...
By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Residents in parts of Indiana were given minutes to take shelter on Wednesday morning as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued an urgent severe thunderstorm warning.
Shortly after 10:15 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday morning, the NWS office in Indianapolis issued two severe thunderstorm warnings. The first, issued at 10:16 a.m., said the storm was 12 miles north of Washington, or 24 miles northeast of Vincennes, and moving east at 35 mph, giving people in northern Daviess County minutes to seek shelter. Impacted cities include Odon, Elnora, and Plainville.
Severe thunderstorms can intensify with little warning, rapidly producing destructive winds, large hail, and dangerous lightning. Forecasters issue alerts like this when conditions shift from routine to hazardous in a matter of minutes, leaving little time for people to get to safety. Because these storms can down trees and power lines, damage homes, and make travel dangerous, officials urge anyone in the path to act immediately when a warning is issued and move to sturdy shelter until the threat passes
Read More on Weather
The severe thunderstorm threat is expected to decrease throughout the day for Indiana, NWS meteorologist Alexander McGinnis told Newsweek.
...
Quarter-sized hail, which is up to 1 inch in diameter, was accompanying the storm, and meteorologists said that "damage to vehicles is possible." Max wind gusts were expected to be less than 50 mph.
This size of hail is large enough to cause meaningful and sometimes costly damage, especially when driven by strong winds. In addition to damaging cars, a 1‑inch hailstone can damage roofs, such as bruising the shingle mat, knocking off protective granules, and creating cracks that weaken the roof and increase the risk of leaks.
"For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building," the warning said.
A minute later, NWS Indianapolis issued a second severe thunderstorm warning at 10:17 a.m. for northeastern Knox County and west-central Daviess County, including Washington, Bicknell, Bruceville, and Montgomery.
This warning also was set to remain in place until 10:45 a.m.
The severe thunderstorms come as the NWS warns that unsettled weather will persist throughout the week.
"Several rounds of severe thunderstorms are forecast from the southern Plains to the Midwest today through Friday," an NWS forecast on Wednesday said. "Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes are possible."
Severe Thunderstorm Warning vs. Severe Thunderstorm Watch
A severe thunderstorm watch is less urgent than a warning. For a watch, the storms are possible within the watch area. NWS urges people to stay informed and be ready to act should a warning be issued.
When a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, people should take action immediately.
"Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property," NWS said on a website about weather warnings. "Take shelter in a substantial building. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a large hail or damaging wind identified by an NWS forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm."
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines