Reporting Severe Weather to the NWS Indianapolis Office

How to Report

There are a variety of ways to report weather to the NWS Indianapolis office. You can use any/all of these to reach us. Below the contact info are the types of information we'd like you to report. Please be sure to include the location of the weather event, e.g. 5 miles northwest of Columbus. You may also indicate if you are a trained spotter, a HAM radio operator, a member of law enforcement, or other affiliation if applicable.

Facebook

Post information on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/NWSIndianapolis.

Twitter

Send us a tweet: @NWSIndianapolis. Use the hashtags #inwx and #nwsind

Email

Send us an email: nws.indianapolis@noaa.gov

Tornado
Damaging Winds
Hail
Flooding
Heavy Rain
Snow
Freezing Rain/Icing
Strong Winds
Fog

Tornado

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. The Enhanced Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale is used to categorize tornadoes

Funnel Cloud: A condensation funnel extending from the base of a towering cumulus or cumulonimbus, associated with a rotating column of air that is not in contact with the ground (and hence different from a tornado). A condensation funnel is a tornado, not a funnel cloud, if either a) it is in contact with the ground or b) a debris cloud or dust whirl is visible beneath it.

Wind Damage

What kind of damage did the wind cause?

Small limbs down (less than 2" in diameter)
Large limbs/branches down (more than 2" in diameter)
Trees snapped or uprooted
Power lines down
Structural damage and/or Roof damage

Hail

What size hail did you see?

Pea Size: 0.25 inches
Small Marble: 0.50 inches
Penny: 0.75 inches
Nickel: 0.88 inches
Any hail size below is severe thunderstorm criteria:
Quarter: 1.00 inches
Half Dollar: 1.25 inches
Ping Pong Ball: 1.50
Golf Ball: 1.75 inches
Hen Egg: 2.00 inches
Tennis Ball: 2.50 inches
Baseball: 2.75 inches
Grapefruit: 4.00 inches
Softball: 4.50 inches

Flooding:

What kind of flooding was observed?

Minor street flooding
Low water crossings flooded
Widespread flooding
Home/Business flooded
Creek/Stream out of banks
River out of banks

Heavy Rain

How much rain fell, e.g. 1.50".
What period of time did the rain fall? (e.g. 1 hour 15 minutes.)
Was the rainfall measurement estimated or measured with equipment?

Snow Info

How much snow fell (to nearest tenth of an inch if possible), e.g. 3.5".
What period of time did the snow fall? (e.g. 1 hour 15 minutes.)
Was the rainfall measurement estimated or measured?

Freezing Rain/Icing

How much icing was observed (to nearest tenth of an inch if possible), e.g. 0.5".
What period of time did the ice accumulate? (e.g. 2 hours 30 minutes.)
Was the rainfall measurement estimated or measured?

Strong Winds

We are generally interested in wind speeds of 40-50 mph or higher. Here is some info on how to estimate wind speeds:

39-54 mph: Twigs break off trees; wind generally impedes progress.
55-72 mph: Damage to chimneys and TV antennas; pushes over shallow rooted trees.
73-112 mph: Peels surfaces off roofs; windows broken; light mobile homes pushed or overturned; moving cars pushed off road.

Dense Fog

We are mainly interested in visibility reports of a half mile or less.

We appreciate all reports!!.