10:00 P.M. UPDATE
IU Kokomo Alert from Twitter: The Kokomo campus is closed Thursday, August 25th due to loss of power. Kokomo School Corporation is closed Thursday as well.
24,000 people are without power in Howard County. Just less than 3,000 don't have power in Tipton County.
Just a little more than 3,200 IPL customers are without power in Indianapolis.
9:00 P.M. UPDATE
National Weather Service preliminary ratings of EF-3 at Kokomo and EF-1 east of Crawfordsville. Montgomery Co. tornado contains damage found near end of the path in Linnsburg rated prelim EF-2.
EF-0 65-85 MPH WINDS
EF-1 86-110 MPH WINDS
EF-2 111-135 MPH WINDS
EF-3 136-165 MPH WINDS
EF-4 166-200 MPH WINDS
EF-5 200-234 MPH WINDS
8:35 P.M. UPDATE
Indiana State Police spokesman Capt. David Bursten says about a dozen people were injured, none seriously, as tornadoes moved through central portions of the state.
Most of those injuries were in Howard County and included one resident who was trapped in a home by one of the storms that struck Wednesday.
Bursten says those injured included a 5-month-old child who suffered a laceration in Montgomery County. He attributes the relatively small number of injuries reported by 8 p.m. to residents' taking the approaching storms seriously.
"We were very, very fortunate, and you have to credit the advance warnings and people heeding those warnings," he said.
8:15 P.M. UPDATE
In a briefing a few minutes ago, Indiana Governor Mike Pence says 27 tornado warnings ended up with 8 confirmed tornadoes, three of them touched down. The most severe damage is in Howard and Montgomery Counties. Around 15 homes are damaged in Howard County while 30 homes are damaged in Montgomery County. As of now, there are no reports of serious injuries or deaths. He did mention 10 to 15 minor injuries are reported in Howard County.
"I'll be on the ground tomorrow...surveying the damage and coming alongside the families that are affected." -Governor Mike Pence
7:30 P.M. UPDATE
Large tornado near 931 and 31 split south of Kokomo. Mile wide tornado in Howard Co. near Taylor described by storm spotters.
7:15 P.M. UPDATE
Two confirmed tornadoes in Howard Co. near Russiaville and between Taylor and Greentown. Reminder, Howard Co. is under a state of emergency, no one is allowed on the roads.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
7:00 P.M. UPDATE
Tornado warnings continue for southeastern Howard, Tipton and Madison County until 7:45 P.M. Weather spotters reported a funnel cloud over Kokomo moving east at 25 MPH.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
6:45 P.M. UPDATE
A joint City of Kokomo-Howard County state of emergency has been declared: all roads are closed for emergency personnel only until 9 p.m.
The City of Indianapolis also issued a severe weather statement:
• Surveys of the areas have begun at 200 S Shortridge, 21st and Ritter and 7900 Washington. We have not found substantial damage yet.
• Fire Department reports multiple calls. One working fire in 3200 block of N Pennsylvania.
• IPL reports approximately 10,813 customers without power.
• Department of Public Works is reporting several major trees down, 15 signals out, and several high water locations so far.
• Both DPW forestry and traffic crews have already been dispatched.
• No injuries have been reported at this time.
• Traffic at 22nd and Delaware is being diverted east toward College or west toward Meridian.
6:15 P.M. UPDATE
Tornado warning in effect for northwestern Howard County until 6:30 p.m. Source - radar rotation... 14 miles north of Frankfort moving east at 25 MPH.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
6:10 P.M. UPDATE
A second confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado is 8 miles northwest of Kokomo moving east at 30 MPH. A tornado warning is in effect until 6:30 p.m.
National Weather Service officials say this is a dangerous situation and to take cover. Law enforcement officials confirmed the tornado. The tornado will be near Kokomo around 6:15 p.m. and Greentown around 6:30 p.m.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
5:45 P.M. UPDATE
A tornado warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. for Brown and Monroe Counties.
Source indicated radar rotation near Bloomington moving east at 25 MPH.
5:20 P.M. UPDATE
Greene and Owen County tornado warnings allowed to expire...
City of Kokomo response to damaging tornado earlier today:
A joint city-county state of emergency is being drafted to be in place until 9 PM tonight.
Emergency crews and street crews are all out. Working to clear roads and assess damage/go door to door for doing citizen checks. We need all non-essential vehicle traffic to stay off the streets to allow this work to happen.
UAW 685 on Hoffer Street has opened its doors for anyone needing a place to stay.
Most power is still out.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
5:05 P.M. UPDATE
Tornado warning remains in effect until 5:15 p.m. Greene and Owen Counties... 12 miles west of Bloomington moving east 25 MPH. Weather Service officials say radar is indicating rotation.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
4:40 P.M. UPDATE
No injuries being reported in the destroyed Starbucks in Kokomo from earlier. National Weather Service bulletins indicate a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Indianapolis moving east at 20 MPH.
Law enforcement reported a tornado east northeast of downtown Indianapolis on I-70.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
4:21 P.M. UPDATE
The National Weather Service is reporting at least two tornadoes have struck central and north central Indiana.
The weather service issued a tornado warning saying a "confirmed large and destructive tornado was about 10 miles east of Kokomo," or about 40 miles north of Indianapolis
Meteorologist Dave Tucek says a tornado moved from the southwest side of Kokomo to the east-central side of that city. He says there are reports of damage but he had no specifics.
The weather service also says Indiana State Police observed a tornado northwest of the Montgomery County town of New Ross, or about 35 miles northwest of Indianapolis, and moving east.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
4:10 P.M. UPDATE
Tornado warnings continue until 4:45 p.m. for Marion County. National Weather Service officials say a severe storm capable of producing a tornado was located near Speedway moving east at 20 MPH. Weather spotters report seeing a funnel cloud in the area.
Storm reports indicate damage in Howard County near Kokomo. A Starbucks is destroyed and a Kokomo radio station is reporting substantial damage to Markland Mall.
A tornado watch is in effect for most of central Indiana until 9:00 p.m.
Weather status by county as well as delays and closings being reported to WFIU and WTIU News may be found here.
Joe Hren contributed to this story.
