There seems to be three distinct categories setting up.

But as always, things are subject to change.



Here we go! A Tornado Watch has been issued for most of Indiana until 9:00PM

 It makes sense. The second line of storms is forming in Illinois. 



Tornado Watch

TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 195
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
225 PM EDT TUE MAY 7 2024

TORNADO WATCH 195 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR THE
 FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

INC005-007-011-013-015-017-021-023-027-039-045-049-053-055-057-
059-063-067-069-071-073-081-083-085-087-089-091-093-095-097-099-
101-103-105-107-109-111-113-119-121-127-131-133-141-145-149-153-
157-159-165-167-169-171-181-183-080100-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0195.240507T1825Z-240508T0100Z/

IN
.    INDIANA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BARTHOLOMEW          BENTON              BOONE
BROWN                CARROLL             CASS
CLAY                 CLINTON             DAVIESS
ELKHART              FOUNTAIN            FULTON
GRANT                GREENE              HAMILTON
HANCOCK              HENDRICKS           HOWARD
HUNTINGTON           JACKSON             JASPER
JOHNSON              KNOX                KOSCIUSKO
LAGRANGE             LAKE                LAWRENCE
LA PORTE             MADISON             MARION
MARSHALL             MARTIN              MIAMI
MONROE               MONTGOMERY          MORGAN
NEWTON               NOBLE               OWEN
PARKE                PORTER              PULASKI
PUTNAM               SHELBY              ST. JOSEPH
STARKE               SULLIVAN            TIPPECANOE
TIPTON               VERMILLION          VIGO
WABASH               WARREN              WHITE
WHITLEY


Be alert for severe weather today and for the next 48 hours. (5/7 - 5/8)

If you have a weather radio, make sure it's on and has fresh batteries. If you don't have a weather radio, you should buy one along with some batteries. Today and tomorrow should be rough and then it's all over by Thursday. Friday will be sunny with a high of 64 and the low will be 48. Isn't that nice?

The Plains States got hit really hard last night. One person is dead  and there's a lot of destruction

For us here in Indiana, a large bow echo is forming right at the Illinois-Indiana border.



I expect the National Weather Service to put out a severe thunderstorm watch at some point and maybe even a tornado watch. Here what they are saying for now:

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
618 AM EDT Tue May 7 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe storms expected today, especially during the afternoon
  and evening. All forms of severe hazards are possible.

- Additional severe storms are possible Wednesday afternoon and
  evening. All forms of severe hazards are again possible.

- Heavy rain is possible at times through Wednesday night. Localized
  flooding will also be possible.

- More chances for thunderstorms mainly Thursday and Saturday.

- Normal to slightly below normal temperatures from Thursday
  into early next week.

&&

.FORECAST UPDATE...
Issued at 617 AM EDT Tue May 7 2024

With the main line of convection still well to the west over west
central Illinois, slowed down PoPs a bit. The ETA of the line into
the Wabash Valley has been pushed back to 13z per AWIPS distance
speed tool. Expect the line to weaken substantially with little to
no instability to work with per LAPS data.

&&

.SHORT TERM (Today and tonight)...
Issued at 245 AM EDT Tue May 7 2024

Tuesday Rd #1 | Strong but Mostly Sub-Severe | Between 9AM and 12PM

An ongoing MCS over MO will progress eastward overnight, propelled
by a strong LLJ. As this reaches the Ohio Valley this morning, the
LLJ will begin to wain, remaining stronger further west. Still,
sufficient 0-3km CAPE between 100-150 J/kg, and a sustained cold
pool should be enough to keep the MCS ongoing despite weaker LL
dynamics. The expectation is for this MCS to be over Indiana
between 9AM and 12PM.

Atmospheric disorganization and a lull in thermodynamic availability
will be the main mitigating factors for severe convection within
this initial round. An elongated low to the north will keep deep
layer shear elevated over the northern half of central Indiana, but
mid level lapse rates and theta-e advection ahead of the MCS will be
much weaker. The opposite will be true for the southern half of
central Indiana (Elevated Instability, but Weak Shear).

This should cause the storms over northern central Indiana to become
more shear dominant, with convection outrunning the UDCZ. For this
reason, the northern section of the line may briefly be near severe
criteria as it nears/enters Indiana, but should quickly weaken as it
progresses eastward.

The southern half of the storm then becomes the greater concern
depending on how quickly the cold pool moves eastward. Its possible
the cold pool becomes dominant on the southern half, and the main
concern then shifts towards initiation along the outflow boundary.
However, if balance does remain, there is high enough 0-3km CAPE,
and theta-e ingestion for potentially severe wind gusts along the
UDCZ for this first round.

