National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

March 2, 2012 Central Indiana Severe Weather

 

Surface Map valid at 1 pm March 2
Surface Map valid at 1:00 PM March 2

 

SPC Risk Areas as of 11:30 AM March 2 - Click to Enlarge

 

Links to surrounding NWS offices' pages on this event

A powerful area of low pressure strengthened as it moved across Indiana into Michigan. Strong winds associated with the system combined with warm and moist air to generate severe thunderstorms across central Indiana. Much of the severe weather was large hail, but damaging winds also occurred. Across southern Indiana, numerous tornadoes struck, causing significant destruction to several towns.

 

Radar image from 10am. Radar Image at 11:00 AM
 Radar Image at 10:00 AM. Click to enlarge.  Radar Image at 11:00 AM. Click to enlarge.
 Radar image at 2:00 PM  Radar image at 3:00 PM
 Radar Image at 2:00 PM. Click to enlarge.  Radar Image at  3:00 PM. Click to enlarge.

 

Hail outside the NWS Office near 11:00 AM

Hail outside the NWS office at about 11:00 AM. Click to enlarge.

 

After the storms moved out, strong winds caused by the strengthening of the area of low pressure moved across central Indiana. Below are peak wind speeds from observation sites across the area:

LOCATION                  HIGHEST OB TIME WIND   PEAK WIND OR
                          AND OB TIME            PEAK OB TIME GUST

LAFAYETTE                 31 MPH / 654 PM         46 MPH / 641 PM
INDIANAPOLIS              36 MPH / 654 PM         54 MPH / 549 PM
TERRE HAUTE               28 MPH / 653 PM         47 MPH / 421 PM
MUNCIE                    35 MPH / 853 PM         60 MPH / 856 PM
BLOOMINGTON               24 MPH / 653 PM         45 MPH / 516 PM
INDIANAPOLIS EAGLE CREEK  29 MPH / 553 PM         52 MPH / 645 PM

Here are severe weather reports received by the NWS Indianapolis:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
508 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012

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

0710 AM     HAIL             FRANKLIN                39.49N 86.06W
03/02/2012  E0.75 INCH       JOHNSON            IN   PUBLIC

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

0717 AM     HAIL             2 E FRANKLIN            39.49N 86.02W
03/02/2012  M0.50 INCH       JOHNSON            IN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            HALF INCH HAIL REPORTED BY FORMER NATIONAL WEATHER
            SERVICE EMPLOYEE AND COOP OBSERVER.

0719 AM     HAIL             FRANKLIN                39.49N 86.06W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       JOHNSON            IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZE HAIL LASTED FOR 1 TO 2 MINUTES FROM TRAINED
            WEATHER SPOTTER.

0825 AM     HAIL             2 SSW GREENSBORO        39.85N 85.48W
03/02/2012  E0.50 INCH       HENRY              IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0950 AM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
03/02/2012  M1.75 INCH       VIGO               IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            AT 13TH AND DELAWARE STREETS IN TERRE HAUTE.

0951 AM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
03/02/2012  M1.75 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            13TH AND WABASH STREETS IN TERRE HAUTE.

0952 AM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
03/02/2012  E1.75 INCH       VIGO               IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1007 AM     HAIL             BRAZIL                  39.52N 87.12W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       CLAY               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1007 AM     HAIL             ROCKVILLE               39.77N 87.23W
03/02/2012  E1.75 INCH       PARKE              IN   CO-OP OBSERVER

1007 AM     HAIL             BRAZIL                  39.52N 87.12W
03/02/2012  M1.75 INCH       CLAY               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1021 AM     HAIL             3 SE GREENCASTLE        39.61N 86.80W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       PUTNAM             IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

1031 AM     HAIL             2 SW BAINBRIDGE         39.74N 86.84W
03/02/2012  E1.50 INCH       PUTNAM             IN   PUBLIC

1034 AM     HAIL             1 NNW BAINBRIDGE        39.77N 86.82W
03/02/2012  E1.75 INCH       PUTNAM             IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

1044 AM     HAIL             PLAINFIELD              39.70N 86.39W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

1051 AM     HAIL             NORTH SALEM             39.86N 86.64W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1056 AM     HAIL             1 S INDIANAPOLIS        39.76N 86.15W
03/02/2012  E1.25 INCH       MARION             IN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

1058 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M1.75 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL MEASURED AT I-465 AND HARDING

1058 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M1.25 INCH       MARION             IN   NWS OFFICE

1058 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       MARION             IN   NWS EMPLOYEE

1058 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  E0.25 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1101 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M0.50 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL OBSERVED AT I-465 AND MANN ROAD

1103 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  E0.25 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WASHINGTON STREET AND HIGHSCHOOL ROAD

1104 AM     HAIL             5 SE INDIANAPOLIS       39.73N 86.08W
03/02/2012  E0.75 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1107 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            EMERSON AVENUE AND SOUTHEASTERN AVENUE

