Where Indiana sees the most severe weather threats
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The Indianapolis metro area has averaged 13 severe storm watches annually over the past two decades, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- That includes watches for thunderstorms and tornadoes.
The big picture: This has been the second-busiest year for tornadoes, behind 2011, as climate change increases the likelihood of severe weather outbreaks.
- Extreme weather is also on the minds of residents across the country as Tropical Storm Debby sends Indiana-based emergency response crews to the Southeast to provide support amid record rainfall.
Plus: Extreme weather is the leading cause of power outages in Indiana.
Driving the news: A recent National Weather Service analysis found that Indy ranked 20th in the number of severe weather watches among metros with at least 500,000 residents.
State of play: The average number of watches from 2004-2023 was higher in parts of Southwestern Indiana than in Central Indiana.
- Counties including Sullivan, Vigo, Posey and Knox had the highest annual average at 13.
- In the Indy area, Hamilton, Johnson and Boone counties also hit 13 while Marion County recorded 12.
Yes, but: None of Indiana's 92 counties averaged under 10 severe weather watches per year.
Zoom out: The metro areas with the most severe storm watches were Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Wichita, which averaged 19, 19 and 18 severe storm watches a year, respectively.
- By county, Comanche County in Oklahoma is the highest with 21 severe thunderstorm or tornado watches reported on average per year.
Be smart: The National Weather Service says knowing the difference between a watch and warning is crucial when it comes to taking action.
- For example, a tornado watch is issued when conditions are favorable for tornadoes, meaning the atmospheric ingredients are present, but there is no imminent danger.
- Tornado warnings mean a tornado has been spotted from the ground or detected by radar, and people within the warning area need to take shelter immediately.
- A tornado emergency is a relatively recent addition to NWS' warning lexicon, and is used when a "severe threat to human life is imminent or ongoing."
What we're watching: How long the nation's current severe weather situation — the extreme heat — is going to last.
- Areas experiencing a long-duration heat wave, like much of the South and parts of the Plains, are likely to continue to sweat under a strong, meandering heat dome.
- Weeks of extreme heat in some areas will pose human health risks, according to the National Weather Service.