Severe Thunderstorm Watch Covers 43 Indiana Counties

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center's watch runs until 11 p.m. EST Wednesday across central, southern and southwestern Indiana.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Forecasts

Wide flat Indiana farm field beneath a dark, towering storm front with a distant tree line and heavy clouds building on the horizon. — The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 4:45 p.m. EST covering 43 Indiana counties, including the Indianapolis area, through 11 p.m. Wednesday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 4:45 p.m. EST covering 43 Indiana counties, including Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks and Johnson counties in the Indianapolis area. The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. EST Wednesday.

Why it matters

The watch covers a broad swath of the state, including the Indianapolis metro area, meaning residents across central, southern and southwestern Indiana should monitor conditions through the evening. Storms could bring damaging winds, hail and localized flooding.

The watch was issued by the Storm Prediction Center at 4:45 p.m. EST and covers 43 counties, with forecast damaging wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Exact timing and locations of the strongest storms remain unspecified.

The players

National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center

The Storm Prediction Center is a division of the National Weather Service that monitors and forecasts severe weather across the United States and issues watches for conditions favorable to severe storms.

The details

Storms could produce damaging wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph, isolated large hail, and localized flash flooding from heavy downpours. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

4:45 p.m. EST Wednesday: Storm Prediction Center issues the severe thunderstorm watch.
11 p.m. EST Wednesday: Severe thunderstorm watch expires.

Seasonal Patterns

Severe thunderstorm watches issued by the Storm Prediction Center are a routine part of the central United States storm season, with watches covering dozens of counties at a time being a common feature of active convective days. This Indiana watch follows that established pattern of multi-county alerts ahead of forecast storm activity.

Residents across the 43 covered counties should monitor local forecasts and be prepared for damaging winds and possible flash flooding until the watch expires at 11 p.m. EST Wednesday. Keep devices charged and secure outdoor objects that could be blown around by gusts of 50 to 60 mph.

The takeaway

Stay alert through the evening, since severe storm watches can be upgraded to warnings quickly and the isolated tornado risk means having a plan for moving to an interior room is worth it.