National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Surface Map from 8:00 PM
Approximate location of fronts valid at 8:00 PM EDT

 

Severe thunderstorms developed and moved across central Indiana during the morning as well as the evening of April 19, 2011. The first round of storms brought hail and heavy rain to parts of the area. The evening storms brought widespread wind damage, heavy rain, and a couple of tornadoes.

Tornadoes

 Three tornadoes touched down in central Indiana from this event. Below is an overview highlighting where the tornadoes were. Click to enlarge.

Overview of tornado paths. Click to enlarge

 

One tornado touched down in Vermillion County, then moved north and east into far southern Fountain county. The tornado was rated EF-2:

 

 

Path of Tippecanoe County Tornado - Click to Enlarge Radar image - Click to Enlarge Storm Relative Velocity Image - Click to Enlarge
Path of Vermillion County Tornado - Click to Enlarge Radar Image. Click to Enlarge Storm Relative Velocity image. The radar is located to the east-southeast, with green indicating wind toward the radar and red indicating away from the radar.


One tornado touched down in Tippecanoe County, south of Lafayette. The tornado was rated EF-2.

Path of Tippecanoe County Tornado - Click to Enlarge
Path of Tippecanoe County Tornado - Click to Enlarge

Another tornado touched down in Boone County, immediately to the west of Thorntown. The tornado was rated EF-1, had a path length of one half mile and a width of 50 yards.

 

Path of Tornado near Thorntown, Click to Enlarge Radar Image near Thorntown - Click for Larger Version
Path of Tornado near Thorntown. Click to Enlarge. Radar Image of the storm near Thorntown
Click to Enlarge
Storm Relative Velocity image for the storm near Thorntown. The radar is located to the southeast, with green indicating wind toward the radar and red indicating away from the radar.

EF-1 tornadoes typically have winds of 86-110 mph, while EF-2 tornadoes have winds of 111-135 mph. More information on the EF Scale is available from the Storm Prediction Center

 

Radar Image near 10:00 PM - Click for a Loop
Radar Image from near 10:00 PM. Click for a radar loop of once per hour images from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM .


Radar mosaic from near 11:00 PM

 

Example of radar velocity from the line of storms - Click to Enlarge
Example of radar velocity image from the line of storms.
Winds were over 80 mph about 4000 feet above the surface.
Click to enlarge.


Heavy Rain

Parts of central Indiana saw several inches of rain from the storms. Storms with heavy rain moved repeatedly across some of the same areas. This heavy rain resulted in flooding of area streams and eventually rivers. Below is a map of the 24 hour rainfall ending 7:00 AM April 20.

24 hour rainfall ending 7:00 AM April 20 - Click to Enlarge
24 hour rainfall ending 7:00 AM April 20. Click to Enlarge.

Storm Reports

Below are storm reports received by the National Weather Service at Indianapolis.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
620 AM EDT WED APR 20 2011

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

0921 AM     FLASH FLOOD      BROWNSTOWN              38.88N 86.05W
04/19/2011                   JACKSON            IN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            BROWNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVED 4.26 INCHES OF RAINFALL.
            INDIANA HIGHWAY 250 BETWEEN BROWNSTOWN AND UNIONTOWN HAD
            WATER OVER IT.

1115 AM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
04/19/2011  E0.75 INCH       VIGO               IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1127 AM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
04/19/2011  E0.50 INCH       VIGO               IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1143 AM     HAIL             6 NNE BRAZIL            39.60N 87.08W
04/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       CLAY               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1213 PM     HAIL             CRAWFORDSVILLE          40.04N 86.90W
04/19/2011  E1.75 INCH       MONTGOMERY         IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1217 PM     HAIL             NORTH SALEM             39.86N 86.64W
04/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1237 PM     HAIL             LEBANON                 40.05N 86.47W
04/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       BOONE              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1244 PM     HAIL             CARMEL                  39.97N 86.11W
04/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0106 PM     HAIL             ARCADIA                 40.17N 86.02W
04/19/2011  E1.75 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0319 PM     HEAVY RAIN       TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
04/19/2011  M1.63 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL OVER PAST 18 HOURS

0429 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 S CASTLETON           39.88N 86.05W
04/19/2011  M2.79 INCH       MARION             IN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SINCE MIDNIGHT

0835 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTON                 39.66N 87.40W
04/19/2011                   PARKE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREE LIMBS DOWN. WINDS REPORTED AT 60 MPH. MARBLE SIZE
            HAIL ALSO REPORTED.

