Indiana and Illinois Face 60 mph Wind Gusts, 1 Inch Plus Hail and Tornadoes Monday May 18 at 4 PM Including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kokomo and Muncie During School Dismissal and Rush Hour

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – A line of strong to severe storms is rolling through Indiana and Illinois this Monday afternoon, May 18, with scattered severe storms producing 1 inch or larger hail, damaging wind gusts of 60 mph or more and a few tornadoes possible as of 4:00 PM EDT. The storm line is expected to have major impacts during school dismissal and rush hour across the Indianapolis metro area and surrounding communities.

Primary Threats This Monday Afternoon

Three severe weather hazards are in play across Indiana and Illinois as storms roll through this Monday, May 18 afternoon:

• Damaging wind gusts of 60 mph or more are the primary threat with this storm line and could down trees, snap power lines and damage structures across Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kokomo and Muncie during the 4:00 PM EDT timeframe.
• Large hail of 1 inch or larger is possible with the strongest cells embedded within the storm line moving through Indiana and Illinois this afternoon.
• A few tornadoes are possible as the line rolls through, particularly with any stronger embedded supercell that manages to develop rotation before the system pushes east.

Cities in the Storm Path This Afternoon

The storm line shown on simulated radar valid at 4:00 PM EDT Monday, May 18 is targeting the following communities:

• Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana are directly in the path of the storm line this Monday afternoon and face all three severe weather threats including 60 mph or higher wind gusts, 1 inch plus hail and a tornado threat during the critical school dismissal and rush hour window.
• Kokomo and Muncie, Indiana sit within the storm corridor and face damaging winds and large hail as the line pushes through Monday afternoon.
• Fort Wayne, Indiana is within the outlined severe storm zone and should prepare for the line to arrive during the Monday afternoon timeframe.
• Urbana and Decatur, Illinois fall within the western edge of the storm corridor as the line pushes northeast through Monday afternoon.
• Gary, Illinois and Waukegan sit on the northern end of the storm corridor for Monday, May 18.
• Evansville, Indiana and Carbondale, Illinois are within the southern portion of the storm line path this afternoon.
• Saint Charles and Saint Louis, Missouri sit on the southwestern edge of the broader storm activity for Monday afternoon.
• Kalamazoo, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio are on the northeastern edge of the storm corridor and should monitor conditions as the line pushes through later Monday afternoon.

School Dismissal and Rush Hour Are the Danger Window

Forecasters are specifically flagging school dismissal and rush hour as the timeframe of greatest concern for the Indianapolis metro area and surrounding Indiana communities on Monday, May 18. This means the storm line is expected to be most active and dangerous precisely when the most people are outside, in vehicles or on the roads. Parents should make arrangements now to ensure children are not waiting outside at school dismissal time if severe warnings are active. Drivers should pull off the road and shelter in a sturdy building if a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued while driving.

What 60 mph Wind Gusts Do During Rush Hour

60 mph or higher wind gusts during rush hour are especially dangerous because they can push vehicles off roads, send flying debris into windshields and knock over traffic signs and trees onto moving cars. Combined with heavy rain reducing visibility to near zero, driving through a severe thunderstorm producing 60 mph gusts is one of the most dangerous situations a driver can face. Pull over, do not park under trees or power lines, and wait for the storm to pass before continuing your commute.

WaldronNews.com will continue tracking these strong to severe storms across Indiana and Illinois and will provide updates as wind reports, hail damage and any tornado activity develop throughout Monday afternoon, May 18.