INDIANA — A few storms could become strong to severe Thursday afternoon, October 15, across parts of Illinois and central and southern Indiana. Recent guidance suggests more storm ingredients may be in place Thursday than on Wednesday. If they come together, storms could produce wind gusts up to 60 mph and possibly a spin-up tornado. The threat is highly conditional and will depend on timing and how the system develops.
Area to Watch Covers Central and Southern Indiana
The main area to watch stretches across west-central and southern Indiana, including Lafayette, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Bloomington, and Evansville. The zone also reaches into eastern Illinois.
Areas farther north and east, including Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Richmond, are expected to see mainly rain and thunder. Severe weather is less likely in those areas.
Low Pressure and Warm Front Drive the Setup
A low-pressure system over Illinois will lift a warm front northeast across Indiana on Thursday. A cold front trailing behind the low will move in from the west later in the day.
Storms could form in the warm air between these two fronts. The area near and south of the warm front, around Indianapolis, will be a key spot to watch.
Gusty Winds Up to 60 MPH
The main hazard with any stronger storms is damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph. Gusts that strong can bring down tree limbs and power lines…