Indianapolis, IN – A widespread tornado watch has been issued for much of central and northern Indiana today, with the National Weather Service warning of potentially severe storms capable of producing tornadoes through 10 p.m. CDT.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Tornado Watch 99 was activated at 3:15 p.m. CDT Wednesday and remains in effect until 10 p.m. The watch covers 44 Indiana counties, including major population centers such as Marion County (Indianapolis), Lake County (Gary), Tippecanoe County (Lafayette), and St. Joseph County (South Bend is not listed, but close proximity to neighboring areas should be considered).
Counties included in the watch area are: Benton, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Fountain, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Jasper, Johnson, Knox, Kosciusko, Lake, La Porte, Lawrence, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Owen, Parke, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Starke, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, and White.
Residents in these areas are urged to monitor weather updates closely and be prepared to take shelter if warnings are issued. The tornado watch means that atmospheric conditions are favorable for tornado formation, but it does not confirm that tornadoes are currently occurring.
Emergency officials recommend ensuring that mobile devices are fully charged and alerts are activated, and that households have a designated safe area prepared, preferably an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
This tornado watch is part of a larger severe weather system moving across the Midwest, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and possible hail to the region throughout the evening.
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