Tuesday Rd #2 | Scattered Severe Storms | Between 3PM and 10PM

Even though this is round 2 of convection for the day, the storm
mode and overall hazards will likely not be the same over the entire
7 hour threat period. For that reason, I am going to split this
portion of the discussion into 2a (3P-7P) and 2b (6P-10P).

Round 2a (3P-7P): The remnants of the morning convective line will
be moving away by early afternoon with a capped lower level for
portions of the late morning and early afternoon. Any cap that does
form will quickly erode as rapid theta-e advection pushes a warm,
moist layer over central Indiana this afternoon. Broad diffluence of
the mid/upper level jet streaks along with this rapidly
destabilizing atmosphere should lead to scattered CI over central
Indiana around mid-afternoon.

Early on, multicellular clusters will be the more common storm mode
as overall parameter spacing remains moderated by sufficient, but
weak 800-700mb winds, and weak anvil level flow. Current
expectations for this initial time period are for 0-1 SRH to be
around 100, with CAPE beginning around 1500 J/kg. Effective shear
will still be plenty strong for updraft organization within
multicells, and an isolated wind and hail threat is likely. Poor
precip dispersion aloft within weak anvil level flow, may lead to
precip loading in the updraft, creating more sub-severe and melting
hail, but confidence is not high in this solution given robust
effective bulk shear.

Round 2b (6P-10P): The second half of this round looks to be the
most potent portion of the entire day. A pressure trough will begin
to develop across central Indiana late this afternoon into the
evening providing another source of lift and convective
organization. Shear vectors along this pressure trough remain
orthogonal keeping the storm mode mostly discrete. During this time
period, mid level lapse rates ramp up even further, pushing SBCAPE
values near 3000 J/kg. This along with better anvil level flow, and
a strengthening LLJ will likely lead to the formation of supercells.
This time period will be most concerning for areas along and east of
the I-69 corridor including the cities of Muncie, Indianapolis,
Bloomington, Shelbyville, Columbus, Rushville, Winchester, and
Seymour.

With the expectation of supercells during this time period, all
severe hazards are on the table. Strong 0-1km lapse rates, 0-1km
shear and low LCLs also intensify the tornado threat for this time
period, including the potential for a few strong tornadoes (EF2+).
Giant hail (2.5"+) will also be possible within strong updrafts of
supercells.

&&

.LONG TERM (Wednesday through Monday)...
Issued at 245 AM EDT Tue May 7 2024

Wednesday and Wednesday night...

A severe weather outbreak followed by heavy rain and flooding are
possible Wednesday afternoon and night as a surface low heads
northeast towards central Indiana in the fast southwest flow aloft
around the base of the High Plains upper low. This will allow a warm
front to lift northeast from southern Indiana to near the I-74
corridor by late afternoon. By Thursday morning, the associated
surface low will be somewhere near Muncie with a cold front sweeping
through from the west. Out ahead of the cold front and in the warm
sector to the south of the northeastward moving warm front, the
atmosphere will destabilize during the afternoon with CAPEs in
excess of 1000 J/kg. The combination of the instability, strong mid
level shear in excess of 50 knots and the synoptic forcing will
likely lead to rapid thunderstorm development during the afternoon
with all modes of severe storms possible. Model soundings are
afternoon curved hodographs with 0-3 km SRH near 200 and 0-1 km SRH
slightly over 100.

The biggest caveat to severe weather potential across central
Indiana will be how far northeast the warm front gets during the
afternoon and if discrete cells can form ahead of a likely MCS
approaching from the southwest. If the front doesn`t it make it as
far northeast, and the 00z runs are hinting at this scenario, severe
weather will likely be limited to our southwestern counties. This
has prompted a further southwest shift in the SPC Day2 severe
outlook, which has the Enhanced Risk south of Terre Haute and
Greensburg and the Slight Risk only as far north as Cicero and
Anderson. FWIW, CAMs favor the bulk of the MCS to move south of I-74
with little to no discrete cells ahead of it. Still, with
uncertainty, will continue with 80+ percent PoPs over all central
Indiana Wednesday night with 50 percent PoPs Wed afternoon
over southwestern counties tapering to 20 percent northeast.

By nightfall, the focus will shift more towards heavy rain and
flooding as PWATS increase to 1.5 inches or higher which is the max
moving average for this time of year. In addition, coupled jet
structure from jet maxes over the Great Lakes and southern states,
could enhance rainfall totals. DESI suggests an inch or more 24 hour
QPF is possible over south central Indiana and this looks to be on
the low side. Will make mention of heavy rain and flooding potential
in the HWO and in web site and social media graphics.

Thursday night through Tuesday...

A pair of upper waves in northwest flow aloft will bring decent
chances for convection to the area Thursday and again Saturday.
Otherwise, signal lacking for anything other than low chances for
convection for the rest of the weekend due to general troughy flow
aloft. Meanwhile, models are hinting at an approaching upper ridge
early next week which would tend to bring dry weather.

