Overview
A line of thunderstorms developed in Iowa early in the morning of August 20, 2019, and continued moving southeast through the afternoon hours. The storms brought damaging winds to central Indiana during the early to mid-afternoon time frame. Trees and power lines were downed across the area. The Indianapolis International Airport reported a 73 mph wind gust with the storms. Nearly 40,000 people were without power due to the storms.Radar
Radar Loop of Event
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| Velocity Image at 2:42 PM, showing strong winds impacting the west side of Marion County. A 73 MPH wind gust was reported at the Indianapolis Int'l Airport at 2:43 PM EDT.  | 
		
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
822 PM EDT TUE AUG 20 2019
..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..
1228 PM     HAIL             TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
08/20/2019  E0.50 INCH       VIGO               IN   AMATEUR RADIO
            LOCATED AT 8TH AVENUE AND LAFAYETTE.
0115 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WEST LEBANON            40.27N 87.38W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IN   PUBLIC
            MULTIPLE TREES REPORTED DOWN NEAR WEST
            LEBANON.
0116 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 S ATTICA              40.22N 87.25W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   PUBLIC
            TREE DOWN ON AUTOMOBILE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
            RADAR.
0118 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNW COVINGTON         40.20N 87.41W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            A TREE WAS REPORTED DOWN ALONG STATE ROUTE
            263 NEAR COUNTY ROAD 500 WEST. TIME IS
            APPROXIMATE BASED ON RADAR.
0135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VEEDERSBURG             40.11N 87.26W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   PUBLIC
            MULTIPLE LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWNED. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0136 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
08/20/2019                   VIGO               IN   AMATEUR RADIO
            UTILITY LINE DOWN.
0142 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SW WAYNETOWN          40.05N 87.12W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            LARGE TREE LIMBS SNAPPED.
0148 PM     TSTM WND GST     COAL CITY               39.23N 87.05W
08/20/2019  E60 MPH          OWEN               IN   PUBLIC
            DIME SIZED HAIL WAS ALSO NOTED.
0150 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSW PURDUE UNIVERSITY 40.42N 86.92W
08/20/2019                   TIPPECANOE         IN   NWS EMPLOYEE
            TREE SNAPPED AND DOWN.
0150 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VEEDERSBURG             40.11N 87.26W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   PUBLIC
            UTILITY LINES DOWN.
0151 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SW WAYNETOWN          40.05N 87.12W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            LARGE LIMBS REPORTED DOWN.
0201 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW GREENCASTLE        39.66N 86.86W
08/20/2019                   PUTNAM             IN   EMERGENCY MNGR
            EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS TREES AND TREE
            LIMBS DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY WITH SOME ON
            CARS.
0201 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW NEW MARKET        39.96N 86.95W
08/20/2019                   MONTGOMERY         IN   EMERGENCY MNGR
            LARGE LIMB OF TREE SNAPPED OFF ALONG INDIANA
            47S. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0205 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE LAFAYETTE          40.40N 86.86W
08/20/2019                   TIPPECANOE         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE TREE LIMBS DOWN JUST
            WEST OF TEAL AND 52.
0205 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 SE LAFAYETTE          40.40N 86.86W
08/20/2019  E60 MPH          TIPPECANOE         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            LOCATED JUST WEST OF TEAL AND 52. SMALL AND
            MEDIUM SIZE LIMBS DOWN.
0206 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAFAYETTE               40.41N 86.87W
08/20/2019                   TIPPECANOE         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            TREE LIMBS DOWN ON THIRD STREET.
0210 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW MARKET              39.95N 86.92W
08/20/2019                   MONTGOMERY         IN   PUBLIC
            DOORS BLOWN OFF ONE OR MORE BUILDINGS.
0213 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEWTOWN                 40.20N 87.15W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            TREE LIMBS DOWN.
0216 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WORTHINGTON             39.12N 86.97W
08/20/2019                   GREENE             IN   PUBLIC
            MULTIPLE 5 TO 7 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWNED.
0221 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S LAFAYETTE           40.40N 86.87W
08/20/2019                   TIPPECANOE         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA
            UTILITY LINES DOWN ACROSS ROAD AT ELSTON
            ROAD AND OLD US 231.
0227 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KINGMAN                 39.97N 87.28W
08/20/2019                   FOUNTAIN           IN   PUBLIC
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN.
