Thunderstorm Wind in Hamilton County, Indiana

A tree was downed by thunderstorm wind gusts at the 1900 block of Westwood Drive. The tree fell on a 40 year old man who was in the backyard at the time and was not able to escape before the winds arrived. This was an isolated area of much stronger winds than the otherwise modest 50kt gusts nearby. It was noted via drone footage that in this isolated area, numerous trees were uprooted, but all fell generally along the storm motion indicating straight line winds.

Based on a National Weather Service damage survey, it appeared the wind damage in Noblesville during the evening of Wednesday March 23 was caused by downbursting straight line winds. The majority of the damage was uprooted pine trees and downed Bradford Pear trees and limbs, both of which tend to be damaged by winds of 60 to 80 mph. The trees were laid down in an outward fanning or diverging pattern often found with a downburst wind event. Most trees west of State Road 37 were blown down by a strong south wind. Trees and fences east of State Road 37 were blown down by strong west-southwest winds. This damage occurred at the lead edge of the storm, not the usual location at the rear of the storm where a tornado typically would form. Other damage included stripped shingles and siding from around a dozen homes.

Damage was spread across the northern portion of Hamilton county. Most of the damage was in a line from Sheridan to Arcadia to Omega to Aroma then out of the county to the north-northeast. Trees of different diameters were downed. About 10 structures, most of them barns, had been damaged and trees blocked several roadways. In addition two semi tractor-trailers had blown over, one at 236th Street and US 31 causing personal injury and another at 281st Street and Indiana 213, in which a tree fell on top of a semi.