Weather news
Photo posted Wednesday evening shows funnel-shaped lowering south of Terre Haute, Indiana
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk · Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Key points
- Where: just south of Terre Haute, Indiana, near a Griffin Bike Park and Fowler Park sign.
- When: the photo was posted at 7:16 PM ET Wednesday, Nov. 11. The tornado warning on the storm ran 5:27 to 6:00 PM ET. We don't know exactly when the photo was taken.
- What: a funnel-shaped lowering under the storm, seen over autumn trees. No tornado has been reported yet.
- What it means: storms are still firing across the region tonight under a Level 2 of 5 (Slight Risk) for severe weather.
A photo posted at 7:16 PM ET Wednesday, Nov. 11, shows a funnel-shaped lowering hanging from a storm just south of Terre Haute, Indiana. That storm was under a radar-indicated tornado warning from 5:27 to 6:00 PM ET, and there was no official tornado report at the time of publication. The photo is a good reminder that a funnel-shaped lowering is not proof of a tornado on the ground.
What the photo shows
Noah Miller shared the picture on X, and we put it in our Instagram and Facebook stories. It shows a narrow, funnel-shaped lowering dropping from the base of the storm above a stand of fall-colored trees.
This photo shows the lowering, but it can't tell us whether anything reached the surface. No official tornado report had been received at the time of publication.
The warning was issued because radar showed rotation in the storm. That is a call to act, not a confirmed touchdown.
Why storms are active here tonight
A cold front is sweeping southeast through the lower Ohio Valley this evening. Ahead of it, a little warm, moist air has pushed in under cooler air aloft. That is not a lot of storm fuel, but winds are strong enough to organize storms into clusters and a few rotating ones.
The Storm Prediction Center has a Level 2 of 5 (Slight Risk) up for central and southern Indiana, western Kentucky and far southeastern Illinois. That area includes Louisville, Evansville, Bowling Green and Bloomington. A wider Level 1 area reaches Indianapolis and Nashville.
The main threats are:
- Damaging wind gusts of 60 mph or more, scattered.
- Hail around 1 to 1.5 inches, scattered.
- A tornado, isolated. The tornado odds are 2 percent, a Level 1 threat.
Severe thunderstorm watches are also in effect until 11 PM ET, and several warnings were up as of 7:30 PM ET. Check our live warnings page for the ones near you.
What to do
- If you live in the risk area in Indiana, Kentucky or middle Tennessee, know your shelter spot before the next storm arrives: the lowest floor, an interior room, away from windows.
- If a tornado warning is issued for your area, go there right away. Don't wait to see a funnel yourself.
- Keep your phone charged and your alerts on. You can sign up for free Y'all Alerts.
- Watch live storm reports to see whether anything gets confirmed, and our severe storm outlook for what comes next.
What comes next
The front keeps moving southeast, so the threat shifts through Kentucky and into middle Tennessee this evening and fades after that.
Thursday, Nov. 12, the risk moves east. A Level 1 of 5 (Marginal Risk) covers the Mid-Atlantic, including Philadelphia, New York and Newark, with a few gusty storms possible in the afternoon. Friday, Nov. 13, no severe storms are expected.
Bottom line
A funnel-shaped lowering was photographed south of Terre Haute under a tornado warning, but no tornado has been reported. Storms stay possible tonight across parts of Indiana, Kentucky and southeastern Illinois, so have your shelter spot picked and your alerts on.
Explained: Watch vs. warning: what PDS watches and emergencies mean
More on Ohio Valley severe weather, November 2026
Places in this story: Louisville, KY; Evansville, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Terre Haute, IN