Central Indiana has seen an unusually high number of tornadoes this year, more to come

Yahoo

18-06-2025

No, it's not just your perception: The Bloomington area is seeing an unusual amount of tornadic activity this year. Here's what's causing the severe weather and whether it's a sign of things to come.
The tornado had maximum wind speeds of 128 mph, which made it a 'high-end' EF2, said Greg Melo, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. With only 8 mph greater wind speeds, the tornado would have been rated EF3.
Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, with the weakest storms rated EF0 and the strongest EF5.
The tornado the NWS confirmed in Linton, in Greene County, on Friday, also reached speeds of up to 128 mph, meaning it also was a 'high-end' EF2.
The Bloomington area also got hit by an EF0 tornado in late March.
More: 1 dead after Friday storms, post office destroyed, houses damaged by tornadoes in Indiana
Yes.
Between 1950 and 2023, central Indiana saw an average of 11 tornadoes in the first five months of the year, but the region this year has already been hit by at least 50 tornadoes, or about five times the normal amount. And the NWS said some surveys from Friday's storms may still be going on, which means the number for the first five months of this year could yet climb.
'Certainly it's been very active to start the year for us,' Melo said.
The NWS has not lowered the threshold at which it issues tornado warnings, which means the higher number of warnings people are receiving in central Indiana are solely the result of a greater number of storms that can produce tornadoes.
Melo said a strong low pressure system moved through the area and struck a cold front that was moving east, which created a widespread area that spawned severe weather, including thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes.
He said the weather system was not unusual for this time of the year in Indiana.
Melo said that's difficult to say because the state in other years has seen a higher-than-normal number of tornadoes in the first half of the year, but then a lower-than-normal number in the second half of the year.
While Indiana typically sees a peak in thunderstorm activity in April and May, Hoosiers can be confronted with tornadoes year-round.
'Never let your guard down,' Melo said.
Yes.
Another weather system will move through the area tomorrow, which could produce widespread severe weather, especially Tuesday afternoon and into the evening. Melo said the system comes with a potential for localized flooding and isolated tornadoes.
The NWS said in its hazardous weather outlook that thunderstorms are possible in 39 counties, including Monroe and all neighboring counties, through Thursday, and that a few storms 'could be strong to severe … with damaging winds and large hail as the primary concerns.'
Boris Ladwig can be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: It's not your imagination: Indiana is seeing more tornadoes this year