing likely on Friday. Record highs may be in danger early next
week as well.

&&

.AVIATION (12Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 637 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

Impacts:

- Widespread IFR or worse conditions likely throughout the period

- Additional showers and a few storms later today into tonight

Discussion:

Widespread rain has decreased to isolated to scattered light showers
this morning, with widespread IFR conditions in place north of a
stalled rain-reinforced warm front to our south, as moisture remains
trapped beneath the frontal inversion aloft.

Another round of rain should move into the area later today into
tonight as another upper level disturbance moves into the region. A
few thunderstorms are expected but in the absence of better
confidence regarding timing or greater coverage, will keep mention
out for now.

Winds will be less than 10KT throughout the period, and will be
variable at times, or generally easterly/southeasterly when a
coherent direction is present.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 10 AM EST this morning for INZ044>049-051>057-
060>065-067>072.

&&

MESOSCALE...BRB
SHORT TERM...Nield
LONG TERM...Nield
AVIATION...Nield

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
401 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

INZ021-028>031-035>043-050915-
Carroll-Warren-Tippecanoe-Clinton-Howard-Fountain-Montgomery-Boone-
Tipton-Hamilton-Madison-Delaware-Randolph-Vermillion-
401 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

A few thunderstorms will be possible late today into tonight. Severe
storms are not expected, though heavy rainfall and localized flooding
will be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Daily rain chances with moderate to heavy rainfall at times will
lead to increasing chances of flooding by late week.

There is also a chance for thunderstorms at times through Saturday.
A few strong storms are possible late Friday into Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated, but spotters are encouraged to
report rainfall amounts.

&&

More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate
information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind

INZ044>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-050915-
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-
401 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Showers and a few thunderstorms continue this morning, with a threat
for flooding. A flood watch remains in effect through 10 AM.

A few thunderstorms will be possible late today into tonight, some of
which could be strong to severe. Additionally, more rainfall could
produce renewed flooding on small streams and waterways.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Daily rain chances with moderate to heavy rainfall at times will
lead to increasing chances of flooding by late week, with widespread
minor to moderate flooding expected on main stem rivers.

There is also a chance for thunderstorms at times through Saturday.
A few strong storms are possible late Friday into Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may be needed late today into tonight, and are also
encouraged to report rainfall amounts.

&&

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
919 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

INZ060-067-041500-
Knox IN-Sullivan IN-
919 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Sullivan
and northeastern Knox Counties through 1000 AM EST...

At 918 AM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Flat Rock, or 7 miles south of Robinson, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Carlisle, Oaktown, Edwardsport, Freelandville, and Pleasantville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3899 8758 3897 8724 3879 8724 3881 8752
      3885 8753 3886 8755 3888 8754 3889 8754
      3889 8753 3890 8753 3890 8752 3892 8753
      3892 8752 3896 8751
TIME...MOT...LOC 1418Z 272DEG 34KT 3890 8772

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

BRB