Alert archive / Indiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 285, NWS Northern Indiana

August 12, 2026Cass County, White County, Indiana

NWS Northern Indiana issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2026, 12:08 PM EDT for Cass County, White County, Indiana. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 12, 2026, 12:08 PM EDT (16:08 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2026, 12:48 PM EDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Northern Indiana
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Cass County, IN, White County, IN

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:12 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 12, 11:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 182 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 2026-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2166 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 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
2166 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-186 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1652 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
54 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 severe thunderstorm warning 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 12, 6:40 AM EDT, 5 hours 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Several more rounds of storms are expected today through late Thursday.
  • Some of these storms may be severe with damaging winds and heavy rain possible. The best chances today are generally south of US-30.
  • A flood watch remains in effect for areas along and south of US-30 today.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 6:40 AM EDT, 5 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
640 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Several more rounds of storms are expected today through late
  Thursday.

- Some of these storms may be severe with damaging winds and
  heavy rain possible. The best chances today are generally
  south of US-30.

- A flood watch remains in effect for areas along and south of
  US-30 today.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 212 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

Another challenging and very low confidence convection forecast for
today. Latest surface obs and mesoanalysis show frontal boundary
draped right along our southern CWA border. North of this front some
patchy fog has developed but visibilities are highly variable and
guidance suggests that will continue through the morning as cloud
cover increases so no plans for a dense fog advisory at this time.
This front will slowly lift NE through the early morning as the
nocturnal LLJ ramps up. Already seeing some convection fire along
this front but luckily it remains elevated with virtually no surface-
based instability in our area. Will still have to keep an eye on
this activity through the early morning though with some low-end
potential for hail and heavy rain in a region already water-logged.
Hi-res CAM's are struggling immensely to capture this activity and
subsequently predict evolution through the early morning. Forecast
confidence is low but based on overall mesoscale setup expect this
activity to continue and slowly expand NE through the early morning
as the LLJ intensifies and pushes very high theta-e air back into
our CWA (850mb dewpoints in excess of 16C).

There could be a brief lull during the late morning but attention
this turns to the potential for another MCS associated with
convection currently over SD. Here again confidence is not high but
hi-res guidance shows a little better agreement in an MCS tracking
through at least our southern half around midday. Unfortunately all
of the ingredients will be similar to yesterday (very high
instability and deep-layer shear) and a damaging squall line is a
possibility. Slight southward displacement of frontal boundary may
support a focus more toward central IN as reflected in the latest
SWODY1. However, it should be noted that several hi-res members
track this MCS further north with a track, timing, and intensity
eerily similar to yesterday. Straight-line winds would again be the
main concern but hail and an embedded tornado can't be ruled out.

The other issue will be heavy rain. Placement of the front and
convection predicted by several guidance members unfortunately
suggest the same area hit hard with heavy rain yesterday could be in
line to get another round of heavy rain today. Earlier noted
convective uncertainties remain but felt confidence enough to extend
the flood watch for our southern zones that received significant
rain yesterday. Ran the flood watch until 03Z to match up with
neighbors but if the midday convection plays out as expected it
could be canceled early.

With plethora of near-term challenges and uncertainties, did not
spend a lot of time on the later periods. Unfortunately, this front
hangs around through at least Fri morning with potential for several
more rounds of convection. The front finally does briefly surge
north late Fri into Sat which would bring some temporary relief
before the associated cold front arrives Sunday. Behind this front,
a more lasting period of dry weather is anticipated for early next
week.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 640 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

Nocturnal LLJ and associated theta-e advection lighting up
numerous showers and storms around KFWA this morning. This
activity should wane shortly after 12Z but may persist slightly
longer. Ceiling forecast remains low confidence given highly
variable obs and guidance across the area but low-end MVFR is
still likely for a time this morning. Increasing confidence in
MCS passage around 18Z with return to VFR/tranquil conditions by
late afternoon.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flood Watch through this evening for INZ012>015-017-018-020-
     022>027-032>034-116-203-216.
OH...Flood Watch through this evening for OHZ024-025.
MI...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...AGD
AVIATION...AGD

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 12, 10:06 AM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1006 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0939 AM     Hail             Elida                   40.79N 84.20W
08/12/2026  E1.00 Inch       Allen              OH   Public

            Photo on Facebook of quarter size hail in
            Elida. Time estimated via radar.

&&

MJ
Local storm report, Aug 12, 10:08 AM EDT, 2 hours before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1008 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 AM     Hail             Lima                    40.74N 84.10W
08/12/2026  E1.50 Inch       Allen              OH   Public

            Report on Facebook of hail ranging from
            quarters to ping pong ball size in Lima.
            Time estimated via radar.

&&

MJ
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 10:18 AM EDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1018 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

OHZ025-121445-
Allen OH-
1018 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN ALLEN COUNTY
THROUGH 1045 AM EDT...

At 1018 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elida, or near Lima, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Lima, Bluffton, Cairo, Beaverdam, Slabtown, and Rockport.

This includes Interstate 75 between mile markers 128 and 141.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4078 8418 4083 8419 4086 8415 4086 8411
      4088 8411 4089 8388 4074 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 1418Z 280DEG 37KT 4083 8411

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Steinwedel
Local storm report, Aug 12, 10:42 AM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1042 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0941 AM     Hail             1 W Lima                40.74N 84.13W
08/12/2026  E1.50 Inch       Allen              OH   Public

            Ping pong ball size hail on the west side of
            Lima. Time estimated via radar.

&&

MJ
Local storm report, Aug 12, 10:43 AM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1043 AM EDT Wed Aug 12 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 AM     Hail             Fort Shawnee            40.68N 84.13W
08/12/2026  E1.00 Inch       Allen              OH   Public

            Time estimated via radar. Photo on Facebook
            showing hailstones next to a quarter. Fell
            in Fort Shawnee, OH.

&&

MJ
Local storm report, Aug 12, 12:07 PM EDT, 1 minute before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 1:51 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXMiami39 min
Aug 12, 3:34 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXAdams26 min
Aug 12, 5:00 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchIWXWhite4 days
Aug 12, 5:13 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryIWXBlackford, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Wells3 hr
Aug 12, 6:52 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryIWXGrant3 hr
Aug 12, 11:22 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXCass, Fulton, Pulaski, White53 min
Aug 12, 11:29 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningIWX72 min
Aug 12, 11:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningIWXAdams, Blackford, Cass, Fulton, Grant, Huntington and 9 more3 hr
Aug 12, 11:47 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningIWXBlackford, Huntington, Jay, Wabash, Wells37 hr
Aug 12, 11:47 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningIWXGrant, Miami, Wabash53 hr
Aug 12, 11:51 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXLaPorte, Starke39 min
Aug 12, 11:57 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXKosciusko, Whitley33 min
Aug 12, 12:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXFulton, LaPorte, Marshall, Saint Joseph, Starke23 min
Aug 12, 2:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningIWXBlackford, Cass, Grant, Jay, Miami, Pulaski and 2 more5 hr
Aug 12, 4:35 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningIWXAdams, Wells9 days
Aug 12, 7:19 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningIWXWells4 days
Aug 12, 9:13 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXVan Wert32 min
Aug 12, 9:30 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXAllen30 min
Aug 12, 10:18 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXAllen27 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Indiana, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.