The National Weather Service (NWS) has provided guidelines on how to monitor updates on severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings in Bloomington.
ENigeria News reports that the warnings are for residents within portions of Monroe, Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, and Lawrence counties who are urged to seek shelter immediately and to shelter in place in a windowless room in the lowest level of their home until 11:30 p.m. due to radar indication of a possible tornado. It does not include Bloomington, despite sirens going off.
Until 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for southern Monroe County, extending to Mitchell, Freetown, and Nashville, Indiana. There could be strong winds.
The NWS advises citizens to leave mobile homes that could be blown over in strong winds and seek shelter in a sturdy building during the warning.
A flash flood warning was issued by the NWS for parts of Morgan, Brown, and Johnson Counties, as well as Bloomington and a large portion of Monroe County. The warning is valid through Thursday at 2 a.m.
A flash flood warning indicates that flooding is happening or may happen soon. People who live in flood-prone areas are advised to get to higher ground right away. It is not recommended by the NWS to try to drive or walk through floodwaters.
ENigeria News reports that NWS issued a tornado warning for an area south of Monroe County, including Bedford, Mitchell, Pleasant View, and Heltonville, due to radar indicating a possible tornado. The warning lasts until 11 p.m.
Residents should keep calm and seek shelter underground if possible. Remain close to the center of a building, away from doors and windows.
10:18 p.m.
132 customers are without power in Bloomington, according to Duke Energy. The outage is concentrated south of IU’s campus and east of South Henderson Street.
9:56 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm hit near Martinsville, moving northeast at 60 mph. NWS radar indicated wind gusts of 60 mph and penny-sized hail. The impact is expected to damage roofs, siding, and trees.
For safety, stay inside a secure shelter toward the center of the structure at the lowest possible position. Close all windows and doors.
9:20 p.m.
Bloomington is under a severe thunderstorm warning along with several other cities in central Indiana as thunderstorms blow east, according to the National Weather Service. In addition to the storm, there is a possibility of tornadoes, flash flooding, hail, and wind gusts up to 70 mph. According to NWS, all of central and south Indiana is under moderate risk for severe weather.
In the event of a tornado, seek immediate shelter in the lower levels of a secure building, away from doors and windows. If that is not possible, go to the innermost part of the building and duck under secure cover.
Bloomington is also under three other hazardous weather warnings from the National Weather Service: wind, tornado watch, and flood.
The wind warning is in effect until 1 a.m. Thursday across portions of central and southern Indiana. The wind advisory says wind gusts ranging from 20 to 30 mph, with a possibility of reaching 50 mph, are possible.
The tornado watch remains valid until 11 p.m. Wednesday across 21 central and southern Indiana counties. A watch does not mean a tornado will happen, only that the current weather conditions make it possible.
In the central and southern Indiana areas, including Monroe County, there is also a flood watch until Sunday morning, meaning there is a chance of flooding due to excessive rainfall. Heavy rainfall could cause flooding of rivers, streets, and other flood-prone locations. If you find yourself in flooded waters, keep calm and move to the highest ground possible.
The thunderstorm is set to pass early Thursday morning from 1-2 a.m.
For residents of Monroe County, to monitor the forecast through local weather channels and NWS live trackers.
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