SOUTH BEND — Record heat across Indiana gave way Friday to powerful thunderstorms that knocked down power lines and damaged homes and businesses.
A string of thunderstorms rumbled across the state, packing hail, heavy rain and winds up to 91 mph. They left more than 100,000 customers in Indiana without power at times on a day where temperatures again soared into the triple digits in some areas.
In Indianapolis, the temperature hit 103 degrees in Indianapolis at 4:31 p.m., breaking the record of 100 set in 1934. After the storm, the temperature dropped to a mild 74. Temperatures hit 106 in Evansville, 105 in Terre Haute and 101 in Shelbyville.
But the dark clouds also provided parts of drought-plagued Indiana with some much-needed rain, ending a streak of 24 straight days without measurable precipitation in Indianapolis — the longest such streak in 29 years.
In eastern Indiana, there was an unconfirmed report of a tornado touchdown in northern Delaware County.
"We do have several homes that have various amount of damage. I've not heard of anything that's been destroyed yet," said Jason Rogers, the county's Emergency Management Agency director. No injuries were reported.
National Weather Service meteorologist Earl Breon said there were numerous reports of trees and limbs down in Delaware County.
"We're getting lots of reports of 50 mph winds," he said.
A 91 mph wind gust was measured at Fort Wayne International Airport shortly before 3 p.m.
The Indiana Department of Transportation warned drivers to be aware that many roads throughout the Fort Wayne area were littered with downed trees, utility wires and debris from the storm.
In Whitley County, winds knocked over the top 40 feet of a 100-foot radio tower located at a fire station and blew off a section of the roof, dispatcher Kathy Shively said.
"We have poles and trees down all over," she said.
In northwestern Indiana, the weather service reported hail in Crown Point, Highland and Chesterton. The Times of Munster reported high winds toppled trees in Valparaiso. And Valparaiso Police Sgt. Mike Grennes says a woman sustained minor injuries when a tree fell on her car.
Hot weather is forecast to return to a large section of central Indiana on Saturday, the weather service said. It also issued an excessive heat warning through 8 p.m. Sunday, saying temperatures could range from 100 to 105 degrees.