0835 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLINTON                 39.66N 87.40W
04/19/2011  U60.00 MPH       PARKE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0845 PM     HAIL             3 SW LAFAYETTE          40.38N 86.91W
04/19/2011  U0.25 INCH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0850 PM     HAIL             4 N TERRE HAUTE         39.53N 87.38W
04/19/2011  U0.50 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0906 PM     HAIL             WEST LEBANON            40.27N 87.38W
04/19/2011  U0.88 INCH       WARREN             IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...RELAY OF SPOTTER REPORT

0925 PM     HAIL             KINGMAN                 39.97N 87.28W
04/19/2011  U1.00 INCH       FOUNTAIN           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CRAWFORDSVILLE          40.04N 86.90W
04/19/2011                   MONTGOMERY         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE ON RUSSELL STREET

0930 PM     HAIL             KINGMAN                 39.97N 87.28W
04/19/2011  U0.50 INCH       FOUNTAIN           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CRAWFORDSVILLE          40.04N 86.90W
04/19/2011                   MONTGOMERY         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TRINITY MISSION FACILITY GARAGE AND SHED DESTROYED, TREE
            UPROOTED, TREES DAMAGED, FLAG POLE DESTROYED, SOME DAMAGE
            TO MAIN BUILDING

0933 PM     HAIL             13 W WEST LAFAYETTE     40.44N 87.16W
04/19/2011  U0.88 INCH       WARREN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOCATION IS 900 EAST AND 650 WEST

0945 PM     TSTM WND GST     LAFAYETTE               40.41N 86.87W
04/19/2011  M50.00 MPH       TIPPECANOE         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

0947 PM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
04/19/2011  E0.25 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL REPORTS RECEIVED FROM AROUND THE COUNTY

0947 PM     TSTM WND GST     WEST LAFAYETTE          40.44N 86.91W
04/19/2011  E52.00 MPH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOCATION IS STATE ROAD 26 AND 200 NORTH

0948 PM     TSTM WND GST     BATTLE GROUND           40.51N 86.84W
04/19/2011  M62.00 MPH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON STATE ROUTE 225 IN PROPHETSTOWN

0950 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAFAYETTE               40.41N 86.87W
04/19/2011                   TIPPECANOE         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWNED ON SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN.

0955 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MULBERRY                40.35N 86.67W
04/19/2011                   CLINTON            IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWNED.

0955 PM     TSTM WND GST     10 WSW FRANKFORT        40.23N 86.69W
04/19/2011  E60.00 MPH       CLINTON            IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

0957 PM     HAIL             4 N TERRE HAUTE         39.53N 87.38W
04/19/2011  E0.50 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 PM     HAIL             NORTH TERRE HAUTE       39.54N 87.36W
04/19/2011  U0.50 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOCATED ONE HALF MILE SOUTH OF FORT HARRISON ROAD

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MULBERRY                40.35N 86.67W
04/19/2011                   CLINTON            IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            GRAIN ELEVATOR DESTORYED. PART OF A BUILDING BLOWN IN .
            HOME DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

1000 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     COLFAX                  40.19N 86.67W
04/19/2011                   CLINTON            IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 PM     HAIL             WILLIAMSPORT            40.29N 87.29W
04/19/2011  U0.25 INCH       WARREN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     THORNTOWN               40.13N 86.61W
04/19/2011                   BOONE              IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            BARN DESTROYED NEAR INTERSTATE 65 AND SR 47. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

1005 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NW SHERIDAN           40.17N 86.26W
04/19/2011                   BOONE              IN   PUBLIC

            ROOF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE STRUCTURES. TIME IS ESTIMATED.

1006 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CRAWFORDSVILLE          40.04N 86.90W
04/19/2011                   MONTGOMERY         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWNED. ESTIMATED 80 MPH WIND GUST.

1012 PM     TSTM WND GST     WHITESTOWN              40.00N 86.35W
04/19/2011  E70.00 MPH       BOONE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1020 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TIPTON                  40.28N 86.04W
04/19/2011                   TIPTON             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOUSE AT 1838E 100N.

