INDIANA — Severe weather is becoming a growing concern across the state on Thursday afternoon, February 19, 2026, with the highest risk expected near and south of Indianapolis where wind shear and instability are forecast to overlap. The primary threat is damaging wind gusts up to around 60 mph, with the potential for a couple of brief tornadoes in the strongest storms.
Where The Highest Risk Is Expected In Indiana
The outlook highlights a corridor of greater concern centered on the Indianapolis area and points south, where conditions appear more favorable for stronger storms. Areas farther north—including parts of northern Indiana—are shown in lower risk categories, indicating storms may still occur but with reduced potential for widespread severe impacts compared with central and southern sections.
Main Threats: Damaging Winds First, Tornadoes Secondary
Forecasters identify damaging straight-line winds as the dominant hazard, with gusts capable of downing tree limbs, blowing around unsecured outdoor items, and causing scattered power disruptions. The outlook also notes that brief tornadoes are possible, especially where storms can take advantage of locally stronger rotation.
Hail is considered a lower-end concern at this time because storms are expected to be low-topped, which typically limits how large hailstones can grow compared with classic springtime supercells.
Timing Window And How Fast Storms Could Move
The main timeframe for stronger storms is expected to run from about 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Storms are forecast to move southwest to northeast at roughly 40–50 mph, which means weather conditions could change quickly once storms develop. Fast storm motion also reduces reaction time, so having a plan in place before storms arrive is important.
What Residents Should Do Before Thursday Afternoon
If you live in central or southern Indiana, it’s smart to review where you would go if a warning is issued, keep phones charged, and secure lightweight outdoor objects. Because storm intensity can shift as new data comes in, residents should monitor updates through Thursday morning and early afternoon…