Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 22, NWS Northern Indiana
NWS Northern Indiana issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2026, 1:02 AM EDT for Branch County, Michigan. It was in force for 13 min. 1 report 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
- Apr 15, 2026, 1:02 AM EDT (05:02 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 15, 2026, 1:15 AM EDT
- In force
- 13 min
- Issued by
- NWS Northern Indiana
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Branch County, MI
The radar
The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:02 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 1:04 AM EDT | TORNADO | 3 Sse Coldwater, MI | A survey of damage south of Coldwater Michigan indicates that a circulation may have attempted to touch down on Sanford Rd, north of Fenn Road where a barn suffered damage with debris thrown to the east, impacting portions of a solar farm with some damage to p |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 2 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 8:54 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 00:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 153 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 421 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -24 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1563 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 50 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 73 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 153 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.4
The text
As transmitted.
884
WFUS53 KIWX 150502
TORIWX
MIC023-150515-
/O.NEW.KIWX.TO.W.0022.260415T0502Z-260415T0515Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
102 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Branch County in southwestern Michigan...
* Until 115 AM EDT.
* At 102 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Coldwater, moving southeast at 65 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Coldwater around 105 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Marble
Lake, California, and Batavia.
This includes Interstate 69 in Michigan between mile markers 7 and
15.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4195 8483 4183 8482 4176 8483 4177 8484
4189 8511 4199 8507
TIME...MOT...LOC 0502Z 298DEG 55KT 4192 8505
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
AndersenWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Apr 15, 12:57 AM EDT, 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will continue through today, though the potential for severe weather remains uncertain with intensity dependent on how previous activity evolves.
- Additional chances for showers and thunderstorms exist Thursday through Saturday, with potential for severe weather dependent on the previous thunderstorm activity.
- A Flood Watch remains in effect through this evening as swaths of locally heavy rain is expected on already saturated grounds and high river and lake levels.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 12:57 AM EDT, 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1257 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will continue
through today, though the potential for severe weather remains
uncertain with intensity dependent on how previous activity
evolves.
- Additional chances for showers and thunderstorms exist
Thursday through Saturday, with potential for severe weather
dependent on the previous thunderstorm activity.
- A Flood Watch remains in effect through this evening as swaths
of locally heavy rain is expected on already saturated grounds
and high river and lake levels.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1257 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026
While a primary trough will lift out of the Rockies into the
central plains over the coming 12-18 hours, multiple embedded
waves ahead of this trough through the active flow aloft will
continue to produce periods of shower and thunderstorm activity
across the region today. Forecast soundings depict fairly
saturated atmospheric profiles with precipitable water values
exceeding 1.2-1.4 inches, which will aid in producing heavy
rainfall rates with any thunderstorm that develops. A Flood
Watch remains in effect through this evening for the northern
half of the forecast area given the potential for heavy rain,
though a flooding threat cannot be ruled out further south.
The severe thunderstorm threat remains complicated today with
instability looking more difficult to come by as early morning
convective debris and intermittent shower activity will limit
CAPE values. That said, strong mid- level flow with 40-50 knots
of 0-6km shear will be more than sufficient for organized
convection if adequate surface heating and subsequent
destabilization occurs. For now the severe threat today looks
conditional but worth watching.
A sharper trough moves through the area on Thursday bringing
additional chances for showers and thunderstorms. Strong shear
and adequate instability should bring another day of at least a
marginal severe threat. Attention will then turn to the likely
arrival of a much deeper trough by this weekend, which has
triggered an early highlight by SPC for severe weather potential
on Saturday. A sharp cool-down and gusty winds behind the
associated cold front is likely on Sunday, with a moderation in
temperatures through the first half of next week.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1257 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026
A line of strong SHRA/TSRA with wind gusts 40-50 kts/CIGS 015-025k
ft AGL/VSBY 1-3SM extending from SRN Lake Michigan across SRN MI
early this morning will drift south into NRN IN through 15/12Z
impacting, the terminals at KSBN (between 15/04-07Z) and KFWA
(between 15/06-09Z). Although there will be a lull in thunderstorms
impacting northern IN between 15/12-16Z, MVFR conditions will return
with another round of SHRA/TSRA expanding in coverage and intensity
across the area from west-to-east Wednesday afternoon.
&&
.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for INZ005>009-012-014-
103-104-116-203-204-216.
OH...Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for OHZ001-002-004-005.
MI...Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for MIZ078>081-177-277.
