Parts of Central Indiana, including Johnson County, will remain on tornado watch until midnight, according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis .
Severe thunderstorms washed over the Hoosier state on Election Day. The first round of storms passed through Central Indiana Tuesday morning. A second line of more severe storms, with large hail and damaging winds, hit the suburbs west of Indianapolis just as polls closed Tuesday.
Check current Indiana weather alerts at this link .
It's Election Day: Stay weather-aware and follow along for live updates from the polls
Where did storms pass through?
As of 7:15 p.m., the strongest storms were passing through Johnson County and east of Indianapolis, said Andrew White, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
No tornado sightings have been reported in Central Indiana, White said.
Storms passed through the Indianapolis metro area Tuesday morning. A second round of more severe storms hit the western suburbs just before 6 p.m., said Sam Lashley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.
The weather will settle down late Tuesday night, but another round of storms are expected Wednesday afternoon, Lashley said.
Central Indiana counties under a tornado watch until midnight
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday's tornado watch includes the following Central Indiana counties:
- Bartholomew, Johnson, Morgan, Shelby
Other Indiana counties that remain on tornado watch are:
- Brown, Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Martin, Sullivan, Clay, Owen, Vigo
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Live weather radar for Central Indiana
How to stay safe during a tornado
Tornadoes develop rapidly, so planning a safety plan ahead of time is important. The National Weather Service has a preparedness guide for all types of severe weather including tornadoes. Here are some rules for when a tornado strikes:
- Move to a basement or safe room.
- If there’s no basement, find a windowless interior room or hallway.
- Leave mobile homes and find the closest sturdy building.
- If outside, get into a vehicle, buckle up and drive to a sturdy building.
NWS: Where to go during a tornado if you live in an apartment or mobile home
Mobile homes aren't designed to withstand a tornado. If you live in a mobile home, make plans ahead of time to stay with friends or family inside a sturdy building. As a last resort, severe weather experts suggest finding a ditch or ravine where you can lie low and flat on your stomach, keeping your hands over your head for protection.
Those living in an apartment or university dormitory should go to the lowest possible floor of the building and into a central room away the windows. Crouch under an indoor stairwell, if possible, or an interior windowless hallway, then cover your head and neck from any potential falling debris.
Latest weather forecast for Central Indiana, per NWS
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South southeast wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday : A chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South southwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday night : A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Low around 62. South wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday : Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. West wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday night : A slight chance of thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Friday : A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday night : A slight chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. West wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday night : Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
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John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com . Follow him on X at @JTuftsReports .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Parts of Central Indiana on tornado watch until midnight
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