Spotter Information Page

Reference Information
Upcoming Spotter Training Sessions
Online Spotter Training (high speed connection needed)
What makes a thunderstorm Severe?
Indianapolis Spotter Brochure (PDF)
Advanced Storm Spotting Guide (PDF)
Cloud Chart (PDF)

Hail Size Chart

Wind Speed Estimate

Current Conditions
Current Watches/Warnings for Central Indiana
Local Severe Weather Information Page (including links to current weather)

Send in a Report
Contact the NWS at Indianapolis
E-spotter
Central Indiana Skywarn

 

Reference Information 

What makes a thunderstorm severe?

A severe thunderstorm is a thunderstorm that produces...

  • wind gusts of at least 58 mph (50 knots), and/or
  • hail at least 1 inch diameter (quarter size) and/or
  • a tornado

  Hail Size Chart: (diameter in inches)

  • Pea Size: 0.25 inches
  • Small Marble: 0.50 inches
  • Penny: 0.75 inches 
  • Nickel: 0.88 inches
  • Quarter: 1.00 inches <--Any hail this size or larger is severe thunderstorm criteria
  • Half Dollar: 1.25 inches
  • Ping Pong Ball: 1.50
  • Golf Ball: 1.75 inches
  • Hen Egg: 2.00 inches
  • Tennis Ball: 2.50 inches
  • Baseball: 2.75 inches
  • Grapefruit: 4.00 inches
  • Softball: 4.50 inches

Wind Speed Estimate:

  • 25-31 mph: Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telephone wires.
  • 32-38 mph: Whole trees in motion; inconveniencefelt walking against the wind.
  • 39-54 mph: Twigs break off trees; wind generally impedes progress.
  • 55-72 mph: Damage to chimneys and TV antennas; pushes over shallow rooted trees.
  • 73-112 mph: Peels surfaces off roofs; windows broken; light mobile homes pushed or overturned; moving cars pushed off road.
  • 113-157 mph: Roofs torn off houses; cars lifted off ground.

 

 

 Spotter Training Classes

Frequently Asked Questions about Spotter Training Sessions
  1. Do I need to preregister for these sessions? No. All you need to do is arrive at the proper time and location.

  2. About how long do the sessions last? Approximately 2 hours.

  3. Do I have to live / be a spotter in the county that I take the training session? No. The training sessions are identical.

Below is a listing of upcoming severe weather spotter training sessions.

 


February, 2010 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
20 Spencer, IN
(Owen County) 		9:00am EST Spencer Christian Church; Montgomery St.
22 Terre Haute, IN
(Vigo County) 		7:00pm EST Glass Col Apparatus; 7th and Hulman
25 Greencastle, IN
(Putnam County) 		7:00pm EST Court Annex, 109 W. Liberty
27 Letts, IN
(Decatur County) 		9:00am EST Fire station; West County Rd 700 S
27 Lovett, IN
(Jennings County) 		12:00pm EST Fire station; West County Rd 500 S

March, 2010 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
01 Fairland, IN
(Shelby County) 		7:00pm EST Triton High School, 4774 West 600 North
04 Lafayette, IN
(Tippecanoe County) 		7:00pm EST Ivy Tech, 3101 S. Creasy Ln
05 Bloomington, IN
(Monroe County) 		7:00pm EST Hospital Auditorium; 2nd and Rogers St
06 Noblesville, IN
(Hamilton County) 		9:00am EST Noblesville City Hall; 10th and Conner
06 Danville, IN
(Hendricks County) 		1:00pm EST Danville Govt. Center; 355 S Washington
08 Lebanon, IN
(Boone County) 		7:00pm EST Senior Service Building; 515 Crown Pt. Drive
09 Seymour, IN
(Jackson County) 		6:30pm EST Library; 303 W. Second St.
10 Frankfort, IN
(Clinton County) 		7:00pm EST County Sheriff's Office; 301 E. Walnut St
13 Greenwood, IN
(Johnson County) 		8:00am EST 2010 Central Indiana Severe Weather Symposium at Valle Vista. Registration Required! Space is limited.
Contact Information: w-ind.webmaster@noaa.gov
16 Pendleton, IN
(Madison County) 		7:00pm EDT Fire Dept; 100 S Broadway St.
20 Muncie, IN
(Delaware County) 		10:00am EDT EMS Station 3; Bypass and Memorial Dr
20 New Castle, IN
(Henry County) 		2:00pm EDT Library; Indiana Ave and 15th
22 Washington, IN
(Daviess County) 		6:30pm EDT Library; 300 W. Main St
23 Crawfordsville, IN
(Montgomery County) 		7:00pm EDT City Building Basement, 320 E. Pike
24 Vincennes, IN
(Knox County) 		6:30pm EDT Vincennes University Tech Center; 1200 N Chestnut
27 Indianapolis, IN
(Marion County) 		9:00am EDT 2820 N. Meridian (10 story bldg, west side)
27 Kokomo, IN
(Howard County) 		1:00pm EDT County Office Annex; 120 E. Mulberry St
29 Rockville, IN
(Parke County) 		6:30pm EDT Emergency Operations Center; 110 E. High St.
30 Shoals, IN
(Martin County) 		6:30pm EDT Family Center, 2664 U.S. 50

April, 2010 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
05 Franklin, IN
(Johnson County) 		7:00pm EDT County Sheriff's Office on Hospital Road.
07 Fishers, IN
(Hamilton County) 		7:00pm EDT Town Hall; One Municipal Drive.
08 Bedford, IN
(Lawrence County) 		6:30pm EDT Dunn Medical Center; 25th and M Streets
15 Brazil, IN
(Clay County) 		6:00pm EDT Library; 204 N. Walnut St.
20 Williamsport, IN
(Warren County) 		6:30pm EDT Williamsport Church; 20 E. 3rd St

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