Thunderstorm Wind — Vanderburgh, Indiana

2014-05-09 · near Howell, Vanderburgh, Indiana

Event narrative

A very intense macroburst caused extensive damage across the Evansville metro area, primarily the north half of the city. The macroburst was about three miles wide on average. The macroburst started on the west side of Evansville and moved east-northeast across the Melody Hill area into Warrick County. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. Wind speeds averaged from 60 to 90 mph, with frequent peaks over 100 mph. A damage assessment indicated roughly 100 structures were damaged, with dozens destroyed. Dozens of vehicles were damaged due to falling trees. The assessed number of damaged homes and vehicles includes Warrick County as well. Thousands of trees were uprooted, snapped, or otherwise damaged. Hundreds of power poles were snapped or blown over. Damage to one farmstead was estimated at over two million dollars. The specific types of damage included a mobile home that was blown off its support piers, roofing that was blown off some structures, and window and siding damage to many others. Most of the structural damage was caused by falling trees. Power was out to a large part of the city. The power company servicing the region reported 50,000 customers without power a couple hours after the storm. Numerous roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines. Numerous wires were blown down or hanging low, and telephone service was not reliable. At the Evansville airport, several trailers and a semi were overturned. The automated weather observing equipment at the airport was damaged. A wind gust to 89 mph was measured at the Evansville airport control tower. The Red Cross set up a shelter for those without power. An outdoor warning siren was blown into the woods. The total length of the damage area across Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Spencer Counties was 35 miles.

Wider weather episode

A major macroburst with winds over 100 mph at times caused extensive damage in the Evansville area. Thunderstorms intensified and evolved into a bowing structure that spread east across southwest Indiana. The storms developed ahead of a cold front extending from northern Indiana southwest across central Illinois into southeast Missouri. Convergence in the vicinity of the cold front, where the environment remained moderately unstable, supported thunderstorm development. Bulk wind shear was strong enough to support organized severe storm structures.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.9916, -87.6218)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 510749. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.