INDIANAPOLIS — A severe line of thunderstorms, at times producing tornadoes, is quickly tracking out of central Illinois and towards the state line.
The line has the history of producing over 70-80 mph wind gusts and creating power outages.
Around 2:09 p.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Owen, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Tipton and Warren that is in effect until 8:00 p.m. tonight.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Benton County is in effect until 6:00 p.m. this evening
If the line holds together, storms will likely arrive around or a little before 3 p.m. to western Indiana.
The line will likely start to slide southeast across the state and impact the evening commute across central Indiana.
The threat for severe weather will die down between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Central Indiana is under a level 2 and 3 threat out of 5. The level 3 threat has been expanded north and now includes most of western Indiana, including Lafayette.
The greatest threat is damaging, straight-line winds as the storms race across Central Indiana.
A few embedded storms could produce large hail.
While this will likely be a wind event for most, a quick forming tornado is possible. There has been a confirmed tornado in northeast of Springfield, IL.
Stay weather aware and be prepared to seek shelter.
