Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Northern Indiana

April 15, 2026Branch County, Hillsdale County, Michigan

NWS Northern Indiana issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2026, 1:14 AM EDT for Branch County, Hillsdale County, Michigan. It was in force for 31 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 15, 2026, 1:14 AM EDT (05:14 UTC)
Expired: Apr 15, 2026, 1:45 AM EDT
In force: 31 min
Issued by: NWS Northern Indiana
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Branch County, MI, Hillsdale County, MI

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:16 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 138 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

560 
WFUS53 KIWX 150514
TORIWX
MIC023-059-150545-
/O.NEW.KIWX.TO.W.0023.260415T0514Z-260415T0545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
114 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Branch County in southwestern Michigan...
  Southern Hillsdale County in southeastern Michigan...

* Until 145 AM EDT.

* At 114 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Quincy, or 9 miles southeast of Coldwater, moving
  southeast at 50 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...
  Reading around 120 AM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Cambria, Pittsford, Shadyside, Lake Wilson, Long Lake, Frontier,
Ransom, and Bear Lake.

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 4185 8438 4170 8454 4185 8489 4194 8484
TIME...MOT...LOC 0514Z 296DEG 42KT 4188 8484 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

JA

3 follow-up statements

669 
WWUS53 KIWX 150521
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
121 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

MIC023-150530-
/O.CAN.KIWX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260415T0545Z/
Branch MI-
121 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BRANCH COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM EDT for southeastern
Michigan.

&&

LAT...LON 4185 8438 4170 8454 4184 8482 4191 8479
TIME...MOT...LOC 0520Z 296DEG 42KT 4185 8475 

$$

MIC059-150545-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260415T0545Z/
Hillsdale MI-
121 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
HILLSDALE COUNTY...

At 120 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Reading, or 7 miles southwest of Hillsdale, moving
southeast at 50 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southern Hillsdale County, including the following locations...
Cambria, Pittsford, Shadyside, Lake Wilson, Long Lake, Frontier,
Ransom, and Bear Lake.

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 4185 8438 4170 8454 4184 8482 4191 8479
TIME...MOT...LOC 0520Z 296DEG 42KT 4185 8475 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Andersen

579 
WWUS53 KIWX 150532
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
132 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

MIC059-150545-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260415T0545Z/
Hillsdale MI-
132 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HILLSDALE COUNTY...

At 131 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles north of Pioneer, or 9 miles south of Hillsdale,
moving southeast at 50 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.

Locations impacted include...
Ransom, Frontier, and Shadyside.

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 4185 8438 4170 8454 4181 8466 4186 8463
TIME...MOT...LOC 0531Z 296DEG 42KT 4179 8458 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Andersen

746 
WWUS53 KIWX 150543
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
143 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

MIC059-150552-
/O.EXP.KIWX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260415T0545Z/
Hillsdale MI-
143 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HILLSDALE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 145 AM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM EDT for southeastern
Michigan.

&&

LAT...LON 4185 8438 4170 8454 4181 8466 4186 8463
TIME...MOT...LOC 0542Z 296DEG 42KT 4174 8445 

$$

Andersen

What 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, 17 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, 17 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...Rasmussen

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 14, 11:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 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

Special weather statement, Apr 14, 7:17 PM EDT, 5 hours 57 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

CR

Local storm report, Apr 14, 7:34 PM EDT, 5 hours 40 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

&&

MCS

Local storm report, Apr 14, 7:48 PM EDT, 5 hours 26 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.

&&

MCS

Local storm report, Apr 14, 9:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 20 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, 1:02 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	IWX	Branch	13 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, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes 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.