Alert archive / Michigan / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Northern Indiana

April 18, 2026Berrien County, Cass County, Michigan; Elkhart County, Saint Joseph County, Indiana

NWS Northern Indiana issued this tornado warning at Apr 18, 2026, 12:42 AM EDT for Berrien County, Cass County, Michigan; Elkhart County, Saint Joseph County, Indiana. It was in force for 33 min. 7 reports 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 18, 2026, 12:42 AM EDT (04:42 UTC)
Expired
Apr 18, 2026, 1:15 AM EDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Northern Indiana
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Elkhart County, IN, Saint Joseph County, IN, Berrien County, MI, Cass County, MI

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 62 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:44 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 18, 12:46 AM EDTTSTM WND DMGLydick, INReport of 9 trees down.
Apr 18, 12:51 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Nnw Roseland, INDelayed report of tree uprooted with damage to the side of a residence. Time estimated from radar.
Apr 18, 12:51 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Nnw Roseland, INDelayed report. Large tree downed onto a shed near Forest Glen Drive. Time estimated from radar.
Apr 18, 12:51 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 Nw Roseland, INDelayed report. Large trees downed with some trees snapped near Adams Road and Portage Road. Time estimated from radar.
Apr 18, 12:51 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 Nw Roseland, INDelayed report. Trees downed in Portage Road area. Time estimated from radar.
Apr 18, 12:51 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 Nw Roseland, INReport on Facebook of a tree down blocking Portage and Adams.
Apr 18, 12:51 AM EDTTORNADO4 Nw Roseland, INA survey of damage near the Indiana/Michigan state line confirmed a disorganized tornado touched down on Adams Rd, between Mayflower and Portage Rd then quickly tracked across Portage Rd into 2 subdivisions on the east side of Portage Rd. Pockets of tree damag

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 9 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 17, 10:44 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC3 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 259 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 00:00Z on 2026-04-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1309 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 00:00Z on 2026-04-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 212 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1309 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1221 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
264 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
8.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

870 
WFUS53 KIWX 180442
TORIWX
INC039-141-MIC021-027-180515-
/O.NEW.KIWX.TO.W.0025.260418T0442Z-260418T0515Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1242 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Elkhart County in north central Indiana...
  St. Joseph County in north central Indiana...
  Southwestern Cass County in southwestern Michigan...
  Southeastern Berrien County in southwestern Michigan...

* Until 115 AM EDT.

* At 1241 AM EDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
  were located along a line extending from near New Carlisle to North
  Liberty, moving northeast at 55 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.

* These dangerous storms will be near...
  South Bend and New Carlisle around 1245 AM EDT.
  Mishawaka, Georgetown, Gulivoire Park, and Roseland around 1250 AM 
  EDT.
  Niles and Granger around 1255 AM EDT.
  Osceola and Edwardsburg around 100 AM EDT.
  Elkhart and Simonton Lake around 105 AM EDT.

Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Jimtown,
Lydick, Indian Village, Barron Lake, Adamsville, Bertrand,
Chain-o-lakes, Crumstown, Eagle Lake, and Woodland.

This includes Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 67 and
91.
 
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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4182 8601 4160 8592 4150 8648 4158 8649
      4165 8649 4165 8650 4170 8650 4192 8627
TIME...MOT...LOC 0441Z 235DEG 46KT 4166 8647 4155 8643 

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

$$

CLH
3 follow-up statements
982 
WWUS53 KIWX 180455
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1255 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

INC039-141-MIC021-027-180515-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260418T0515Z/
Elkhart IN-St. Joseph IN-Cass MI-Berrien MI-
1255 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN ELKHART...NORTHEASTERN ST. JOSEPH...SOUTHWESTERN CASS
AND SOUTHEASTERN BERRIEN COUNTIES...

At 1254 AM EDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from near Buchanan to Roseland to
near Lakeville, moving northeast at 55 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.

These dangerous storms will be near...
  South Bend, Mishawaka, Niles, Georgetown, Granger, Gulivoire Park, 
  Osceola, and Edwardsburg around 100 AM EDT.
  Elkhart around 105 AM EDT.
  Simonton Lake around 110 AM EDT.

Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Jimtown,
Indian Village, Barron Lake, Adamsville, Bertrand, Eagle Lake, and
Woodland.

This includes Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 72 and
91.
 
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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4182 8601 4160 8592 4153 8634 4168 8632
      4180 8639 4192 8627
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 231DEG 49KT 4182 8633 4172 8626 4156 8627 

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

$$

CLH
501 
WWUS53 KIWX 180506
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
106 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

MIC021-180516-
/O.CAN.KIWX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260418T0515Z/
Berrien MI-
106 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BERRIEN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 AM EDT for north central
Indiana...and southwestern Michigan.

