Severe Storms Dump Heavy Rain, Large Hail on Indiana

Severe thunderstorms that dumped heavy rains and large hail on parts of Indiana also produced lightning blamed for house fires and damage to a plane at Indianapolis’ main airport.

The National Weather Service reports widespread reports of large hail, including one-inch diameter hail that pummeled southern Indiana’s Gibson County. The weather service says a record 2.08 inches of rain fell Tuesday in Indianapolis, breaking the previous record for the date of 1.53 inches set in 1930.

WTHR-TV reports that officials at Indianapolis International Airport say a lightning strike damaged an unoccupied US Airways plane early Wednesday parked at the airport.

Firefighters also responded to fires that struck at least three homes in Hamilton County north of Indianapolis which authorities blamed on lightning strikes as the storms swept through.