:
After I got to my desk I decided I really wanted some coffee. Wondering if I had the opportunity to sneak out between showers I opened an extra window on my compute- trying keeping an eye on a local RADAR. Did I tell you that I really wanted that white mocha? An hour later I refreshed the RADAR image again (some people look out the window, I look at Doppler RADAR, go figure). There was a break in the line of rain and I figured I had 30 minutes to get out and back before it started raining again. Ten minutes later I had my coffee- but I was also soaking wet. I guess there really is a reason I don't get paid to forecast the weather.

Returning to my desk I checked the Intellicast RADAR trying to figure out what I missed. The newest images showed a line of multi-cell thunderstorms developing in southwest Indiana. I made a quick check of the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) site to see what was coming. SPC showed only a 2% of tornado development in Central Indiana and only a 5% chance farther south. I’ve seen predictions of a 25% chance of tornado development with nothing materializing- I didn’t really expect anything but rain.

The National Weather Service issued the first tornado warning for Posey and Gibson Counties a little after 11:00 AM. I didn’t even realize it till some time later- when I refreshed the web page. By that time there was also a warning for Knox County- at around 11:50. Additionally a tornado watch was issued for several counties including Morgan and Johnson but still not for Marion County.

The line of thunderstorms began intensifying- it was moving east, the individual thunderstorm cells moving north-northeast. My interest peaked when Intellicast’s Doppler RADAR indicated a mesocyclone embedded within one of the cells. The clouds tops peaked at 50,000 feet- very unusual in September. The next screen refresh indicated the cell was developing hail- but much more telling was the mesocyclone indication on the Doppler was replaced with the letters ‘TVS’ or Tornado Vector Signature- an indication of possible tornadic winds.

Since I was still at work (with a T-3 connection to the Internet, thank you very much) I opened another windows and loaded up the WTHR Channel 13 Web Site. Channel 13 is the local NBC affiliate and their web site offers some great benefits. They have the most powerful RADAR among local media. Although not nearly as powerful as NWS, their radar images automatically updates every five minutes. This allowed me to continually monitor the progress of the storms while I was at work.

I saw some really amazing images from the Channel 13 RADAR. I was able to track the mesocyclone as it moved northeast- up Highway 67 from Gosport toward Martinsville. Sometimes the imagery showed nothing more than the severity of the storm- the clearly delineated areas of heavy rain. Other times it clearly showed the color changes consistent with rotation- something that I have never seen quite so dramatically. This was occurring as the mesocyclone was rolling through Martinsville and up State Road 37 toward Indianapolis.

The Chase

A quick touch of my fast-forward button. It’s about 1:20 PM. I was sitting at my desk office on the third floor of the Police Wing of the City-County Building. The line of severe weather was just reaching Marion County and then the severe weather warning sirens are wailing. A tornado was in-bound on S.R. 37. I tossed a time-off request onto my Captain’s desk and I'm hauling ass south. Hoo-rah!

Here is the actual tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service in Indianapolis at 1:21 PM. You do not often see the wording, "THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING TORNADO EMERGENCY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY."

Before I go any farther with my chase report I need to explain a couple of things. Although I am a Merit Deputy and I am issued a unmarked squad car I do not use my lights and siren to storm chase. To do so would place me in violation of numerous departmental rules and regulations. I am permitted to use my emergency equipment only for emergencies- not storm chasing. When the chaser hat goes- on the ‘Smokey-the-Bear’ hat comes off.

I exited the Sheriff’s Department parking lot- south on Alabama to Virginia Avenue to southbound on East Street. And then around to I-65 south-bound. I had every possible radio turned on inside my car- MECA, Marion County Sheriff West, RACES, Ham, aircraft- you name it I'm listening to it. Even my FM broadcast is on- tuned to WRTV-Channel 6 (ABC) where they are talking about the tornado they are tracking by RADAR. The last indication I had was the the tornado was still moving northeast along State Road 37.

At this point my plan is to continue south on I-65 and exit onto west-bound I-465, continuing west to SR 37 and setting up to intercept around Thompson Road. There are plenty of flat areas to see and to run to- if need be. I turned west on I-465 in time to see the sky turning a funny color- with a green tint to everything. This weather phenomena is called 'going green' by chasers and often heralds the outer bands of a super cell thunderstorm. Again, Ho-rah!