1020 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KOKOMO                  40.48N 86.13W
04/19/2011                   HOWARD             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FOUR TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED AT HOWARD REGIONAL
            HOSPITAL

1021 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     DANVILLE                39.76N 86.52W
04/19/2011                   HENDRICKS          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REFERENCE CITY IS APPROX LOCATION. REPORT CAME FROM 136
            AND 550 EAST. QUARTER INCH HAIL ALSO FELL.

1025 PM     TSTM WND GST     KOKOMO                  40.48N 86.13W
04/19/2011  M56.00 MPH       HOWARD             IN   AIRPLANE PILOT

1025 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KOKOMO                  40.48N 86.13W
04/19/2011                   HOWARD             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            MULTIPLE UTILITY LINES ARE DOWN ON SOUTH SIDE OF CITY BY
            MEASURED 56 MPH.

1031 PM     HAIL             3 NE CENTER POINT       39.45N 87.03W
04/19/2011  U1.00 INCH       CLAY               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL AT MILE MARKER 27 EASTBOUND ON I-70 1 MILE SOUTHEAST
            OF ASHERVILLE INDIANA

1032 PM     TSTM WND GST     INDIANAPOLIS INT`L AIRP 39.72N 86.29W
04/19/2011  M51.00 MPH       MARION             IN   ASOS

1037 PM     TSTM WND GST     AVON                    39.76N 86.38W
04/19/2011  U65.00 MPH       HENDRICKS          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1040 PM     HAIL             CARMEL                  39.97N 86.11W
04/19/2011  U0.50 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1040 PM     TSTM WND GST     MOORESVILLE             39.62N 86.37W
04/19/2011  M51.00 MPH       MORGAN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1044 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 N ANDERSON            40.17N 85.69W
04/19/2011  M52.00 MPH       MADISON            IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            IN LINWOOD INDIANA

1050 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SE INDIANAPOLIS       39.73N 86.08W
04/19/2011                   MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER OUT AT SOUTHPORT AND MADISON.

1102 PM     TSTM WND GST     MUNCIE                  40.20N 85.39W
04/19/2011  M57.00 MPH       DELAWARE           IN   ASOS

1103 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 SSW VINCENNES        38.54N 87.58W
04/19/2011                   KNOX               IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            60 BY 100 FOOT BUILDING BLOWN AWAY ON S WABASH RIVER
            ROAD. HIGH TENSION LINES DOWNED. WINDOWS BLOWN IN OTHER
            STRUCTURE.

1104 PM     HAIL             7 E GREENFIELD          39.79N 85.64W
04/19/2011  U0.25 INCH       HANCOCK            IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1108 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E LEBANON             40.05N 86.38W
04/19/2011                   BOONE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 1/2 FOOT DIAMETER TREE LIMB DOWN AT 4625 100 NORTH

1114 PM     TSTM WND GST     VINCENNES               38.68N 87.51W
04/19/2011  E60.00 MPH       KNOX               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1115 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BRUCEVILLE              38.76N 87.41W
04/19/2011                   KNOX               IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROOF BLOWN OFF STRUCTURE ON CAMP ARTHUR RD

1117 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E VINCENNES           38.68N 87.42W
04/19/2011                   KNOX               IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY

1125 PM     HAIL             BRAZIL                  39.52N 87.12W
04/19/2011  U1.00 INCH       CLAY               IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1126 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S WASHINGTON          38.60N 87.17W
04/19/2011                   DAVIESS            IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE SEVEN CURVES AREA OF HIGHWAY
            257. TREES ALSO DOWN AT CR 500 S AND HWY 257.

1129 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CARLISLE                38.96N 87.40W
04/19/2011                   SULLIVAN           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            UTILITY LINES ARE DOWN. POWER OUT IN TOWN.

1135 PM     TSTM WND GST     LOOGOOTEE               38.68N 86.91W
04/19/2011  E60.00 MPH       MARTIN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MINOR DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES, RAILROAD SIGN SNAPPED

1145 PM     HAIL             LITTLE POINT            39.56N 86.63W
04/19/2011  U1.75 INCH       MORGAN             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1145 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAWRENCE                39.87N 85.99W
04/19/2011                   MARION             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            SIX TO EIGHT TREE LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN ABOUT 6 TO 8
            INCHES.

