Bloomington Tornado Strikes Monroe County Airport as Tornado Watch Extends Across Central Indiana
A bloomington tornado impacted the Monroe County Airport and damaged some homes and businesses, part of a wave of severe weather that led to an extended tornado watch for much of central Indiana. The watch was extended beyond its original end time and, later, was marked as expired.
Bloomington Tornado Damage
Damage in Bloomington included the Monroe County Airport and a number of nearby homes and businesses. Emergency management in Sullivan County also described damage to homes and cars caused by fallen trees, indicating the severe wind and debris impacts experienced in multiple communities.
The bloomington tornado was one element of a larger pattern of severe weather that generated numerous warnings and prompted extended watches across the region. Details about structural damage are limited to the locations noted; further assessments may follow as local agencies complete surveys.
Tornado Watch Extended Across Central Indiana
A tornado watch that had been in effect for much of the southern portion of Indiana was originally expected to end at 9 p. m., but it was extended to 11 p. m. Counties added to the extended watch included:
- Bartholomew
- Brown
- Clay
- Daviess
- Decatur
- Greene
- Hancock
- Hendricks
- Henry
- Jackson
- Jennings
- Johnson
- Knox
- Lawrence
- Marion
- Martin
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Owen
- Parke
- Putnam
- Rush
- Shelby
- Sullivan
- Vigo
The initial watch area had been broader earlier in the day and included additional counties across southern Indiana, with parts of Kentucky and Illinois also placed inside the watch area. At least twelve tornado warnings were issued across the state during the night as storms moved through, and some counties along the Ohio River were later removed from the watch area.
What Happened Next and Immediate Priorities
The tornado watch was later noted as expired. Local emergency management agencies remain focused on damage assessment and public safety in affected communities. Response priorities include clearing fallen trees that damaged homes and vehicles, assessing damage at the Monroe County Airport, and confirming the extent of impacts in counties that had been under warnings or watch status earlier in the evening.
Because information is still being compiled by local agencies, some details may evolve as officials complete surveys and share updates. For now, the primary takeaways are the localized damage in Bloomington, the extended watch that covered central Indiana for several hours, and the multiple tornado warnings issued statewide during the event.