Temperatures look to be more on the cool side than recently with
normal or slightly below normal afternoon highs in the 60s and 70s.



NWS: A Major Severe Weather Outbreak is Forecast Today and/or Tonight

Please read the National Weather Service's Public Severe Weather Outlook.

https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/pwo.html

See also The Storm Prediction Center:

https://www.spc.noaa.gov/



Prepare for severe storms in Indiana and the entire central USA!

Indiana will see a chance of strong to severe storms on both Tuesday and Wednesday. If you have family living in Kentucky or Oklahoma, be sure and give them a call to warn them. Tornadoes are likely in those states and they should probably get a hotel in another state until the storms pass. 








Here is what the National Weather Service is thinking about Indiana:

LONG TERM (Tuesday Night through Monday)...
Issued at 305 PM EDT Mon May 6 2024

Late Tuesday night through Wednesday night...

A break in convection is expected to start late Tuesday night, with
even weak ridging building into central Indiana from the subtropical
surface high pressure to our southeast.  Despite clearing skies,
lighter southwesterly breezes will hold dewpoints in the upper
50s...resulting in low temperatures around 60F across the region.

Wednesday will bring another favorable set-up for convection and
perhaps widespread severe weather with a warm frontal type boundary
likely slowly advancing northward near our southern counties ahead
of a strengthening surface low slowly approaching over the Middle
Mississippi Valley.  Much of the day Wednesday may be the quiet
before the storm as the narrow ridging between the two systems
continues to cross the CWA...albeit eventually self-destructive with
the bright skies bringing low 80s and light southerly winds holding
dewpoints in the 55-65F range.  Resultant CAPE by 21Z should range
from 1000-3000 J/kg from north-south...including moderately strong 7-
8 deg/km lapse rates over most of the area.  Widespread 40-55 kt 0-6
km shear will also support arriving/developing convection.

So far appears most likely storm pattern will be a mesoscale
convective system initiating in the afternoon somewhere in the
central/eastern Illinois region...before tracking eastward into
Indiana during the late day/early evening hours.  This would likely
transition into more of a heavy rain/flooding threat later in the
evening and into overnight hours, especially south of I-70 amid the
system`s warm sector`s anomalous precipitable water values
approaching 2.00 inches.  While the environment would support
discrete cells ahead of a later MCS arrival...organized severe
weather`s location would be dependent on warm frontal position, with
timing likely determined by where/when storms begin to fire to our
west.

All severe hazards are on the table for PM hours Wednesday with
damaging winds and large hail the greatest threats during the
afternoon/evening...and flooding the greatest concern for the
evening/overnight.  Although it is only early May, the set-up and
potential are perhaps more indicative of a June pattern with the
synoptic set-up able to effortlessly fuel ample deep moisture into
central and especially southern Indiana.  Rain chances will drop
from west to east late Wednesday night as the supporting surface low
crosses the state.  Total 24-hour rainfall potential for Wed-Wed
night will be 1.00-2.50 inches along/south of the I-70 corridor,
with less than 1.00 inch expected for most locations north of I-70.

Temperatures will be above normal amid the S/SW flow and overall
warm sector of the passing/approaching systems.  Expect low 80s
ahead of convection Wednesday...while lows Wednesday night amid
decreasing chances of rain ranging from the upper 50s near Lafayette
to the mid 60s south of the I-70 corridor.


Thursday through Monday...

The last five days of the long term will then trend to at least a
couple northern stream, positively-tilted short waves cycling from
the northern Plains into the Midwest.  Not the greatest certainty
with this pattern, with some guidance members originally hinting at
the second wave plunging and inducing a strong baroclinic
circulation near the Ohio Valley around the Sunday/Monday timeframe
...however, latest data now suggests amplification will be more
modest, which should keep the pattern more progressive over the
region thru the end of the long term.

This should translate to near to slightly below temperatures amid
west-northwesterly breezes.  Thursday will be marked by robust to
gusty breezes as the gradient from the combination of departing low
pressure and the passage mid-level supporting vort.  The 5-day
period will include several chances for at least stray showers under
the troughy flow...with more organized showers expected both
Thursday and Saturday per corresponding short waves.  Widespread
and/or heavy rainfall could be possible early next week should the
weekend wave plunge and phase, although currently low chances in
this set-up coming to fruition.  The normal max/min at Indianapolis
through the long term is 72/52.




Updated eclipse forecast for Bloomington Indiana on April 8, 2024.

 




From the NWS:

Saturday night through Monday...

