Indiana Storm Chasers

06/04/2026

SUNSET ALERT!

Did anyone else catch tonight's absolutely spectacular sunset?! ISC's Tia Justice sure did! Fog was starting to roll over a farmstead in rural Steuben County just moments ago when she paused to snag a pic just for you!

Photo: ISC's Tia Justice - Ashley, IN 06/03/2026

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06/03/2026

Well well well, darlings… This has certainly livened things up.

In response to a little bit of solar tantrum-throwing courtesy of the Sun (we’re talking solar flares and CMEs - Coronal Mass Ejections for those playing along at home), NOAA has issued a Strong (G3) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for June 4th and 5th.

What does that potentially mean for us humble Hoosiers? It means that the Northern Lights MIGHT decide to grace us with their dramatic, shimmering presence farther south than usual. Yes, even here in the land of corn, potholes, and people somehow still putting Christmas decor up in Hobby Lobby before the Fourth of July (How very Evansville coded of them).

Now, as Aurora Lovers well know, a G3 storm can sometimes shove auroral activity deep enough into the mid-latitudes that states like Indiana could have a shot - especially for our northern friends and those willing to flee the city lights like the little sky goblins they are. Cameras (including your smart phone set to night mode) will pick up far more color and detail than the naked eye, so don’t throw in the towel if you don’t immediately see neon disco curtains in the sky.

BUT - and this is important, sugarplums - don’t marry the forecast just yet.

Space weather is a bit of a fickle mistress. Timing, intensity, and impacts are still very much up in the air until the solar energy actually arrives and scientists can sample what kind of mood the Sun woke up in.

For now? We watch, we wait, we plan our evening, and we cautiously get a little excited while whispering sweet nothings to the cloud cover gods in hopes that we'll be spared from their shenanigans.

Stay tuned, darlings. We’ll keep you posted if the sky decides to put on a show.

As always;
Stay aware. Stay safe. Don’t get twisted.

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06/02/2026

What’s a storm chaser to do when Mother Nature puts us in weather timeout and refuses to provide even so much as a spicy little thunderstorm?

Why… We go chase lightning stones, of course! No tornadoes? No problem.
Sometimes the chase just gets a little… Rockier. Because if the atmosphere won’t cooperate, we simply redirect the chaos elsewhere like the adaptable little nerds we are.

This past weekend, Tia successfully ventured north and spent some time chasing, documenting, and - yes - enthusiastically collecting Michigan’s finest shoreline treasures like the tiny rock goblin she absolutely becomes the second interesting geology enters the chat. And friends? We’re pleased to report this particular chase was definitely NOT a bust! HUZZAH! GREAT SUCCESS!

And yes, we can totally hear you asking "What exactly are lightning stones?" and we're super glad you did because it's not something we randomly made up.

Despite the dramatic name (which, admittedly, we adore), lightning stones are actually ancient septarian nodules - fascinating geological formations that formed millions of years ago in sedimentary environments. Over time, these nodules cracked and filled with gorgeous mineral veins, most commonly calcite, creating those stunning lightning-bolt style patterns running through the stone. Nature really said, “As above, so below." and chose to marry meteorology and geology in a stunning partnership that we totally approve of.

Each one is wildly unique, beautifully imperfect, and honestly looks like something the weather gods themselves misplaced along the shoreline. And because we love sharing cool things with our weather family… Stay tuned. We may just be cooking up a chance for a lucky follower to snag one of these rare little beauties for themselves!

Stay aware. Stay safe. Don’t get twisted.

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06/01/2026

Well, would you look at that…

We’ve officially tiptoed (or perhaps dramatically strutted) our way into meteorological summer - the weather nerd version of summer that begins today, June 1st.

Now, before someone’s "favorite" aunt named Karen rushes into the comments with a “WELL ACKSHUALLY…”

Sit down.

No, this is not the official first day of summer. That little celestial darling arrives with the Summer Solstice on June 21st.

But for those of us who speak fluent weather nerd and spend an unreasonable amount of time staring lovingly at model data, June 1st marks the start of the warm season and all the summertime shenanigans that come with it;

Long sunsets. Fireflies. Sweet corn. Pool days. Lake days. Slightly questionable tan lines. Complaining it’s too hot after begging for warmth since December.

And frankly? We are VERY excited about it (even if we're not fans of the fact that some of y'all either forget how to use deodorant or overspray cloying floral fragrances to the point the rest of us are suffocated)

So tell us, Indiana (and our honorary out-of-state weather fam), what are you up to on this absolutely gorgeous Monday? Working? Gardening? Chasing sunbeams? Living your best iced coffee life? Touching grass? Avoiding responsibilities?

Drop your plans below and let us be just a tiny bit nosy.

And remember;

Stay aware. Stay safe. And welcome to summer… Weather edition.