I also make another discovery- there is a wall of water coming at me. At the same time Marion County Dispatch is reporting a tornado on the ground at Meridian and County line Road- about 3-4 miles east of where it was last reported. I've made an error- I should have continued on southbound I-65 and exited at Southport Road. Instead I was entering a tremendous thunderstorm. The next possible exit I can take is not until U.S. 31 South. I was entering the heaviest rain of the cell- 'punching the core' and doing an approach from the north- not good.

I take the exit to south-bound U.S. 31 and can hardly see because of the rain. Continuing south I pass through the rain bands. I am convinced at this point that I am now behind the tornado and that thought is confirmed by radio traffic indicating the funnel just went through Shelby and 31.

My next cross street is Banta and I turn east. If I can make it to Madison Avenue before the tornado I have a chance to cross its path and follow it from the south side of the storm track. It doesn't happen. MCSD reports that Homecroft is being flattened. As I hit Madison and look south I can see the trees and power poles blocking the street. I dodge the power line and turn north on Madison. My next cross street is Thompson Road and there's no traffic- here we go.

I am driving east on Thompson Road- looking to grab Shelbyville Road. Then Shelbyville will take me southeast- crossing in front of the tornado's path. That will allow me to loop back, wait for the funnel to pass and then reacquire my chase. It seemed like a good idea at the time but the tornado is not paying any attention to me. On second thought, maybe it was.

I entered the intersection of Thompson Road and Carson Avenue from the west. The tornado is now leaving the same intersection and destroying a Village Pantry store. Debris is hitting my car and I stop. I very literally did not know where I was because of the devastation caused by the tornado. Virtually every street or business sign was blown away.

The tornado moves off and I slowly proceeded through the intersection. My brain was telling me, "Hey, we're now south of the tornado- we can still chase!"

My brain noted something else. There was a car sitting in the middle of the intersection. I saw the housing for the emergency lights above the rear view mirror- I realized it was another un-marked Marion County Sheriff's department commission. The car was trashed, the right side windows were blown out and aluminum siding was wrapped around it. And I couldn't see the driver.

It was time for a reality check. There was probably someone inside the county car and they were hurt. There were vehicles and apartment and business destroyed. Probably a lot of people were hurt and I was only concerned about chasing a tornado. I swore an oath to protect life and property and I wasn't doing my job.

I took off my chaser's hat and put the 'Smokey-the-Bear' hat back on.

I turned on all on all of my emergency red and blue lights and positioned my vehicle to keep anyone from driving over the downed power line. I grabbed my radio, exited my car and ran over to the other county commission- afraid to look inside. To my great relief the car was empty and as I looked up someone was waving me over to what was left of the bank. I jumped a drainage ditch and entered the lobby where I found Dave Tilton- one of our Warrant people. He was in his car when the tornado hit and dove for the floor. Apparently I focused on the tornado as I drove up and didn't see him leaving his car.

A quick evaluation (I used to be an EMT) showed Dave to be fine with just a couple of lacerations in his scalp from the flying glass. He did seem somewhat dazed but since I've know him for many years this was completely normal. An ambulance was not warranted and besides, I couldn't have gotten in any way. The radio was completely jammed with traffic. Although I was done chasing the tornado continued on its trek through Marion County and into Madison and Blackford counties.

I checked a number of business at Carson and Thompson. There were some slight injuries, a lot of crushed automobiles and missing roofs. Below are several photos of the area from various sources including the track of the tornado.

September 20, 2002: Carson Avenue and Thompson Road. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.
The tornado's path in Central Indiana (Courtesy NWS)	Enhanced Infrared image from GOES-8 at 1:15 PM  (NWS)	Visible image from GOES-8 at 1:15 PM (Courtesy NWS)

Some conclusions

I made a few mistakes. First I didn't have a chase partner- always a good idea. As a result I didn't get any pictures or videos. Besides it's always nice to have a extra set of eyes. Next, I was chasing in a urban environment resulting in very limited visibility. I almost ran directly into an F-3. I didn't feel I was being reckless at the time but almost running into a funnel cannot be characterized as cautious.

Finally I made the mistake over under-estimating the movement of the funnel. I was depending on public safety radio traffic to determine the location of  the tornado- next time I will treat such reports as being delayed at least 5 minutes. Maybe the next time I won't find myself 'punching the core'.

Happy chasing!

Tom Wood



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