Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and other officials are asking Hoosiers to stay prepared as severe weather is expected to move across the state Wednesday.
Two rounds of storms will make their way through Indiana and the Indianapolis metropolitan area June 17. Braun said officials have had plenty of notice about the storms and trying to get information to residents.
“It’s just better to be overly cautious,” the governor said Wednesday afternoon. “Everybody be prepared. Watch the weather, TV, radio and stay tuned. Hopefully, it’ll get through, and we’ll avoid a lot of damage, but be cautious.”
Jonathan Whitham, executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, added that there’s potential for a “very significant, severe weather outbreak for a large portion of the state and potentially the entire state.”
Whitham encouraged residents to have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts, such as both a cellphone and a weather radio. He said residents should identify the safest part of their homes where they can shelter if severe weather hits.
“The data is telling us that the ingredients are there for a major, serious, significant weather severe outbreak today,” Whitham said. “Right now we want people to be preparing.”
National Weather Service of Indianapolis Meteorologist Crystal Pettet said Indy would get hit with the first round of storms between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The afternoon storm system had the potential to bring damaging winds, lightning and heavy rain, but is expected to be less severe than the storms later in the night, she said.
The National Weather Service expects a second round of severe weather to hit Marion County between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., bringing potential tornadoes, large hail, flash flooding and damaging winds. Pettet warned residents in the greater Indianapolis area as well as rural Indiana to be prepared for what could be extremely severe storms.
“All of the different variables that come into play to set up a severe weather situation are primed for the storms coming in tonight,” she said.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19. Click here to get Hamilton County news sent straight to your inbox and subscribe to the IndyStar North newsletter.
IndyStar reporter Mia Thurow contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ‘Everybody be prepared’: Braun warns ahead of potential severe weather
Reporting by Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
