High Wind — Marion, Indiana

2024-09-27 · Marion, Indiana

Event narrative

Non-thunderstorm winds downed hundreds of trees across the county, including dozens onto roads and power poles, and a reported 25 onto homes. Two homes ascertained major damage, with minor to moderate damage to most other homes affected. The Department of Public Works acquired extra resources to make two passes to clear both debris from roadways/intersections and then ultimately remove debris. The traffic signal/streetlight infrastructure was also impacted.

Wind gusts at or in excess of 58 MPH were occasionally observed at the Indianapolis International Airport (KIND)'s ASOS during 1742-1831 EST, including a peak gust to 68 MPH at 1756 EST. As many as nearly 58,00 persons were without power.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Helene transitioned into a Post Tropical Storm while tracking from the southern Appalachians into eastern Kentucky during the midday hours of the 27th. The circulation center then tracked west across Kentucky while the northern portions of Helene's remnant pressure field enveloped the Midwest. As the system continued to transition into an overall baroclinic circulation, the tilt of its asymmetric, increasingly oblong trough retrograded from the upper Ohio River Valley into Indiana, aligned along the Interstate 69 corridor by the early evening hours.

Helene's strongest gradient through the mid- and low levels was found along this axis that crossed Indiana from east to west. Severe winds aloft mixed down to the surface during mainly late day hours, as wind gusts that approached 70 mph. Isolated to scattered wind damage was found over much of the region, including scores of downed trees; one of which that caused one injury in Putnam County. Power outages for central Indiana peaked at 132,381, making up nearly 80 percent of the state's total.

A band of heavier rain across southern Henry County, northern Hancock County and most northern portions of the Indianapolis Metro Area produced 1.60 to 2.70 inches of rainfall, leading to brief localized flooding and ponding of low-lying areas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1218811. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.