Bloomington and Monroe County are in the path of a severe weather system that could produce strong thunderstorms, heavy rain, tornadoes and hail, according to the National Weather Service.
When will the storms arrive in Bloomington?
Initial showers and thunderstorms could arrive as early as the evening of June 16, 2026, but the strongest chance for severe weather is Wednesday morning through early Thursday, said Jason Puma, a meteorologist with the NWS in Indianapolis.
The weather service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for nearly half the state, including Monroe and all contiguous counties.
What are the severe weather system’s biggest threats?
Puma said the system is likely to produce all kinds of severe weather, including tornados, hail and strong straight-line winds. He said the NWS likely will have to issue tornado and severe thunderstorm watches on Wednesday and he encouraged people to have a safety plan and multiple devices available to receive possible warnings.
How much rain will the Monroe County area get?
Puma said many areas in the state likely will see 1 to 2 inches of rain. The likelihood of rain for Monroe County on Wednesday is about 100%, he said. Isolated areas may see heavy rain.
What’s causing the severe weather?
A weather system over the northern plains and southern Canada is moving toward the Midwest and is expected to fully develop over Illinois before moving into Indiana in the late afternoon, Puma said. The system is pulling warm, humid air into Indiana and mixing it with strong winds. When those ingredients come together, they can fuel severe storms.
Is there a chance of more severe weather on the weekend?
Yes. The NWS said additional thunderstorms are possible in the far south on Thursday and across most areas Sunday into Monday.
Bloomington weather radar
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Severe storms, hail, tornado risk expected across southern Indiana
Reporting by Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
