EF1 tornado, Cradnick Corner to Little Pt, Indiana, June 16, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
818 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered to numerous showers and some thunderstorms today,
  potential for severe weather mainly across north central Indiana

- Severe weather is likely most areas Wednesday with one round of
  marginally severe storms in the afternoon and more widespread
  severe weather towards the evening and early overnight

- Below normal temperatures will continue for much of the period

&&

.DISCUSSION (This evening through Tuesday)...
Issued at 152 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

Overview.

Central Indiana will experience an active weather pattern through
Thursday morning, characterized by multiple rounds of thunderstorms
and a threat for severe weather. A slight risk for severe storms
exists this evening, followed by a more significant and widespread
threat on Wednesday. Primary hazards include damaging winds, large
hail, and isolated tornadoes. Outside of thunderstorms, gradient
winds will be gusty on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Following a
cold frontal passage on Thursday morning, precipitation will
terminate from north to south. A cooler and drier airmass will
settle over the region Friday and persist through the weekend,
bringing below-normal temperatures and dry conditions.

Rest of Today Through Thursday.

The synoptic pattern across the Upper Midwest and Ohio Valley is
characterized by a deep mid-level trough propagating into the Great
Lakes region. Central Indiana resides on the southeastern flank of
this feature within an area of strengthening southwesterly low-level
flow. Surface analysis indicates a surface low tracking through the
western Great Lakes, dragging a trailing cold front across the Upper
Mississippi Valley. Ahead of this boundary, a low-level jet is
driving modest moisture return into the local area. For this evening
and tonight, large-scale ascent and differential cyclonic vorticity
advection ahead of a weak embedded shortwave will generate scattered
to broken convective line segments migrating from west to east.
Model soundings indicate that while boundary-layer moisture recovery
is limited, steep mid-level lapse rates and a corridor of MLCAPE up
to 1000 J/kg will overlap with 35 to 40 knots of effective bulk
shear. This environment will support a semi-discrete to multicell
convective mode. Given the linear forcing and straight low-level
hodographs, the primary threat through midnight will be damaging
wind gusts and hail, with the highest probability concentrated
across the northern third of the forecast area where large-scale
forcing is maximized. The tornado threat will be greater towards
northern Indiana, but with SRH values of 100-150 m^2/s^2 quick spin-
ups will be possible. Convective coverage will decrease overnight
due to nocturnal stabilization and the departure of the shortwave.

Wednesday introduces a more significant severe weather threat as a
secondary, intense shortwave trough pivots around the parent low,
inducing rapid surface cyclogenesis across the Midwest. Model
consensus and ensemble guidance indicate this intensifying system
will push a surface warm front northward into central Indiana during
the late morning and early afternoon hours. This boundary will serve
as the focus for an initial thunderstorm complex or Mesoscale
Convective System (MCS). Strong deep-layer shear and a rapidly
destabilizing airmass will allow this initial complex to possess
severe capabilities, particularly along and north of the warm front
where low-level helicity will be maximized. Damaging straight-line
winds and isolated tornadic segments are the primary threats with
this initial wave.

High-resolution guidance indicates a brief period of diminished
precipitation behind the initial complex, allowing for boundary-
layer recovery. Intense low-level wind fields and an intensifying 50-
plus knot low-level jet will maintain strong theta-e advection,
causing instability to recover as surface dew points rise. By
Wednesday evening and into the overnight hours, a powerful secondary
round of convection is projected to develop along and ahead of the
main advancing cold front. The kinematic environment during this
period is anomalously strong, characterized by a 500 mb jet
exceeding 60 to 70 knots and elongated, curved low-level hodographs.
Deep-layer shear vectors perpendicular to the frontal boundary will
favor an initially discrete supercellular storm mode before
transitioning into a forward-propagating linear system. All severe
hazards remain possible. The tornado threat will be maximized near
the remnant warm front or older outflow boundaries across northern
portions of the forecast area, though strong background shear
maintains a risk statewide. Supercells across the north will also
carry a risk for large hail, while upscale linear growth late
Wednesday night will transition the primary hazard to widespread
damaging straight-line winds. Additionally, the tight synoptic
pressure gradient associated with the deepening low will produce non-
convective ambient wind gusts up to 40 mph from Wednesday afternoon
through Wednesday evening.

