September 20, 2002 Indiana Tornadoes

September usually brings tranquil weather to Indiana. Not so on September 20, 2002, when several tornadoes struck the state. The biggest tornado rampaged through rural and urban parts of Indiana for 112 miles, becoming the longest tornado track in Indiana history. The long track tornado reached F3 intensity in Ellettsville, Martinsville, and Greenwood, with winds of at least 160 mph. The tornado began in Ellettsville at 12:59 PM EST and roared northeast through Martinsville, the south and east sides of metropolitan Indianapolis, Anderson, and finally lifted near Hartford City, 2 hours and 21 minutes later at 3:20 PM EST.

No deaths occurred, despite $156 million in property damage and 130 injuries. The tornado was enshrouded in rain for much of its life.

The same thunderstorm that produced the long track tornado also produced other tornadoes. One of them was an F2 rated tornado that struck near Poseyville, and another was also rated F2 and struck near Monroe City.

The tornado warning issued for the Indianapolis area contained "Tornado Emergency" wording.

Continue below for more information on this event. The Storm Prediction Center's archive has additional information as well.

Tornado Event Timeline. 

Click the image for a larger version. A zoomed in map for central Indiana is available at this link.

    The Fujita Scale

Weather Setup

Atmospheric Setup valid at 7:00 AM September 20. Click to enlarge.
 

Surface Map valid at 1:00 PM EST September 20. Click to enlarge.

A strong upper trough and a surface cold front provided strong forcing to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms. Surface dewpoints were in the 70s, and shear values were high. These ingredients combined to produce the severe weather and tornadoes. 

Radar Images

Radar Overview:

Radar at 12:04 PM EST. Click to enlarge.	Radar at 1:04 PM EST. Click to enlarge.	Radar at 2:04 PM EST. Click to enlarge.	Radar at 2:58 PM EST. Click to enlarge.

Closer Views of Tornadic Storm.

Click any image for a larger version.

Radar image of storm as the tornado nears Ellettsville.	Radar image of storm as the tornado nears Martinsville.
Radar image of storm as the tornado moves into Johnson County.	Velocity image of the Johnson County storm. Radar is at circle labeled KIND. Green is motion toward the radar, red is motion away.
Radar image of storm as the tornado moves into the east side of Indianapolis.	Velocity image of the Indianapolis storm. Radar is at circle labeled KIND. Green is motion toward the radar, red is motion away.
Radar image of storm as the tornado moves through Madison County.

Tornado Warning Example

WFUS53 KIND 201822 TORIND INC081-097-201900- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 121 PM EST FRI SEP 20 2002 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... NORTHERN JOHNSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL INDIANA MARION COUNTY IN CENTRAL INDIANA THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS * UNTIL 200 PM EST * AT 116 PM EST...AMATEUR RADIO WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF MARTINSVILLE...OR ABOUT 17 MILES NORTH OF BLOOMINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. * THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR... BARGERSVILLE AT 135 PM EST GREENWOOD AT 140 PM EST HOMECROFT AT 145 PM EST BEECH GROVE AT 150 PM EST INDIANAPOLIS AT 150 PM EST THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING TORNADO EMERGENCY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM. GET UNDER STURDY FURNITURE OR USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT.

 Damage Picture Links