Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Northern Indiana

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
105 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms, potentially severe, are likely late this
  afternoon into this evening, mainly between 5 pm and 11 pm
  EDT. All hazards (large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes,
  flooding) possible.

- Sharply colder and breezy on Friday.

- Dry this weekend into early next week with temperatures on the
  rise.

- Chances for rain return midweek into the end of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 105 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

Severe parameters still appear favorable for scattered severe storms
mid afternoon into early this evening along a southward sinking
frontal zone. For buoyancy, ongoing low level theta-e advection and
heating under an EML will support ~1500 j/kg of MLCAPE. Updraft
maintenance and growth shouldn't be a problem given deep layer shear
magnitudes in excess of 50 kts. Low level southwest flow will also
strengthen into the frontal zone increasing hodograph curvature and
0-1/3 km SRH values. All hazards (hail/wind/tor) remain on the
table, with large hail and damaging winds the primary threats. Only
change today has been for slightly quicker start and end times of
the convection.

As for forcing, timing and convective evolution... An incoming
subtle mid level impulse and associated 700/500 mb speed max
still looks to be enough to break through the strong EML capping
inversion around 21-22z. Anything before this will likely
struggle to do anything more than small hail. Deeper convection
likely initiates in nw IN and ne IL near the lake breeze
augmented portion of the front where sfc temps are forecast to
range from the mid 40s along the lakeshore to low-mid 80s just
inland. Progged shear/instability profiles mentioned above
should allow for scattered supercells to develop with large hail
probably the main threat initially along/north of the US 24
corridor. Mergers and upscale growth is then expected into
eastern/southern portions of the forecast area 22-02z with
probabilities for damaging winds to 70 mph, large hail, and
isolated tornadoes increasing in this time window. A transition
to more of a hydro threat then remains possible mid evening
through the early overnight, mainly along and south of the US 24
corridor. Convection, hopefully non-severe by this point,
likely fills in as deep layer forcing increases over the
elevated portion of the front where precipitable water values
briefly pool up to 1.50 inches.

Breezy and sharply cooler conditions will follow in post-frontal on
Friday with temps struggling to reach the low 40s. This shot of cold
air will be brief however as return southerly flow redevelops
sending temps back up to near 70 by Monday. Pattern then become more
active toward the middle of next week as moisture streams north into
a developing frontal zone.

&&7

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 101 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

VFR/dry conditions and breezy southwest winds will persist through
at least 21/22z. A frontal zone then drops into the area late this
afternoon into early this evening with showers and storms increasing
in coverage. A few storms could be severe with large hail and wind
gusts in excess of 60 mph. Confidence in this occuring at the
terminals is too low for a mention in TAF however. Variable flight
conditions down into MVFR/IFR expected into this evening with this
convection. Post-frontal northerly winds and what should be a MVFR
stratocu deck otherwise later tonight into Friday morning.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...None.
OH...None.
MI...None.
MARINE...Gale Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 AM EDT Friday for
     LMZ043-046.

&&

DISCUSSION...Steinwedel
AVIATION...Steinwedel

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
108 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

INZ005>009-012>015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-103-104-116-203-204-
216-MIZ078>081-177-277-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-271715-
Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall-
Fulton IN-Whitley-Allen IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington-
Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Northern La Porte-
Eastern St. Joseph IN-Northern Kosciusko-Southern La Porte-
Western St. Joseph IN-Southern Kosciusko-Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-
Branch-Hillsdale-Northern Berrien-Southern Berrien-Williams-
Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH-
108 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026 /1208 PM CDT Thu Mar 26 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms late this afternoon
into this evening. All severe weather hazards are possible along
with heavy rainfall.

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

No hazardous weather is expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.

LMZ043-046-271715-
New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI-
108 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM EDT
FRIDAY...

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Gale Warning.

Thunderstorms are expected late this afternoon into early this
evening. A few of these storms may produce hail and wind gusts in
excess of 35 knots.

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

No hazardous weather is expected.

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