Tornado Risk Escalates Across Southern Indiana as IL Storms Push East — SevereWX

Tornado Risk Escalates Across Southern Indiana as IL Storms Push East

Storms with a track record of spinning up tornadoes in southern Illinois are now barreling eastward into southern and central Indiana this evening. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) highlights a rapidly increasing tornado threat, with a tornado watch almost certain (95% probability) in the next few hours.

These supercells are tied to a vorticity maximum riding eastward in mid-level zonal flow. A surface boundary is nudging north across Indiana, pooling rich moisture south of it—dewpoints in the 60s to low 70s fueling 500-1000 J/kg MLCAPE. Easterly low-level winds along the boundary crank up storm-relative helicity to around 300 m²/s² per Indianapolis radar data, priming storms for rotation.

Expect the tornado potential to peak through evening hours, with most probable intensities of 100-125 mph (EF1-EF2). Damaging winds could gust 65-80 mph, and hail up to 1.25 inches is possible.

Areas from roughly Terre Haute eastward through Bloomington and north to Indianapolis edges are in play. Stay tuned to local NWS offices (ILN, IND, LMK) for watch updates.

Prep Now: Review your safe room, charge devices, and monitor radar apps. Have a severe weather plan ready—when thunder roars, go indoors. Lives depend on it.