1110 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M1.25 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL MEASURED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS

1111 AM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            35TH AND SHADELAND

1125 AM     HAIL             ANDERSON                40.09N 85.69W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       MADISON            IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1209 PM     HAIL             WEST LAFAYETTE          40.44N 86.91W
03/02/2012  M0.50 INCH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1213 PM     HAIL             WEST LAFAYETTE          40.44N 86.91W
03/02/2012  M0.88 INCH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1214 PM     HAIL             LAFAYETTE               40.41N 86.87W
03/02/2012  E0.25 INCH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1223 PM     HAIL             LAFAYETTE               40.41N 86.87W
03/02/2012  M0.88 INCH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1232 PM     HAIL             INDIANAPOLIS            39.78N 86.15W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL MEASURED AT 79 AND SPRINGMILL ROAD

1241 PM     HAIL             3 E ATTICA              40.29N 87.19W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       FOUNTAIN           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL MEASURED IN ODELL INDIANA

0135 PM     HAIL             1 N JUDSON              39.83N 87.14W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       PARKE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0140 PM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOTS OF PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR US-40

0145 PM     HAIL             3 S TERRE HAUTE         39.43N 87.38W
03/02/2012  M0.75 INCH       VIGO               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             BRAZIL                  39.52N 87.12W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       CLAY               IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0200 PM     HAIL             GREENCASTLE             39.64N 86.84W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       PUTNAM             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0200 PM     HAIL             CLOVERDALE              39.52N 86.80W
03/02/2012  M0.50 INCH       PUTNAM             IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0206 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     LEBANON                 40.05N 86.47W
03/02/2012                   BOONE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROTATION AND SMALL FUNNEL CLOUD OBSERVED IN LEBANON

0207 PM     HAIL             4 ESE BAINBRIDGE        39.74N 86.74W
03/02/2012  M1.50 INCH       PUTNAM             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0212 PM     HAIL             LEBANON                 40.05N 86.47W
03/02/2012  M0.88 INCH       BOONE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL OBSERVED NEAR SRD 32 AND SRD 39

0220 PM     HAIL             4 SE SHOALS             38.63N 86.74W
03/02/2012  E0.50 INCH       MARTIN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0220 PM     HAIL             5 N COATESVILLE         39.76N 86.67W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0225 PM     HAIL             DANVILLE                39.76N 86.52W
03/02/2012  M0.50 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0226 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     WHITESTOWN              40.00N 86.35W
03/02/2012                   BOONE              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            REPORTED LOWERING OF CLOUD BASE WITH ROTATION

0231 PM     HAIL             LEBANON                 40.05N 86.47W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       BOONE              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0232 PM     HAIL             PLAINFIELD              39.70N 86.39W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0235 PM     HAIL             PLAINFIELD              39.70N 86.39W
03/02/2012  M0.75 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0236 PM     HAIL             MOORESVILLE             39.62N 86.37W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0238 PM     HAIL             ZIONSVILLE              39.95N 86.27W
03/02/2012  M0.88 INCH       BOONE              IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0239 PM     HAIL             AVON                    39.76N 86.38W
03/02/2012  M0.75 INCH       HENDRICKS          IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0240 PM     HAIL             CAMBY                   39.66N 86.31W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       MARION             IN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0240 PM     HAIL             MUNCIE                  40.20N 85.39W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       DELAWARE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0244 PM     TSTM WND GST     BEDFORD                 38.86N 86.49W
03/02/2012  E70.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0246 PM     HAIL             CARMEL                  39.97N 86.11W
03/02/2012  M0.75 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0247 PM     HAIL             CARMEL                  39.97N 86.11W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0250 PM     HAIL             WESTFIELD               40.05N 86.13W
03/02/2012  M0.25 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0255 PM     HAIL             NOBLESVILLE             40.06N 86.03W
03/02/2012  M1.00 INCH       HAMILTON           IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0304 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 S ST. PAUL            39.40N 85.63W
03/02/2012                   DECATUR            IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            53 FOOT SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER BLOWN OVER ON EASTBOUND
            INTERSTATE 74 JUST WEST OF MILE MARKER 123.

0339 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NW STRAUGHN           39.83N 85.32W
03/02/2012  M63.00 MPH       HENRY              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

            GUST MEASURED BY HAM OPERATOR. RESULTED IN BROKEN
            ANEMOMETER.

0340 PM     HAIL             1 E STRAUGHN            39.81N 85.27W
03/02/2012  E1.00 INCH       HENRY              IN   AMATEUR RADIO

0342 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BUTLERVILLE             39.03N 85.51W
03/02/2012                   JENNINGS           IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN AT SR 3 AND 500 N. RIGHT AFTER THIS REPORT WAS
            A REPORT OF A TORNADO ON THE GROUND EAST OF BUTLERVILLE
            BUT STILL IN JENNINGS COUNTY. NO DAMAGE COULD BE
            CONFIRMED FROM THIS TORNADO REPORT.

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