Alert archive / Indiana / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Northern Indiana

August 4, 2012Berrien County, Michigan; LaPorte County, Saint Joseph County, Indiana

NWS Northern Indiana issued this tornado warning at Aug 4, 2012, 6:18 PM EDT for Berrien County, Michigan; LaPorte County, Saint Joseph County, Indiana. It was in force for 42 min. 7 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 4, 2012, 6:18 PM EDT (22:18 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Northern Indiana
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties LaPorte County, IN, Saint Joseph County, IN, Berrien County, MI

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:20 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 4, 6:20 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGRolling Prairie, INTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
Aug 4, 6:20 PM EDTTORNADORolling Prairie, INPRELIMINARY DAMAGE SURVEY BY EMERGENCY MANAGER INDICATES DAMAGE TO A RESIDENCE SOUTHEAST OF ROLLING PRARIE CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADIC ROTATION. WINDS DESTROYED THE CARPORT GARAGE AND ROOF SEPARATED SLIGHTLY FROM THE FRAME OF THE HOME. A NEARBY BARN WAS ALSO DE
Aug 4, 6:33 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 N Niles, MI6 INCH TO 1 FOOT TREE LIMBS AND TREES DOWN. ALSO HAIL THE SIZE OF PING PONG BALLS.
Aug 4, 6:33 PM EDTHAIL 1.52 N Niles, MI6 INCH TO 1 FOOT TREE LIMBS AND TREES DOWN. ALSO HAIL THE SIZE OF PING PONG BALLS.
Aug 4, 6:38 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGGalien, MILARGE TREE BRANCH DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 4, 6:38 PM EDTTSTM WND GST 654 W Roseland, INESTIMATED 60 TO 70 MPH WINDS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 4, 6:50 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 N La Porte, INA SMALL TREE REPORTED DOWN.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 4, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 253 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2012-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3403 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2012-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
3403 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
817 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
63 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
5.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

161 
WFUS53 KIWX 042218
TORIWX
INC091-141-MIC021-042300-
/O.NEW.KIWX.TO.W.0004.120804T2218Z-120804T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
618 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN LA PORTE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA...
  NORTHWESTERN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA...
  SOUTHERN BERRIEN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN...

* UNTIL 700 PM EDT/600 PM CDT/

* AT 515 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE SQUALL LINE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF RAIN-WRAPPED
  TORNADOES IN ADDITION TO WIDESPREAD STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE. 4
  MILES EAST OF LA PORTE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
  DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS   
  SEVERE STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS SEVERE STORM INCLUDE...
  NEW CARLISLE...
  ROSELAND...BUCHANAN AND SOUTH BEND...
  NILES...

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE HUDSON
LAKE...GALIEN...CHAIN-O-LAKES...LYDICK...DAYTON AND BERTRAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES AND
WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE WITH DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 70 MPH. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. FOR YOUR
PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME
OR BUSINESS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...POST YOUR INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA FACEBOOK PAGE...OR YOU CAN POST ON
TWITTER WITH THE HASH TAG... @ N W S I W X. REPORTS CAN ALSO BE MADE
TO THE NATIONAL PUBLIC OBSERVATION REPORTING HOTLINE TOLL FREE AT
877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 4191 8624 4168 8623 4160 8652 4165 8671
      4174 8676
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 242DEG 29KT 4164 8661

$$
3 follow-up statements
507 
WWUS53 KIWX 042225
SVSIWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
625 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

INC091-141-MIC021-042300-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120804T2300Z/
ST. JOSEPH IN-LA PORTE IN-BERRIEN MI-
625 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT/600 PM CDT/
FOR SOUTHEASTERN BERRIEN...NORTHEASTERN LA PORTE AND NORTHWESTERN ST.
JOSEPH COUNTIES...

AT 520 PM CDT...A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS INDICATED BY NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WITH THIS LINE OF DANGEROUS STORMS NEAR 
ROLLING PRAIRIE...OR ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF LA PORTE...AND 
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO WAS INCLUDE...
  NEW CARLISLE...
  BUCHANAN AND SOUTH BEND...
  ROSELAND...
  NILES...

