Severe weather predicted in area, fairgoers warned

According to Greene County Emergency Management Director Roger Axe, severe weather could be in store for Greene County Wednesday and Thursday, and care should be taken by attendees and participants of the 4-H Fair, particularly those with outdoor events.

“There is some concern for weather coming this Wednesday, July 12, and days beyond,” Axe said. “Wednesday could bring a marginal risk of severe weather. The weather pattern could produce another derecho like what passed through Greene County on Thursday, June 29 and hit Terre Haute and caused massive damages and power outages.”

A derecho, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm that is associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms known as a mesoscale convective system. Derechos can cause hurricanic and tornadic level winds, heavy rains, and flash floods.

“Special concern is for the Greene County Fair, which is extremely vulnerable since most of the activities are outside,” Axe added. “We ask those associated with the fair to pay close attention to the weather Wednesday and beyond and be ready to take protective action if warranted.”

NWS predicts multiple areas of thunderstorms across Indiana Wednesday and Wednesday night, particularly in the western portion of the state, where the threat is marginal.

Possible damaging winds, large hail, heavy rain and isolated tornadoes are possible.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advises residents to watch their local weather forecast in the coming days for any changes in the threat level.