Holcomb declares disaster emergency in several Indiana counties after tornados

A line of severe thunderstorms made its way across Central Indiana late Friday and early Saturday morning, bringing strong winds, rain and tornado warnings.

Follow along here for the latest information.

Gov. Eric Holcomb declares disaster emergency in several Indiana counties

Gov. Eric Holcomb declared a disaster emergency in several Indiana counties after severe storms and tornados rolled across the Hoosier state March 31 into the next day. The counties included in the disaster emergency are Benton, Monroe, Owen, Morgan and White.

Holcomb issued the disaster emergency Tuesday. He previously issued a disaster emergency in Johnson and Sullivan counties due to impacts from the the severe weather.

Those in need of government services will be able to stop in at sites in Whiteland and Sullivan from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The sites will be at Sullivan City Hall and the Clark Pleasant School District Administration Building. State agencies offering assistance will include:

• Bureau of Motor Vehicles

• Department of Insurance

• Department of Workforce Development

• Family and Social Services Administration

• Housing and Community Development Authority

• Department of Health

• Department of Homeland Security

Scattered power outages as worst of storm clears Indianapolis

12:19 a.m.: The Marion County Emergency Management Service declares that the severe weather threat has passed for Indianapolis. The city and AES are working on downed trees and power lines as the utility reports 5,165 customers without power across Marion County.

11:54 p.m.: Gusts of 41 mph and light rain are reported at Indianapolis International Airport, down from gusts of 45 mph at 10:54 p.m. The temperature is 57 degrees, down from 68 an hour earlier.

Severe thunderstorm warning for Indy, Carmel, Fishers

11:26 p.m.: Sirens sound across Indianapolis as winds pick up. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until midnight for an area that includes Indianapolis, Carmel and Fishers. The warning will continue until 12:30 for Muncie, Anderson and Yorktown.

The severe thunderstorm warning expires at 11:45 for Avon and Plainfield, on the western side of the metro area.

"This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 MPH!" the agency tweeted.

Check the most recent weather alerts around the country here.

Tornado warning issued for Franklin, Shelbyville

11:26 p.m.: There's a tornado warning for Franklin, Shelbyville and New Whiteland until midnight.

Tornado warning issued for Morgan County

11:20 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning until 11:30 for an area south of Indianapolis including Martinsville and Morgantown.

"Strong rotation with debris signature located just north of Stinesville at 1105 PM EDT," the NWS's Indianapolis office tweeted.

Tornado indications at Indiana-Illinois border

10:20 p.m.: The National Weather Service urges residents of Sullivan County, which is south of Terre Haute on the Indiana-Illinois state line, to take shelter due to "strong indications" of a tornado just west of the county.

Latest line of rain and thunderstorms hits western Central Indiana

9:50 p.m.: "Areas of showers and thunderstorms are moving across western Central Indiana at this time," the National Weather Service in Indianapolis posted. "This line will progress across the area over the next few hours."

Tornado watch issued for parts of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan

8:01 p.m.: A tornado watch is in effect for Indianapolis and much of Indiana until 3 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. The watch stretches from South Bend to Evansville, with only eastern Indiana and the northwestern corner not included.

A tornado watch – which means weather conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form – was also issued for parts of Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan.

Marion County Emergency Management: 'Have a place in your home to shelter.'

7:25 p.m.: Marion County Emergency Management officials are urging Hoosiers in Central Indiana to stay mindful of the weather.

"Some weaker storms are making their way out of Marion County, however the next round is approaching from Illinois," the organization tweeted Friday night. "Multiple tornados in several states to our west and south west. Have a place identified in your home to shelter, a basement or interior room with no windows."

Severe storms from Illinois creeping into Indiana

6:35 p.m.: A line of severe storms is making its way from western Illinois into western Central Indiana and are expected to arrive by around 9 p.m. Friday, according to a Tweet by NWS Indianapolis. Meteorologists say showers, thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and possible tornadoes are possible.

