Thunderstorm Wind in Bartholomew County, Indiana

A 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the KBAK AWOS.

During the 19th afternoon, an unstable airmass ahead of an approaching surface trough triggered a cluster of severe thunderstorms across central Indiana. Convection initially intensified over the western and northern portions of the Indianapolis metropolitan area shortly after 1500 EST, capitalizing on strong low-to-mid level wind shear. These storms quickly organized into severe segments that tracked eastward and southward, producing a concentrated swath of damaging straight-line winds across Hendricks, Hamilton, Delaware, and Bartholomew counties before exiting the IND CWA by 1700 EST.

Damaging winds were the primary hazard with this event, resulting in structural damage, power outages, and travel disruptions. Hamilton County was particularly hard hit, where estimated wind gusts up to 55 knots (63 mph) downed multiple utility lines, left a power pole leaning in Noblesville, and knocked a large tree through the roof of a residence. Transportation infrastructure was also impacted: in Delaware County, estimated gusts of 55 knots blew over a semi truck on Interstate 69 near mile marker 249. Earlier in the afternoon, severe gusts in Hendricks County downed several trees, including one that blocked a roadway southwest of Danville. As the severe weather pushed into south-central Indiana, the KBAK AWOS at Columbus Municipal Airport in Bartholomew County recorded a peak measured wind gust of 52 knots (60 mph).