06/17/2026
Welcome to Wednesday, darlings.
We wish we could open with something delightfully ridiculous this morning. Perhaps a cheeky jab at Evansville, maybe a spirited discussion about why the atmosphere continues to make choices that nobody asked for, but unfortunately, Mother Nature has arrived carrying a folding chair and a concerning amount of negative energy, sooo we need to have a more serious conversation.
And if you've followed Indiana Storm Chasers for any length of time, you know we don't often use that tone.
Today is one of those days.
TLDR; A significant severe weather outbreak is expected across portions of Illinois and Indiana today. Several intense tornadoes, widespread damaging winds exceeding 75 mph, and large, wind-driven hail are all possible.
Now before anyone launches into a full Chicken Little audition and starts listing off canned goods inventory on Facebook, take a breath.
- This does NOT mean everyone is going to see a tornado.
- This does NOT mean we're all doomed.
- This does NOT mean your cousin's best friend's uncle's barber's weather app suddenly knows the exact fate of your backyard.
What it DOES mean is that today deserves your attention and your respect.
Let's talk about why.
An early round of storms is currently pushing eastward. While some of these storms may flirt with severe limits and possibly induce a tornado warning or two, guidance suggests they should weaken as they approach the Illinois-Indiana border.
Ahead of them, a warm front is lifting north across Indiana and Ohio and as that boundary moves through, new storms MAY develop across northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. Wind shear profiles are frankly ridiculous, and if enough instability can develop, isolated tornadic supercells become possible.
That's Round One.
Round Two is the reason we all collectively looked at the forecast and muttered a few words not approved for public broadcasting.
As we move into the afternoon, the atmosphere is expected to recover quickly. We're approaching the summer solstice, which means the sun is operating at maximum efficiency (It's at its highest angle relative to us) and can recharge the atmosphere faster than a toddler after finding Costco sized Pixie Stix and a wayward can of Mountain Dew. And it's going to be just as volatile thanks to strong southwest winds, deep moisture, and rapidly increasing instability combining to create an environment favorable for dangerous severe thunderstorms.
Forecast guidance continues to support a broken line of supercells developing to our west and spreading east through the evening hours. The concern is that these storms may remain discrete or semi-discrete for an extended period of time rather than immediately forming a solid line and going "linear".
If that occurs, the atmosphere would support:
▪️ Large hail
▪️ Destructive wind gusts 75MPH+
▪️ Strong tornadoes EF3+
▪️ Potentially long-track tornadoes
The Indiana/Michigan border region will also need close attention. Even farther north, where instability may be somewhat limited, wind shear values remain impressive enough to support severe weather concerns. we HIGHLY recommend that Michiganders and folks with interests and family in Michigan follow Meteorologist Brad Sugden for the most comprehensive coverage in Michigan.
With the nerdiness out of the way, let's talk preparedness.
1. Today is not the day for porch watching.
2. Today is not the day for "I've lived here 47 years and..."
3. Today is not the day for trusting a lawn chair and positive thinking.
4. Know where you will go if warnings are issued.
5. Charge your devices now. Make sure they're ready to go.
6. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on said smart devices.
7. Have multiple reliable ways to receive warnings - we HIGHLY recommend WeatherCall NexGen and will drop that link in the comments.
And for the love of all things meteorological, do not make an outdoor warning siren your primary warning method. Sirens were designed to alert people who are already outside. And no, you weirdos, they are not magical weather summoning devices acting like a spinny boi pied piper... Where the heckaroonie do some of you get these ideas?!
Did we mention that we highly recommend adding WeatherCall NexGen to your warning toolbox and will be posting the link in the comments? Oh... We did? Good... Because we stand by that. Hard.
As for us?
We'll be doing what we do best. You can find us at the WeatherCave staring at radar until our eyeballs file formal complaints while consuming enough caffeine to concern medical professionals. Later today, we'll be live streaming, issuing updates, tracking warnings, and bringing you live looks from the field as storms develop.
ISC's Josiah Maas will be live at 12 PM EDT with the latest forecast updates, and we'll continue posting graphics and guidance throughout the day as new information arrives.
Hoosiers, this may be a rough one, but here's the important thing:
We're prepared, we're paying attention, and we're going to get through it together. We've got your back before the storm, during the storm, and after the storm. So don't panic, or doom-scroll, or adopt a weather conspiracy theory from a guy named Randy in a Facebook comments section.
Be prepared - We'll handle the rest.
As always;
Stay Aware. Stay Safe. And Don't Get Twisted.
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