MARINE...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...Edwards
AVIATION...RasmussenHazardous weather outlook, Apr 14, 11:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Northern Indiana 1145 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 INZ005>007-103-104-203-204-MIZ078>081-177-277-160345- Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Northern La Porte-Eastern St. Joseph IN- Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph IN-Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch- Hillsdale-Northern Berrien-Southern Berrien- 1145 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 /1045 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026/ ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 113 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT /3 AM CDT/ WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. There are chances of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday, and then again Friday night and Saturday. Isolated severe storms are possible Wednesday and Thursday with better chances arriving Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. INZ008-009-012-014-116-216-OHZ001-002-004-005-160345- Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Marshall-Northern Kosciusko-Southern Kosciusko- Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry- 1145 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 /1045 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026/ ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Thunderstorms are expected late this evening into Wednesday morning. Storms may be severe with large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes all possible. Heavy rainfall is forecasted across much of the area with swaths of locally higher amounts possibly leading to renewed flood concerns. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. There are chances of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday, and then again Friday night and Saturday. Isolated severe storms are possible Wednesday and Thursday with better chances arriving Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. INZ013-015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-OHZ015-016-024-025-160345- Pulaski-Fulton IN-Whitley-Allen IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash- Huntington-Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert- Allen OH- 1145 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are possible early Wednesday morning. Storms may be severe with large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes all possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There are chances of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday, and then again Friday night and Saturday. Isolated severe storms are possible Wednesday and Thursday with better chances arriving Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. LMZ043-046-160345- New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI- 1145 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 ...TORNADO WATCH 113 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters of southeastern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Additional thunderstorms are expected tonight that may produce hail and wind gusts in excess of 40 knots. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There are continued chances of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday, and then again late Friday.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 14, 7:13 PM EDT, 5 hours 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
713 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0704 PM Hail 1 S Montpelier 40.54N 85.28W
04/14/2026 M1.00 Inch Blackford IN Public
&&
MCSSpecial weather statement, Apr 14, 7:17 PM EDT, 5 hours 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
717 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026
OHZ016-024-025-150000-
Allen OH-Putnam OH-Van Wert OH-
717 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM...EAST
CENTRAL VAN WERT AND ALLEN COUNTIES THROUGH 800 PM EDT...
At 717 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elida, or near Delphos, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lima, Delphos, Bluffton, Fort Shawnee, Spencerville, Columbus Grove,
Elida, Spencerville In Allen County, Cairo, Fort Jennings, Harrod,
Beaverdam, Westminster, Yoder, Gomer, Rushmore, Rimer, Conant,
Vaughnsville, and Hume.
This includes Interstate 75 between mile markers 119 and 141.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
west central Ohio.
&&
LAT...LON 4064 8411 4066 8411 4066 8422 4069 8422
4069 8438 4091 8439 4091 8388 4065 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 270DEG 39KT 4077 8426
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CRLocal storm report, Apr 14, 7:34 PM EDT, 5 hours 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
734 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0733 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNE Southworth 40.77N 84.34W
04/14/2026 M65 MPH Allen OH Public
&&
MCSLocal storm report, Apr 14, 7:48 PM EDT, 5 hours 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
748 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0739 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Westminster 40.71N 84.02W
04/14/2026 M62 MPH Allen OH AWOS
AWOS station KAOH 2 WNW Westminster.
&&
MCSLocal storm report, Apr 14, 9:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
954 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0733 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNE Southworth 40.77N 84.34W
04/14/2026 M65 MPH Allen OH Public
0739 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Westminster 40.71N 84.02W
04/14/2026 M62 MPH Allen OH AWOS
AWOS station KAOH 2 WNW Westminster.
0542 PM Hail 2 WSW Wawpecong 40.57N 86.07W
04/14/2026 M1.25 Inch Miami IN Public
0556 PM Hail 3 S Santa Fe 40.62N 85.99W
04/14/2026 M1.25 Inch Miami IN Public
0535 PM Hail 3 N Palestine 41.22N 85.96W
04/14/2026 M1.50 Inch Kosciusko IN Amateur Radio
0550 PM Hail 2 ENE Warsaw 41.25N 85.81W
04/14/2026 M1.00 Inch Kosciusko IN Public
0622 PM Hail 2 NW Marion 40.56N 85.69W
04/14/2026 M1.00 Inch Grant IN Amateur Radio
0624 PM Hail 2 S Marion 40.52N 85.66W
04/14/2026 M1.75 Inch Grant IN Public
0627 PM Hail 2 N Marion 40.58N 85.66W
04/14/2026 M1.50 Inch Grant IN Trained Spotter
0458 PM Hail 4 NNE Dunkirk 40.81N 86.37W
04/14/2026 M1.75 Inch Cass IN Emergency Mngr
golf ball size hail.
0542 PM Hail Galveston 40.58N 86.19W
04/14/2026 M0.75 Inch Cass IN Trained Spotter
0704 PM Hail 1 S Montpelier 40.54N 85.28W
04/14/2026 M1.00 Inch Blackford IN Public
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Northern Indiana issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 12:25 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX | Branch, Cass, Saint Joseph | 50 min |
| Apr 15, 12:57 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | IWX | Branch, Hillsdale | 48 min |
| Apr 15, 1:14 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | IWX | Branch, Hillsdale | 31 min |
| Apr 15, 1:26 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | IWX | Berrien, Cass | 4 hr |
| Apr 15, 2:58 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | IWX | Cass | 32 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.