Bloomington Indiana Under PDS Tornado Warning as Midwest Storms Kill Dozens
Bloomington Indiana was placed under a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado warning on Thursday evening, February 19, 2026 (ET), as severe storms that killed dozens across the Midwest and South produced widespread damage and injuries in the region.
Bloomington Indiana: PDS warning and immediate local impacts
The National Weather Service issued a PDS tornado warning for Bloomington and surrounding areas on Thursday evening, February 19, 2026 (ET), a designation that signals an especially life‑threatening situation with a high likelihood of a strong or violent tornado. While there were no fatalities in Bloomington, a 96‑year‑old man was taken to IU Health Hospital with a non‑life‑threatening head injury and five others suffered storm‑related, non‑severe injuries.
Severe storms caused concentrated damage south and west of Bloomington. Around 75 homes in the Clear Creek area south of Bloomington sustained damage. The Clear Creek post office was leveled, and the Ranchero Motel and an apartment complex were also damaged. County officials reported numerous trees and power lines down and property damage along State Road 45 west of Bloomington. The People and Animal Learning Services (PALS) barn and pasture on West Elwren Road suffered significant property damage and services have been suspended for next week.
Regional toll, power restoration and community response
The storms that triggered the PDS warning and local damage were part of a broader outbreak that killed at least 27 people across the Midwest and South, including 18 fatalities in Kentucky. The severe weather left communities reeling: one horse was killed and another injured at a state park campground, three campers sustained non‑life‑threatening injuries, and dozens of trees were downed across campsites where an RV was turned on its side.
Utility crews worked through the night to restore power. As of 8 a. m. ET this morning, fewer than 1, 000 customers remained without power. At least 25 utility poles were broken and needed replacement. Local leadership urged neighbor‑to‑neighbor assistance; the Bloomington mayor thanked first responders and relief groups for their work and called on residents to check on one another as recovery continues.
Other storm watch developments
Elsewhere, a Tornado Watch that had been issued earlier in the day for Marion and Flagler counties was lifted. A wind advisory remained in effect for those counties, with strong gusty winds and lightning expected as a cold front moved through parts of the region. The primary impacts in that area were forecast as strong gusty winds, lightning, and a low‑end tornado risk.
Emergency crews and community organizations continued assessments of damaged properties and infrastructure. Officials urged caution around downed trees and power lines and noted that the full extent of damage was still being evaluated as recovery efforts proceeded.