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO INCLUDE HUDSON
LAKE...LYDICK...CHAIN-O-LAKES...DAYTON AND BERTRAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...POST YOUR INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA FACEBOOK PAGE...OR YOU CAN POST ON
TWITTER WITH THE HASH TAG... @ N W S I W X. REPORTS CAN ALSO BE MADE
TO THE NATIONAL PUBLIC OBSERVATION REPORTING HOTLINE TOLL FREE AT
877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 4162 8652 4166 8665 4176 8670 4191 8624
      4168 8623
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 242DEG 29KT 4167 8657

$$
194 
WWUS53 KIWX 042232
SVSIWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
632 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

INC091-141-MIC021-042300-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120804T2300Z/
ST. JOSEPH IN-LA PORTE IN-BERRIEN MI-
632 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT/600 PM CDT/
FOR SOUTHEASTERN BERRIEN...NORTHEASTERN LA PORTE AND NORTHWESTERN ST.
JOSEPH COUNTIES...

AT 629 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION LOCATED NEAR 
NEW CARLISLE...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF LA PORTE...AND MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO WAS INCLUDE...
  BUCHANAN...
  NILES AND ROSELAND...

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS INCLUDE LYDICK...CHAIN-O-LAKES...
DAYTON...INDIAN VILLAGE AND BERTRAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...POST YOUR INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA FACEBOOK PAGE...OR YOU CAN POST ON
TWITTER WITH THE HASH TAG... @ N W S I W X. REPORTS CAN ALSO BE MADE
TO THE NATIONAL PUBLIC OBSERVATION REPORTING HOTLINE TOLL FREE AT
877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 4168 8650 4179 8661 4191 8624 4170 8623
TIME...MOT...LOC 2232Z 242DEG 29KT 4170 8649

$$
969 
WWUS53 KIWX 042252
SVSIWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
652 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

INC091-141-MIC021-042302-
/O.EXP.KIWX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120804T2300Z/
ST. JOSEPH IN-LA PORTE IN-BERRIEN MI-
652 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BERRIEN...NORTHEASTERN LA
PORTE AND NORTHWESTERN ST. JOSEPH COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 700 PM
EDT/600 PM CDT/...

AT 652 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD WEAKENED. THEREFORE...THE 
TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...POST YOUR INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA FACEBOOK PAGE...OR YOU CAN POST ON
TWITTER WITH THE HASH TAG... @ N W S I W X. REPORTS CAN ALSO BE MADE
TO THE NATIONAL PUBLIC OBSERVATION REPORTING HOTLINE TOLL FREE AT
877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 4168 8650 4179 8661 4191 8624 4170 8623
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 242DEG 29KT 4178 8630

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 4, 4:17 PM EDTRip Current StatementIWX38 hr
Aug 4, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXBerrien70 min
Aug 4, 6:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXBerrien, Cass52 min
Aug 4, 6:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXCass, Saint Joseph51 min
Aug 4, 6:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXBerrien, Cass, Saint Joseph28 min
Aug 4, 3:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXCass27 min
Aug 4, 3:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXCass, Miami50 min
Aug 4, 4:20 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryIWX31 hr
Aug 4, 4:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXGrant21 min
Aug 4, 4:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXHuntington31 min
Aug 4, 4:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXMiami26 min
Aug 4, 4:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXMarshall24 min
Aug 4, 4:57 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningIWX2 hr
Aug 4, 5:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXHuntington, Wells, Whitley28 min
Aug 4, 5:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXKosciusko, Marshall27 min
Aug 4, 5:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXFulton52 min
Aug 4, 5:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXFulton, Marshall, Pulaski40 min
Aug 4, 6:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXAllen27 min
Aug 4, 6:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXMarshall, Saint Joseph, Starke49 min
Aug 4, 6:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXLaGrange29 min
Aug 4, 7:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXFulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Miami, Wabash33 min
Aug 4, 7:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXAllen, Kosciusko, Noble, Whitley48 min
Aug 4, 7:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXGrant52 min
Aug 4, 7:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXAllen, Huntington, Wabash, Wells, Whitley46 min
Aug 4, 7:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXSteuben44 min
Aug 4, 7:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXAllen, DeKalb50 min
Aug 4, 7:57 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryIWXAllen, DeKalb, Steuben93 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Indiana, 2012Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.