The first of two eastern Pacific systems will move into the northern
Plains Sunday and upper Midwest Monday as the high amplitude ridge
portion of the block gets broken down. Prefer the slightly further
west combination of the 00z ECMWF and ensemble means due to the
typical poorer handling of blocking patterns of the GFS. It looks
like an associated surface system will gradually lift northeast over
the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley next week. However, another southern
system will complicate things further, namely the evolution of a
complex surface pattern. In general, it looks like a warm front and
dry slot may be be spreading across from the southwest on eclipse
day. This should give some hope that enough clouds will scour by
Monday afternoon for viewing of the eclipse. Better chances for
convection will follow toward midweek as the second system gets
involved. Meanwhile, southerly flow ahead of the surface will ramp
up and allow for temperatures to quickly climb back to well above
normal with upper 60s and lower 70s possible Monday.

@2:00pm there are reports of a tornado in Madison Indiana

The radar signal is definitely there!






Tornado Warning


Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
220 PM EDT Thu Mar 14 2024

INC155-KYC041-141830-
/O.CON.KILN.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-240314T1830Z/
Switzerland IN-Carroll KY-
220 PM EDT Thu Mar 14 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN SWITZERLAND AND CARROLL COUNTIES...

At 220 PM EDT, a radar confirmed tornado was located near
Carrollton, moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado. Radar shows tornado debris in the
         air.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Carrollton, Vevay, Ghent, Sanders, Worthville, Prestonville,
Braytown, Interstate 71 at Mile Marker 52, Interstate 71 at State
Route 227, Langstaff, English, Eagle Station, Easterday, General
Butler State Park, and Carson.

This includes I-71 in Kentucky between mile markers 43 and 53.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

To report severe weather, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and
submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3879 8520 3877 8501 3876 8502 3865 8494
      3865 8497 3863 8499 3863 8501 3861 8503
      3861 8506 3864 8520
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 283DEG 38KT 3870 8517

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

Hatzos

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Louisville KY
221 PM EDT Thu Mar 14 2024

INC077-141831-
/O.EXP.KLMK.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-240314T1830Z/
Jefferson IN-
221 PM EDT Thu Mar 14 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 230 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Louisville.

LAT...LON 3869 8520 3870 8522 3873 8525 3875 8525
      3875 8520
TIME...MOT...LOC 1821Z 267DEG 39KT 3871 8517

 

I bet you think winter is over don't you?

The flowers and trees are blooming in Bloomington. Is that why this place is called Bloomington? Oh well, enjoy the nice weather on Kirkwood this week. Changes are coming!




GFS Forecast for 3/18


GFS Forecast for 3/27



In the picture above, that snow showing up in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia is possible but unlikely. I think it will end up being right over Indiana.

Here is what the National Weather Service is saying about long range forecast:

.LONG TERM (Wednesday through Monday)...
Issued at 254 AM EDT Tue Mar 12 2024

Wednesday into Thursday Night...

A weakening upper short wave will move into the area Wednesday. Deep
moisture will be lacking. Thus, any showers that survive into
central Indiana Wednesday morning should weaken or dissipate
completely. Will have some slight chance PoPs during the morning,
but will go dry in the afternoon with the lack of any forcing.

Wednesday night into Thursday morning, a warm front will move
northeast through the area. A low level jet will bring moisture and
forcing along with the warm front. Thus, will go with likely PoPs
over much of the area later Wednesday night and likely or higher
PoPs all areas Thursday morning.

Questions then arise for additional forcing Thursday afternoon
before a low pressure system brings widespread forcing Thursday
night. Some models indicate upper energy moving through Thursday
afternoon, sparking off some showers and storms. Others keep best
chances for rain near the warm front across northern Indiana. With
the uncertainty, will not deviate much from blended guidance`s low
likely PoPs north (closer to the warm front) and chance PoPs south.

Will go likely PoPs Thursday night as the low pressure system
interacts with plentiful moisture and a continued low level jet.

If the atmosphere can recover from Thursday morning`s rainfall,
instability and shear will be high enough for a conditional severe
thunderstorm threat later Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.
Uncertainty remains high though given impacts from morning rain as
well as potential interference from stronger convection to the south
and west of central Indiana.

Warm air will remain across central Indiana with highs in the 60s to
lower 70s and lows in the 50s.

Friday and Saturday...

A cold front will move through on Friday, but best moisture will be
east of the area. Will keep some lower PoPs around, mainly Friday
morning. Friday night and Saturday, the area will be in between
systems and dry.

Saturday night and beyond...

An upper trough will approach the area through Sunday and then move
in for Monday. Ahead of it, a cold front will move through on
Saturday night. Moisture will be mainly tied up to the south with a
southern system, Will go dry most areas through Sunday.

As cold air aloft moves in with the upper trough on Monday, a few
snow/rain showers will be possible.

Temperatures will fall to below normal on Monday, with highs only in
the lower to middle 40s. Monday night`s lows will be in the 20s.

Models are hinting at the cold temperatures may not last as long as
previously thought, with zonal flow potentially returning by Thursday
the 21st.