Rain and thunderstorms enter the Indianapolis area

4:25 p.m.: Rain and thunderstorms have entered the area, according to a tweet by NWS Indianapolis, which said residents can expect an increase in sustained wind speeds and gusts as the evening progresses.

Federal forecasters issue first high-risk severe weather alert in 2 years

2:45 p.m.: Federal forecasters have issued their first high-risk severe weather alert in two years.

An outbreak of violent thunderstorms is forecast to impact more than a dozen states on Friday, with several tornadoes a near certainty.

About 89 million people in at least 15 states – from Texas to Alabama in the South all the way up north to Wisconsin and Michigan – are at risk from the "explosive" storms.

On Friday, two rare high-risk zones for severe weather were issued by the Storm Prediction Center, one centered near Memphis and the other on the border between Iowa and Illinois. It's the first time in more than two years the SPC has issued a high risk.

A tornado watch – which means weather conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form – was also issued for a large portion of the central U.S., all the way from Iowa to Arkansas.

Central Indiana upgraded to moderate risk for severe storms

12:45 p.m.: Central Indiana is now within the moderate risk for severe storms this evening, according to a tweet by NWS. Damaging winds are expected with the line of storms along with isolated tornadoes. Additional severe storms are possible ahead of the line.

Moderate risk means an area where widespread severe weather with several tornadoes and/or numerous severe thunderstorms is likely, some of which should be intense. This risk is usually reserved for days with several supercells producing intense tornadoes and/or very large hail, or an intense squall line with widespread damaging winds.

EARLIER PREDICTIONS: A line of severe thunderstorms is expected to make its way across Central Indiana late Friday and Saturday, bringing with it damaging winds, small to large hail, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.

The Indianapolis area can expect rain Friday afternoon, followed by a chance for severe weather Friday evening, say meteorologists.

"We're looking at the potential for a few scattered showers and storms, probably between 5-8 p.m. Friday, and then a line of strong to severe storms coming in after that," said Andrew White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

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

White said Hoosiers in Central Indiana should brace for damaging winds between 7-10 p.m. Friday, adding that an isolated tornado couldn't be ruled out.

A line of thunderstorms moving through Central Indiana Friday evening could bring damaging winds up to 70 mph and some risk of a few brief tornadoes, according to a hazardous weather outlook issued by NWS.

A wind advisory is also in place for portions of Central Indiana, including Indianapolis, from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday.

"I would say winds of 60-70 mph certainly looks likely at spots," White said. "Not everyone's going to get winds that fast. It all depends on where you are along the lines of the storm."

The gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, down trees and cause power outages, according to the wind advisory.

The area of greatest concern appeared to be west-central Indiana counties and communities, but all residents of Central Indiana should monitor weather conditions Friday, according to a statement by NWS.

In addition to other safety precautions, White recommended Hoosiers bring in their outdoor lawn furniture in anticipation of strong winds and, if possible, to remove dead tree limbs that could cause potential hazards.

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"After the showers and storms move through the area, we are going to be looking at another period of strong winds," White said. "There could be some additional wind gusts of about 50 mph, which could cause some additional power outages."

AES Indiana is encouraging Hoosiers to be prepared for possible power outages Friday and Saturday.

Weather forecast for Indianapolis

According to NWS, the weather in Indianapolis will be windy, wet, and moderately warm this upcoming week. Here's what Hoosiers can expect.

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4 p.m. High near 65 degrees. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Low around 41 degrees. Windy, with a west southwest wind 24 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Increasing clouds, with a temperature falling to around 41 degrees by noon. Windy, with a west wind 24 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 27 degrees. Northwest wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57 degrees. Light southeast wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46 degrees.

Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 68 degrees.

Monday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75 degrees.

Tuesday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 59 degrees. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70 degrees. Breezy.

Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40 degrees. Breezy.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57 degrees.

IndyStar's Jake Allen and Cindi Andrews contributed to this article.

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: Severe storms possible March 31, April 1, 2023