By Thursday morning, the primary surface low will move into the
eastern Great Lakes, driving the main cold front across the southern
portions of central Indiana. The front may linger across the
southern tier of counties to maintain a low probability of residual
showers and an isolated embedded thunderstorm through midday
Thursday. However, strong cold air advection and deep cyclonic
northwest flow aloft will overspread the remainder of the area. Post-
frontal subsidence and dry air entrainment will rapidly lower
precipitable water values and clear skies from north to south.
Temperatures on Thursday will reflect this post-frontal regime, with
cold air advection limiting daytime highs to the upper 60s and lower
70s Fahrenheit, establishing a below-normal thermal trend that will
persist into the upcoming weekend.

Friday through Tuesday...

The upper pattern through this period suggests below normal
temperatures with occasional shower and storm chances. Models
suggest a WNW flow aloft on Friday. This will persist through
Tuesday, blocking any strong heat intrusions from the south. Within
this quick flow aloft, several short waves area expected to pass
from time to time.

Weak waves looks to pass across the Great Lakes on Friday and
Saturday, however best forcing looks to remain north of Central
Indiana, and strong high pressure is suggested to remain at the
surface, creating a less favorable situation for precipitation.

The best chances for rain will be on Sunday into Monday as better
ingredients come together. On Sunday, another upper wave is expected
to pass, but this time, a warm front will be approaching from the
southwest, allowing more moisture to arrive on Southerly winds. A
surface area of low pressure is expected to cross Indiana on Sunday
night into Monday. Thus, shower and storm chances will be included
with these features present.

Eventually, dry and cool weather will return on Tuesday. This will
be due to the departure of the surface low and the arrival of high
pressure building across Indiana from the northern plains.

&&

.AVIATION (00Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 817 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

Impacts:

- Active weather expected this TAF period.

- Isolated showers and thunderstorms through this evening. More
storms Wednesday afternoon through the overnight hours.

Discussion:

VFR conditions will be in play for most of the period, however two
upper level passing waves will help to generate showers and
thunderstorms, some with severe potential. A few showers and
thunderstorms are tracking SE across central Indiana, starting with
some impact initially for IND and HUF. This first wave should pass
by a little after midnight.

After dry weather overnight, an MCS over the upper midwest will
propagate toward Indiana tomorrow morning. These storms could arrive
in our far NW as early as late morning but higher confidence for
storms as we get into the afternoon. Severe storms will also be
possible tomorrow mainly during the afternoon into the early
overnight hours. Lightning will be likely, but damaging winds and
hail can't be ruled out at TAF sites. Lowered clouds and vis also a
concern for stronger storms.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

AVIATION...KF
DISCUSSION...White/Puma

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
334 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-171945-
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-
334 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Through Tonight.

Thunderstorms are possible this evening. Isolated severe storms are
possible, with damaging winds and large hail the primary threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Severe thunderstorms are likely Wednesday into Wednesday night.
Damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes and heavy rain are all
possible. Outside of thunderstorms, winds may gust to around 40 mph
Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Additional thunderstorms are possible in the far south on Thursday
and across most areas Sunday into Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is likely Wednesday into Wednesday night. Spotters
are encouraged to report any severe weather observed today and
Wednesday.

&&

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

JP

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
816 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0755 PM     Hail             1 NW Speedway           39.80N 86.26W
06/16/2026  E0.25 Inch       Marion             IN   Public

            Pea and slightly larger hail over a period
            of about 10 minutes ending at 805 PM. Hail
            collected in a quantity enough to partially
            cover the wood floor of a balcony.

&&

BH

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
821 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0812 PM     Hail             1 WNW Indianapolis      39.78N 86.16W
06/16/2026  E0.75 Inch       Marion             IN   Broadcast Media

            Large quantities of half inch to maybe three
            quarter inch hail at WISH-TV. Time estimated
            from radar.

&&

BH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
830 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

INZ045-046-054-170115-
Morgan IN-Putnam IN-Hendricks IN-
830 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Morgan,
southwestern Hendricks and southern Putnam Counties through 915 PM
EDT...

At 830 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Greencastle, or 26 miles northeast of Terre Haute, moving east at 25
mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 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...
Greencastle, Fillmore, Coatesville, Amo, Stilesville, Little Point,
Eminence, and Belle Union.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 43 and 53.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
central and west central Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 3956 8699 3969 8697 3970 8657 3951 8659
TIME...MOT...LOC 0030Z 274DEG 21KT 3964 8693

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

GM

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
836 PM EDT Tue Jun 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0824 PM     Hail             3 SSE Warren Park       39.74N 86.03W
06/16/2026  E0.88 Inch       Marion             IN   Trained Spotter

&&

BH

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