1150 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 SE ODON               38.81N 86.95W
04/19/2011  M68.00 MPH       DAVIESS            IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

1150 PM     TSTM WND GST     MARTINSVILLE            39.42N 86.42W
04/19/2011  E40.00 MPH       MORGAN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1151 PM     TSTM WND DMG     THORNTOWN               40.13N 86.61W
04/19/2011                   BOONE              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            MULTIPLE CARS AND TRUCKS BLOWN OFF THE ROAD. APPROX
            LOCATION. REPORT CAME BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 147 AND 152 ON
            INTERSTATE 65.

1154 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/19/2011                   LAWRENCE           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            3-FOOT DIAMETER TREE BLEW DOWN

1154 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 E BLOOMFIELD         39.03N 86.75W
04/19/2011                   GREENE             IN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            GARAGE MOVED OFF ITS FOUNDATION. TIME IS RADAR ESTIMATED.


1156 PM     TSTM WND GST     MITCHELL                38.74N 86.48W
04/19/2011  E80.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SIGNS HAVE BEEN BLOWN DOWN NEAR THE ARBYS AND MCDONALDS

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011                   LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREE DOWNED AT 29TH AND ILLINOIS.

1201 AM     TSTM WND GST     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011  E70.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1201 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011                   LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CONSTRUCTION TRAILER BY MCDONALDS FLIPPED OVER. TREE
            NEARBY BLOWN DOWN.

1201 AM     HAIL             BLOOMINGTON             39.17N 86.52W
04/20/2011  U0.50 INCH       MONROE             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            ACCOMPANIED BY EST 50 MPH WINDS

1201 AM     HAIL             BLOOMINGTON             39.17N 86.52W
04/20/2011  E0.50 INCH       MONROE             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1201 AM     TSTM WND GST     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011  E70.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1204 AM     TSTM WND GST     MARTINSVILLE            39.42N 86.42W
04/20/2011  E50.00 MPH       MORGAN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1205 AM     TSTM WND GST     BLOOMINGTON             39.17N 86.52W
04/20/2011  E60.00 MPH       MONROE             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1205 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011                   LAWRENCE           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            12-INCH LIVE TREE LIMB DOWN

1209 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 S CASTLETON           39.88N 86.05W
04/20/2011  M3.23 INCH       MARION             IN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RAINFALL FOR CALENDAR DAY. ALSO ESTIMATED 40MPH WIND WITH
            EVENING STORMS.

1215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011                   LAWRENCE           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS DOWN. LIMBS ARE 12 INCHES OR
            LARGER IN DIAMETER.

1215 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 S SPEARSVILLE         39.30N 86.20W
04/20/2011  E60.00 MPH       BROWN              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

1215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LOOGOOTEE               38.68N 86.91W
04/20/2011                   MARTIN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            AT LEAST 4-INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS DOWN

1218 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
04/20/2011                   LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAFFIC LIGHT HAS BEEN DAMAGED AT K STREET AND 15.
            VARIOUS DEBRIS ON ELM STREET. TREE LIMB DOWN AT 12 AND M
            STREETS...ABOUT 4 INCHES THICK AND 8 FEET LONG.

1220 AM     FLASH FLOOD      BLOOMINGTON             39.17N 86.52W
04/20/2011                   MONROE             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MULTIPLE INTERSECTIONS ARE FLOODED DOWNTOWN...UP TO ABOUT
            A FOOT DEEP.

1223 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 NE COLUMBUS           39.25N 85.86W
04/20/2011  M59.00 MPH       BARTHOLOMEW        IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     6 S SHELBYVILLE         39.44N 85.78W
04/20/2011                   SHELBY             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            POWER LINES ARE DOWN ON COLUMBUS ROAD

1230 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 SW NORTH VERNON       38.96N 85.70W
04/20/2011  E60.00 MPH       JENNINGS           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN IN AND AROUND COMMISKEY FROM 500 S TO SR 250

1230 AM     TSTM WND GST     6 S SHELBYVILLE         39.44N 85.78W
04/20/2011  E85.00 MPH       SHELBY             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            POWER LINES DOWN


&&