Alert archive / Michigan / Flood Watches in 2020

Flood Watch 2, NWS Northern Indiana

May 14, 2020Elkhart County, Marshall County, Starke County, Indiana; 4 counties in Michigan

NWS Northern Indiana issued this flood watch at May 14, 2020, 3:31 PM EDT for Elkhart County, Marshall County, Starke County, Indiana; 4 counties in Michigan. It took effect at May 14, 2020, 8:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 8 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 14, 2020, 3:31 PM EDT (19:31 UTC)
In effect from
May 14, 2020, 8:00 PM EDT
Expired
May 15, 2020, 3:49 AM EDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Northern Indiana
Flood severity
None

Counties Elkhart County, IN, Marshall County, IN, Starke County, IN, Branch County, MI, Cass County, MI, Hillsdale County, MI, Saint Joseph County, MI

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:31 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 220 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, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2020-05-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Detroit, MI at 12:00Z on 2020-05-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 288 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1010 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
288 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
308 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flood watch went out at May 14, 3:27 PM EDT, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 14, 3:27 PM EDT, 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
327 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 316 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

Showers and thunderstorms will continue this afternoon with
moderate to heavy rain. The severe threat has diminished. Wet
weather will continue into Friday. Saturday should be mostly dry,
but more rain will move in Saturday night and Sunday.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Friday)
Issued at 316 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

A shortwave currently over central Illinois is pushing an MCS
across northern Indiana this afternoon, and will eventually move
into northern Ohio. Showers and thunderstorms with moderate to
heavy rain can therefore be expected through early evening. The
forecast area remains in the warm sector with the warm front over
southern Michigan and the cold front extending from Wisconsin back
across the plains. It has become quite warm and humid with highs
in the 60s north to mid 70s southeast, and dewpoints in the 60s.
This has allowed the area to become fairly unstable with MUCAPE
500-1000 J/kg. However, shear is marginal at around 30 kts and
forecast to decrease this evening. With ongoing rain and
associated cooling, expect instability to decrease as well, and a
limited severe weather threat. Yet there could still be some
gusty winds up to 45 mph.

The current round of storms is expected to move out of the area by
late evening. There may be a break in activity, and then another
shortwave will move in from west around midnight with more showers
and thunderstorms. The biggest threat with this complex will be
heavy rain, especially across northwest Indiana and southwest
Michigan. An additional 1 to 2 inches will be possible during this
period, and some localized flooding or ponding of water could
occur. A Flood Watch has been issued.

The cold front will move through the area around mid-day Friday,
pushing moisture eastward. By evening, most of the area will start
to dry out and clouds will scatter. However, the front will stall
over the Ohio Valley, and light rain could persist over the
southeast counties. Despite the cold front, it will be mild on
Friday with highs in the 70s except 60s near Lake Michigan. Highs
are likely to occur early though, with cooler air moving in late
afternoon with the front.

&&

.LONG TERM...(Friday Night through Thursday)
Issued at 316 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

A transitory ridge of high pressure will build in on Friday night
into Saturday morning. Dry weather may not last long though, with
another low pressure system poised to bring more rain and
thunderstorms on Saturday night into Sunday as a deep closed low
swings through the Great Lakes. Lingering showers due to wrap-
around moisture are now also forecast to persist on Monday and
possibly Tuesday as the low stalls over the SE US. Dry conditions
should return for Wednesday and Thursday, but confidence is low
since latest model runs hold onto the low through the end of the
week.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday Afternoon)
Issued at 130 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

Organized convective system will continue to progress east into
KFWA by roughly 1830z. Well mixed environment in warm sector with
developing MLCAPE could bring some higher end 40 plus gusts on the
leading edge of the line. Restrictions into IFR/MVFR likely
otherwise as convection lingers here for a few hours thereafter.
Showers (embedded thunder) will continue at KSBN through 19/20z
along the backside of this system.

A lull in shower coverage is anticipated late this afternoon
before another convectively aided shortwave tracks in tonight into
early tomorrow with a renewed increase in showers and
thunderstorms, especially at KSBN where a longer duration of
convection and heavier rain is favored. Conditions will likely
lower into IFR here, with lower confidence on coverage and flight
conditions at KFWA. Marginal LLWS conditions otherwise overnight.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flood Watch from 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ this evening through Friday
     morning for INZ003>005-012-014.

MI...Flood Watch from 8 PM EDT this evening through Friday morning
     for MIZ077>079.

OH...NONE.
LM...NONE.
&&

SYNOPSIS...Cobb
SHORT TERM...Cobb
LONG TERM...Cobb
AVIATION...Steinwedel

Visit us at www.weather.gov/iwx

Follow us on Facebook...Twitter...and YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/NWSNorthernIndiana
www.twitter.com/nwsiwx
www.youtube.com/NWSNorthernIndiana
Hazardous weather outlook, May 14, 5:51 AM EDT, 9 hours 40 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
551 AM EDT Thu May 14 2020

INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005-
015-016-024-025-151000-
La Porte-St. Joseph IN-Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke-
Pulaski-Marshall-Fulton IN-Kosciusko-Whitley-Allen IN-White-Cass IN-
Miami-Wabash-Huntington-Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Berrien-
Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-
Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH-
551 AM EDT Thu May 14 2020 /451 AM CDT Thu May 14 2020/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana, southwest
Michigan and northwest Ohio.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Thunderstorms will be possible into tonight across much of the
area. There is a slight risk for severe storms this afternoon and
tonight, with damaging winds and large hail the most likely threat.
In addition, heavy rain is possible, especially tonight. This could
cause some ponding of water and minor flooding in areas that see
repeated rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Additional chances for thunderstorms exist Saturday night into
Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible into tonight.