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06/01/2026

On this day in 2013, the historic El Reno, Oklahoma tornado forever changed the face of severe weather and storm chasing. While not an Indiana event, its impact reached every corner of the weather world.

We pause to remember and honor the lives of TWISTEX team members Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young - brilliant minds, passionate researchers, and souls lost in pursuit of understanding the very storms they sought to help us survive.

Their legacy lives on in every forecast, every warning, and every lesson learned. We remember. Always.

05/31/2026

It's cottonwood season... Can you tell?

Photo: ISC's Tia Justice - Angola, IN

05/30/2026

Steuben County residents: Y'all need m**d to go drop your name in the hat for a chance to win a NOAA Weather Radio!

While at the Sheets Family Park Grand Opening, attendees had the chance to register for a chance to win 1 of 4 NOAA Weather Radios. We will be drawing early next week and contacting the winners.

If you would like a chance at a radio for you or a loved one, come see us next Saturday at the YMCA of Steuben County at the Steuben County Safety Event from 10 to 2. We will be giving away another 4 radios.

05/30/2026

Our director is notoriously allergic to the spotlight. She'd much rather work behind the scenes (or behind the screen) than stand in front of a camera or accept credit for the incredible things she does for Indiana Storm Chasers and our community.

Unfortunately for her, we the team are hijacking the page for a minute. Pitchforks down. Don't worry. We'll give it right back and we have a good reason.

We're proud to share this fantastic Bold Journey interview featuring our very own Tia Justice. Her passion, vision, leadership, and dedication have helped shape ISC into what it is today, and we're thrilled to see her story being shared.

Give it a read and help us celebrate someone who deserves to shine as brightly as the diamond she is.

https://boldjourney.com/meet-tia-justice

And T, when you see this just know that we love and celebrate you and the incredible family and culture you've created here at ISC and beyond. You're a true pillar of the greater Hoosier community, a wonderful leader, and an amazing friend.

Love,
- Team ISC

We recently connected with Tia Justice and have shared our conversation below. Tia, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

05/30/2026

What do you do when it isn't French Toast season but you want a great little cinnamon treat that won't break the bank? Why you wander on over to our favorite nom haven, Village Kitchen in beautiful Angola, IN, and snag yourself the most magical cinnamon roll and coffee in existence!
.. Oh and there's no such thing as French Toast season. We made that up. While we may not see any French Toast Apocalypse ratings over the next few months (unless something super weird happens), we'll still be cramming French Toast down our gullets too.

They're not sponsoring us or paying us to say any of this, we just love them with our whole hearts. It's worth the trip... And the carbs.

What's your favorite treat and/or favorite food joint? We're on the road a lot and always looking for a soft (and tasty) place to land after a chase.

05/30/2026

Attention please! This is a shout to our darling star gazers, moon lovers, night owls, and folks who suddenly become amateur photographers the moment something shiny happens in the sky…

Tonight brings us May’s Blue Moon - and before anyone asks, no, she will not actually be blue. We’ve once again been betrayed by unnecessarily confusing naming conventions. A “Blue Moon” simply means it’s the second of two full moons occurring within the same calendar month.

And darlings… She’s going to be a beauty.

Saturday Night (Tonight) Moonrise: 8:58 PM EDT

If clouds, bedtime, children, or your own tragic inability to stay awake rob you of tonight’s celestial splendor, Sunday will still offer up a rather lovely encore and another chance to snag some truly stellar photos. (Yes, yes… we saw what we did there.)

Sunday Night Moonrise: 9:56 PM EDT

Our advice? Find yourself an open field, a quiet country road, or a cozy spot with a good eastern view, take a beat from the chaos of the world, and spend a few minutes admiring something beautifully ancient and wildly indifferent to our nonsense.

Happy moon watching, darlings.

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🔴 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL STORM NERDS 🔴
(PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE?! With sugar on top?!)

Enjoying the weather updates, educational chaos, and profoundly disrespectful 3AM warning posts?

ISC is proudly self-funded, and your support helps keep warnings posted, gas tanks full, cameras rolling, and severe weather education free for Hoosiers statewide. Plus, snacks. Because chasing storms is hungry work and going toe to toe with a spinny boi on an empty stomach feels like a bad life choice.

You can show us some love and drop us some coin here;
👉 Ko-Fi.com/InStormChasers

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Wanna represent your favorite weather team in style (Especially while being a good little Hoosier and NOT hanging out on your porch during a tornado warning?)

Check out our exclusive line of merch HERE;
gauntletdesignstudio.com/pages/indiana-storm-chasers

We've got you covered whether you're looking for official ISC branded weather proof vinyl stickers, hysterical tees, cozy hoodies, and so much more! All proceeds go directly towards keeping our no cost severe weather safety seminars and other educational programs free for everyone!

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