What Central Indiana residents can expect moving into 'heart of the severe weather season'

John Tufts, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read

Forecasters say Hoosiers in Central Indiana can expect this year's spring to be a little warmer, a little wetter, and with a slightly elevated chance for severe weather. Other than that, spring will be "fairly typical," say local meteorologists, which means it could also turn on a dime.

Damaging winds, punishing thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible, and the threat of large hail typically peaks in the first half of spring — March, April, and early May, said meteorologist Mike Ryan with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

"There's an elevated risk for severe weather going out through the spring, not just here in the Ohio Valley, but down across the Tennessee Valley," Ryan said, adding forecasters have been paying careful attention to recent tornadoes that touched down in the south, like those that pummeled Mississippi, leaving up to 25 people dead.

Before-and-after the tornadoes: Maps and satellite images show aftermath in Mississippi, Alabama

"Sometimes that gives us a key as to what we can expect going forward in the spring," Ryan said. "I think the risk for severe weather is a little higher than normal in Central Indiana just based on some of the recent trends we've been noticing."

Meteorologists predict springtime weather will swing back and forth between warmer and colder conditions until the first half of April. Afterward, Hoosiers can expect to see warmer than normal temperatures into May.

Central Indiana should also brace for wetter weather, say forecasters.

"We're going to see this continuation of these larger, ramped up storm systems coming through the area," Ryan said. "That's going to increase our risk a little bit for rainfall, continued heavier rainfall at times, and the possibility for some severe weather now that we're moving into the heart of the severe weather season in April."

Essential things Hoosiers can do to be prepared for severe weather

Dangerous weather can happen throughout the year in Central Indiana, said meteorologists, but it happens more frequently in the spring heading into early summer. Forecasters strongly encourage Hoosiers to have a plan for when severe weather strikes.

  • Make a severe weather plan — know how you'll get updates during dangerous weather, be it TV, radio or internet.

  • Designate a place in your home to take shelter during severe weather — either a basement or interior room.

  • Have a weather radio and flashlight. Ensure they have fresh batteries.

  • Have a safety or first-aid kit.

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John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis weather: Here's what spring will be like this year