LMZ043-046-151000-
New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI-
551 AM EDT Thu May 14 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters of
southeastern Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Thunderstorms will be possible through tonight, which may cause
locally higher winds and waves.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Thunderstorms will be possible again Saturday night into Sunday.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 14, 12:53 PM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1253 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

INZ014>016-023-141730-
Miami-Kosciusko-Marshall-Fulton-
1253 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT FULTON...WESTERN
KOSCIUSKO...NORTHWESTERN MIAMI AND SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTIES...

At 1253 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Plymouth to near Culver to 7 miles
east of Winamac. Movement was east at 35 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Plymouth, Rochester, Bourbon, Argos, Mentone, Walnut, Tippecanoe,
Kewanna, Etna Green, Fulton, Macy, Leiters Ford, Hoffman Lake,
Atwood, Nyena Lake, Hibbard, Delong, Old Tip Town, Sevastopol and
Tiosa.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4118 8641 4137 8639 4138 8597 4118 8597
      4094 8609 4095 8647 4098 8647
TIME...MOT...LOC 1653Z 267DEG 31KT 4140 8631 4120 8634 4106 8645

HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPH

Brown
Special weather statement, May 14, 1:25 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
125 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

INZ015-016-023-024-141800-
Miami-Wabash-Kosciusko-Fulton-
125 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN WABASH...
EASTERN FULTON...KOSCIUSKO AND NORTHWESTERN MIAMI COUNTIES...

At 124 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Bourbon to near Mentone to 7 miles
south of Rochester. Movement was east at 35 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Warsaw, Winona Lake, Milford, Akron, North Webster, Pierceton,
Mentone, Etna Green, Leesburg, Claypool, Macy, Burket, Sidney, Big
Barbee Lake, Ridinger Lake, Monoquet, Hoffman Lake, Atwood, Nyena
Lake and Irish Lake.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4098 8621 4112 8610 4115 8609 4117 8605
      4140 8606 4140 8565 4118 8565 4118 8569
      4114 8569 4094 8588 4093 8623
TIME...MOT...LOC 1724Z 257DEG 29KT 4130 8601 4113 8607 4095 8624

HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPH

Brown
Special weather statement, May 14, 1:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
150 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

INZ008-016-017-141815-
Whitley-Noble-Kosciusko-
150 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL NOBLE...WHITLEY
AND SOUTHEASTERN KOSCIUSKO COUNTIES...

At 150 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Pierceton, or 7
miles southeast of Winona Lake, moving east at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Columbia City, Tri-lakes, South Whitley, Pierceton, Etna, Larwill,
Sidney, Ridinger Lake, Lorane, Merriam, Blue Lake, Collamer, Big
Lake, Goose Lake, Coesse, Loon Lake, Raber, Collins, Peabody and
Wooster.

&&

LAT...LON 4106 8577 4128 8575 4130 8534 4107 8534
TIME...MOT...LOC 1750Z 268DEG 33KT 4115 8570

HAIL...0.25
WIND...40MPH

MCS
Special weather statement, May 14, 2:27 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
227 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

INZ008-009-141900-
Noble-De Kalb-
227 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN NOBLE AND SOUTHERN
DE KALB COUNTIES...

At 227 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Avilla, or near
Garrett, moving east at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Auburn, Garrett, Butler, Avilla, Waterloo, St. Joe, Swan, Concord,
Altona, Ege, Butler Center, Lisbon, Saint Johns, Laotto, Spencerville
In Dekalb County, Moore, Saint Joe and Ari.

This includes Interstate 69 in Indiana between mile markers 322 and
333.

&&

LAT...LON 4127 8487 4126 8533 4142 8528 4143 8483
TIME...MOT...LOC 1827Z 267DEG 39KT 4136 8523

HAIL...0.25
WIND...40MPH

MCS
Special weather statement, May 14, 2:59 PM EDT, 32 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 14, 3:30 PM EDT, 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
330 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

OHZ024-142000-
Van Wert-
330 PM EDT Thu May 14 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT VAN WERT COUNTY...

At 329 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Decatur, moving
east at 50 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Van Wert, Delphos, Convoy, Ohio City, Middlebury, Middle Point,
Willshire, Scott, Wren, Venedocia, Elgin, Wetzel, Monticello,
Glenmore, Cavett, Dull, Abanaka, Jonestown and Schumm.

&&

LAT...LON 4082 8440 4069 8440 4068 8446 4073 8446
      4073 8480 4099 8480 4099 8440 4090 8440
      4090 8434 4082 8434
TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 266DEG 47KT 4087 8484

HAIL...0.25
WIND...40MPH

NWS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 10:34 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXLaPorte41 min
May 14, 11:10 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXLaPorte, Saint Joseph35 min
May 14, 11:52 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXMarshall, Pulaski, Starke38 min
May 14, 12:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXFulton, Marshall, Pulaski, Starke34 min
May 14, 12:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXFulton, Marshall37 min
May 14, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXKosciusko35 min
May 14, 1:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXWhitley25 min
May 14, 2:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXDeKalb33 min
May 14, 2:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXAdams, Blackford, Jay, Wells46 min
May 14, 3:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXVan Wert30 min
May 14, 3:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXAllen, Putnam54 min
May 14, 11:30 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXBranch, Hillsdale, Saint Joseph30 min

Nearby

Flood Watches in Michigan, 2020Flood Watches in Indiana, 2020Every flood watch in 2020

Sources

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