If you just jumped onto your phone because you heard a siren or saw a frantic post on social media, here is the bottom line: As of right now, Friday, January 16, 2026, there are no active tornado warnings or watches for the state of Indiana. Honestly, it’s the middle of January. While Indiana is famous for its "wait five minutes and the weather will change" reputation, today is much more about freezing your nose off than dodging a funnel cloud. The National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Indianapolis, Northern Indiana, and Louisville (which covers our southern counties) are focused on one thing today: snow squalls and a brutal cold front.
The question "where is the tornado in Indiana right now" usually spikes when people see dark clouds or hear high wind gusts. But today, those winds are coming from an Arctic blast, not a rotating supercell.
The Current Situation on the Ground
Basically, we are in the "dead of winter" phase. Instead of tornadoes, we’re dealing with scattered snow showers and some pretty nasty wind chills.
I checked the latest Hazardous Weather Outlooks. If you’re in places like South Bend, Fort Wayne, or Muncie, you’ve probably seen some flakes. The NWS is tracking light snow accumulations—maybe an inch or two—and wind gusts hitting 20 to 30 mph. It’s enough to make the roads slick, but it’s not the kind of wind that rips roofs off.
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Earlier this week, specifically on January 14, we did have some "snow squalls" in Northwest Indiana near Gary and Valparaiso. Those are basically the winter version of a thunderstorm—they hit fast, drop visibility to zero, and have wind gusts up to 50 or 60 mph. People often mistake that intensity for a tornado because it happens so fast. But today? It’s just a cold, gray Friday.
Why You Might Be Seeing "Tornado" Reports
It’s easy to get spooked by outdated information. If you saw a headline about a tornado in Linton, Indiana, that was actually from a confirmed EF-1 that touched down back on December 28, 2025.
Weather apps sometimes glitch or show "historic" data that makes it look like something is happening now when it’s really just a recap of a past event. If you don't see a bright red polygon on the official NWS radar, you’re likely in the clear for the moment.
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Real Threats for Hoosiers Today
Let’s talk about what’s actually dangerous today, because it isn't a vortex.
The real "right now" hazard is the temperature drop. We are looking at wind chills that could dive to -15 degrees over the next few days. That’s "exposed skin freezes in 30 minutes" territory.
- Road Conditions: Light snow is coating I-65 and I-70. It doesn't take much to cause a pileup when the pavement is this cold.
- The Wind: While not tornadic, 30 mph gusts can still push a high-profile vehicle around.
- Visibility: In the northern part of the state, blowing snow is the bigger issue. You might go from clear skies to a whiteout in seconds.
When Do Tornadoes Usually Hit Indiana?
Look, January tornadoes in Indiana aren't impossible. We’ve had them before. But they usually require a "warm surge" where temperatures hit the 50s or 60s and moisture flows up from the Gulf of Mexico.
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Today is the opposite. We’ve got an Arctic air mass sitting over us. Tornadoes need "fuel"—warm, moist air—and Indiana is currently a giant freezer. Our "peak" season doesn't really kick off until April, May, and June. That’s when you need to have your shoes by the bed and your helmet in the basement.
How to Check if There’s a Tornado Right Now
If the sky ever turns that weird "bruised purple" or green color and you're worried, don't rely on a random Google search that might show you an article from three years ago. Use these specific tools:
- NWS Indianapolis Twitter/X: They are the fastest to post when a warning is issued.
- The "Polygon": Look at a radar app (like RadarScope or even the free Weather Channel app). If you see a red box, that is a Tornado Warning. A yellow box is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
- The Noise: If you hear a roar like a freight train, don't check your phone. Just go to the lowest level of your house.
Honestly, the best thing you can do right now is check your anti-freeze and make sure your furnace is humming along. The "tornado" risk is effectively zero for the next 24 hours.
Actionable Next Steps
Since you’re already thinking about severe weather, take five minutes to do the "Winter Version" of storm prep:
- Check your car kit: Do you have a blanket and a shovel? If you slide off the road in these -15 wind chills, you'll need them.
- Verify your alerts: Make sure "Wireless Emergency Alerts" are turned ON in your phone settings. This will wake you up if a real warning happens while you're sleeping.
- Drip the sinks: With the sub-zero temps coming Sunday and Monday, keep those pipes from bursting.
Stay warm out there. It’s a typical Indiana winter day—messy, cold, and gray—but thankfully, the sirens are staying silent for now.