0235 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DANVILLE                39.76N 86.53W
08/20/2019                   HENDRICKS          IN   AMATEUR RADIO
            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM
            DANVILLE. SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN ACROSS
            DANVILLE.
0240 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEWBERRY                38.93N 87.02W
08/20/2019  E60 MPH          GREENE             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER
            .
0241 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E DANVILLE            39.77N 86.50W
08/20/2019                   HENDRICKS          IN   PUBLIC
            REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR
            SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF.
0241 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W PLAINFIELD          39.68N 86.45W
08/20/2019                   HENDRICKS          IN   PUBLIC
            REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN;
            SHINGLES BLOWN OFF.
0242 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE AVON              39.78N 86.34W
08/20/2019                   HENDRICKS          IN   PUBLIC
            TREE DOWN ACROSS 100N.
0243 PM     TSTM WND GST     INDIANAPOLIS INT`L AIRP 39.72N 86.29W
08/20/2019  M73 MPH          MARION             IN   ASOS
            .
0243 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SSE INDIANAPOLIS INT` 39.69N 86.28W
08/20/2019                   MARION             IN   PUBLIC
            *** 1 INJ ***
            LARGE TREE SNAPPED AND FELL ON CAR DRIVING
            ALONG ROAD. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
0245 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE INDIANAPOLIS INT` 39.74N 86.25W
08/20/2019                   MARION             IN   AMATEUR RADIO
            LARGE TREE SNAPPED OFF 15 FEET ABOVE GROUND.
0252 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 S WYNNEDALE           39.81N 86.19W
08/20/2019  M70 MPH          MARION             IN   PUBLIC
            .
0252 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SW BARGERSVILLE       39.50N 86.20W
08/20/2019  E65 MPH          JOHNSON            IN   TRAINED SPOTTER
            .
0255 PM     TSTM WND GST     9 N NASHVILLE           39.33N 86.24W
08/20/2019  M60 MPH          BROWN              IN   AMATEUR RADIO
0258 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW MOSCOW             39.47N 85.59W
08/20/2019                   RUSH               IN   PUBLIC
            8 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN ACROSS ROAD.
0302 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNW SHOALS            38.70N 86.81W
08/20/2019                   MARTIN             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREE DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY 450 NEAR BRETT
            ROAD.
0305 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 SE BEECH GROVE        39.66N 85.99W
08/20/2019                   MARION             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER
            GAZEBO RIPPED OUT OF THE GROUND AND THROWN
            AGAINST A HOUSE.
0307 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 ENE WHITELAND         39.57N 86.01W
08/20/2019                   JOHNSON            IN   PUBLIC
            LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN WITH SEVERAL SMALL
            TREES SNAPPED AT THE LOCATION. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0307 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 E WHITELAND           39.55N 86.01W
08/20/2019                   JOHNSON            IN   PUBLIC
            SEVERAL LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWNED WITH A
            COUPLE SMALL TREES SNAPPED AT THE LOCATION.
            TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0307 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E SAINT PAUL          39.42N 85.59W
08/20/2019                   DECATUR            IN   EMERGENCY MNGR
            REPORT OF TREES DOWN IN NW DECATUR COUNTY.
0330 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MITCHELL                38.74N 86.47W
08/20/2019                   LAWRENCE           IN   PUBLIC
            2 POWER POLES SNAPPED ALONG ROAD. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0333 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW PENDLETON         40.01N 85.77W
08/20/2019                   MADISON            IN   EMERGENCY MNGR
            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON 525W AND
            SR132.
0337 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WALDRON                 39.45N 85.67W
08/20/2019                   SHELBY             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES AND POWER LINES WERE REPORTED DOWN
            NEAR WALDRON. THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THIS
            EVENT WAS BASED ON RADAR.
0346 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E SAINT PAUL          39.43N 85.58W
08/20/2019                   DECATUR            IN   EMERGENCY MNGR
            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
            E SAINT PAUL. REPORTS OF TREES DOWN FROM ST.
            PAUL TO GREENSBURG. 150+ CURRENTLY WITHOUT
            POWER DUE TO STORMS.
Environment
Thunderstorms developed thanks to an upper level wave. The upper wave interacted with the unstable atmosphere to produce the severe thunderstorms.
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| Figure 1: Mixed Layer CAPE at 2:00 PM EDT | Figure 2: Downdraft CAPE at 2:00 PM EDT | Figure 3: Differential Vortcity Advection at 2:00 PM | 
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