Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Northern Indiana

May 31, 1989LaGrange County, Noble County, Indiana

NWS Northern Indiana issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1989, 5:59 PM EST for LaGrange County, Noble County, Indiana. It was in force for 31 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 31, 1989, 5:59 PM EST (22:59 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 1989, 6:30 PM EST
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Northern Indiana
Area
Whole counties

Counties LaGrange County, IN, Noble County, IN

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 31, 6:10 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Noble, IN

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Dayton/James M C, OH (KDAY), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 208 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Dayton/James M C, OH at 12:00Z on 1989-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 138 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dayton/James M C, OH at 12:00Z on 1989-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 185 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
138 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
947 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
185 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
181 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KFWA 312259
SVRFWA
INC087-113-312330-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WAYNE IN
559 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 630 PM EST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF INDIANA
      SOUTHERN LAGRANGE...NORTHERN NOBLE

AT 551 PM EST RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 40 MILES
NORTHWEST OF FORT WAYNE INDIANA OR 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALBION
IN NORTHEAST INDIANA MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 30 MPH.

PEOPLE IN THE AREA AROUND THE  TOPEKA INDIANA
SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS.
DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...FIND SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING.  DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

 MARSHALL

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 31, 3:58 PM EST, 2 hours 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WAYNE IN
400 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO FROM 3 PM EST OR 4 PM EDT TO 9 PM EST
OR 10 PM EDT...
...FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTHWESTERN OHIO FROM MIDNIGHT TIL NOON THURSDAY...

AT 355 PM EST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS EXTENDED 20 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOGANSPORT IN NORTHEAST
INDIANA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND CONTAINED DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS.

FLOODING OF LOW LYING ROADWAYS AND SMALL STREAMS MAY OCCURR AS THESE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN WABASH...SOUTHERN WHITLEY AND
ALLEN COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST INDIANA...AND ACROSS PAULDING COUNTY OF
NORTHWEST OHIO.
BY 445 PM EST THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXTEND FROM 40 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE OR NEAR DEFIANCE OHIO TO 30 MILES WEST
WEST SOUTHWEST OF FORT WAYNE OR 10 .MILES NORTH OF WABASH.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:00 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WAYNE IN
400 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO FROM 3 PM EST OR 4 PM EDT TO 9 PM EST
OR 10 PM EDT...
...FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTHWESTERN OHIO FROM MIDNIGHT TIL NOON THURSDAY...

AT 355 PM EST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS EXTENDED 20 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOGANSPORT IN NORTHEAST
INDIANA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND CONTAINED DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS.

FLOODING OF LOW LYING ROADWAYS AND SMALL STREAMS MAY OCCURR AS THESE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN WABASH...SOUTHERN WHITLEY AND
ALLEN COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST INDIANA...AND ACROSS PAULDING COUNTY OF
NORTHWEST OHIO.

BY 445 PM EST THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXTEND FROM 40 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE OR NEAR DEFIANCE OHIO TO 30 MILES WEST
WEST SOUTHWEST OF FORT WAYNE OR 1/0 MILES NORTH OF WABASH.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:12 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WAYNE IN
410 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO FROM 3 PM EST OR 4 PM EDT TO 9 PM EST
OR 10 PM EDT...
...FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTHWESTERN OHIO FROM MIDNIGHT TIL NOON THURSDAY...

AT 355 PM EST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS EXTENDED FROM 20 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOGANSPORT IN NORTHEAST
INDIANA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND CONTAINED DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS.

FLOODING OF LOW LYING ROADWAYS AND SMALL STREAMS MAY OCCURR AS THESE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN WABASH...SOUTHERN WHITLEY AND
ALLEN COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST INDIANA...AND ACROSS PAULDING COUNTY OF
NORTHWEST OHIO.

BY 445 PM EST THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXTEND FROM 40 MILES EAST
NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE OR NEAR DEFIANCE OHIO TO 30 MILES WEST
SOUTHWEST OEF FORT WAYNE OR 10 MILES NORTH OF WABASH.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:39 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SOUTH BEND IN
435 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN INDIANA AND
SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 9PM EST...10PM EDT...

AT 430 PM EST...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST
INDIANA FROM 20 MILES SOUTH OF GARY INDIANA...NORTHEAST THROUGH LA PORTE
AND CONTINUING TO THE EXTREME NORTHWEST CORNER OF ST JOSEPH COUNTY IN
INDIANA.

ANOTHER AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN
FROM 5 MILES EAST OF BENTON HARBOR AND EXTENDED NORTHEAST TO NEAR
PAW PAW MICHIGAN.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
THcE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
ARNOLD
Special weather statement, May 31, 5:06 PM EST, 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WAYNE IN
505 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO FROM 3 PM EST OR 4 PM EDT TO 9 PM EST
OR 10 PM EDT...
...FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTHWESTERN OHIO FROM MIDNIGHT TIL NOON THURSDAY...

AT 500 PM EST A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 30 MILES EAST NORTHEAST
OF FORT WAYNE OR NEAR PAULDING OHIO. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE
EAST NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND CONTAINED DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL. PERSONS IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PAULDING COUNTY SHOULD BE
ALERT FOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING ROADWAYS AND SMALL STREAMS.

BY 545 PM EST THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL BE LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DEFIANCE OHIO.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WERE
LOCATED 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF FORT WAYNE OR 5 MILES EAST OF AUBURN.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

BY 545 PM EST THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LOCATED 40 MILES NORTHEAST
OF FORT WAYNE OR NEAR EDGERTON

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, May 31, 5:26 PM EST, 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SOUTH BEND IN
525 PM EST WED MAY 31 1989

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN INDIANA AND
SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN UNTIL 9PM EST...10PM EDT...

AT 520 PM EST...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM 60 MILES NORTHEAST OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA...SOUTHWEST
THROUGH ELKHART INDIANA AND CONTINUED TO 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SOUTH
BEND.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. ONE HALF INCH OF RAIN WAS RECORDED AT
THE WEATHER SERVICE BETWEEN 445 PM EST AND 515 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
ARNOLD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Northern Indiana issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 6:33 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXAllen, DeKalb27 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.