&&

LAT...LON 4182 8601 4160 8592 4156 8620 4182 8621
      4188 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 0506Z 243DEG 44KT 4188 8613 4178 8606 4162 8607 

$$

INC039-141-MIC027-180515-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260418T0515Z/
Elkhart IN-St. Joseph IN-Cass MI-
106 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN ELKHART...NORTHEASTERN ST. JOSEPH AND SOUTHWESTERN CASS
COUNTIES...

At 106 AM EDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from 6 miles west of Cassopolis
to Edwardsburg to near Osceola, moving northeast 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.

These dangerous storms will be near...
  Elkhart, Dunlap, and Simonton Lake around 110 AM EDT.

Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Jimtown,
Barron Lake, Adamsville, Eagle Lake, and Woodland.

This includes Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 80 and
91.
 
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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4182 8601 4160 8592 4156 8620 4182 8621
      4188 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 0506Z 243DEG 44KT 4188 8613 4178 8606 4162 8607 

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

$$

CLH
028 
WWUS53 KIWX 180511
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
111 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

INC039-141-MIC027-180520-
/O.EXP.KIWX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260418T0515Z/
Elkhart IN-St. Joseph IN-Cass MI-
111 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN ELKHART...NORTHEASTERN ST.
JOSEPH AND SOUTHWESTERN CASS COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 115 AM EDT...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 AM EDT for north central
Indiana...and southwestern Michigan.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Northern Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 4182 8601 4160 8592 4156 8620 4182 8621
      4188 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 0510Z 235DEG 46KT 4190 8609 4180 8602 4164 8603 

$$

CLH

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 17, 8:25 PM EDT, 4 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A line of strong to severe storms is expected to move in later this evening and spread east overnight. The greatest severe threat will exist west of Interstate 69 with damaging winds and possibly a tornado or 2 the main concern.
  • Some hydro concerns will exist tonight as locally heavy rain accompanies the line of storms. Overall QPF amounts and expected duration should limit additional impacts, but some areas could see localized flooding issues. Thereafter, no additional significant rain chances are expected into next week.
  • Much cooler temperatures arrive and persist into early next week with chances for near or below freezing temps Sunday and Monday morning.
  • Rain chances may return towards the end of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 17, 8:25 PM EDT, 4 hours 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
825 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A line of strong to severe storms is expected to move in
  later this evening and spread east overnight. The greatest
  severe threat will exist west of Interstate 69 with damaging
  winds and possibly a tornado or 2 the main concern.

- Some hydro concerns will exist tonight as locally heavy rain
  accompanies the line of storms. Overall QPF amounts and
  expected duration should limit additional impacts, but some
  areas could see localized flooding issues. Thereafter, no
  additional significant rain chances are expected into next
  week.

- Much cooler temperatures arrive and persist into early next
  week with chances for near or below freezing temps Sunday and
  Monday morning.

- Rain chances may return towards the end of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 226 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Primary forecast focus is on the well advertised strong to
severe storm threat this evening into the overnight hours in
association with a strong cold front and plentiful upper level
support. Dry conditions are expected through the remainder of
the afternoon and most likely to near or just after 00Z. Numerous
thunderstorms are expected to develop upstream (some already
underway from Minnesota to NE Missouri) in a strongly favorable
environment for all modes of severe. As these storms races ENE,
they should congeal into 1 or more lines and most likely
establish strong cold pools as they move across IL and
eventually into portions of Indiana. It remains to be seen just
how strong they are as they arrive later this evening, but
concerns have increased some that they make it roughly half way
through the area before weakening somewhat. This is depicted by
some expansion east of the Slight and Marginal Risk areas in the
DY1 outlook. By this point, hail should not be a concern, with
areas of wind damage (60 to 70 mph) as well as some brief
tornadoes will be the main concern. The main severe threat
should wrap up in the 6-8Z time frame with lingering stratiform
rain behind the main line. Pops have been adjusted for a
somewhat faster trend given the impacts of the cold pool pushing
the line along sooner than previous indications. With regards
to hydro issues, a Flood Watch was contemplated given the
potential for 0.5" to 1" of rain (locally higher possible), but
with the line being so progressive feel the concerns will be
rather limited and can just be handled by Flood Advisories or
Warnings as needed.

The front will stall out some Saturday as another wave moves
along it. The severe threat should remain to our east but some
showers and maybe a storm are still possible in SE areas,
especially early. After that, we enter a less active period into
at least the middle of next week with the only concern being the
monitoring of colder temperatures and frost/freeze potential
Sunday and Monday morning. Will sort that out after we get this
system out of here.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 804 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

VFR conditions should prevail through mid-to-late evening with
BKN to OVC ceilings around 10k feet AGL at both KSBN and KFWA. A
line of showers and thunderstorms will track eastward across the
area overnight, mainly between 04z and 11z Saturday. Occasional
MVFR conditions will likely accompany the heaviest precipitation
cores, along with gusty and erratic surface winds. Showers will
likely linger in the wake of this convection w/ MVFR ceilings at
or below 2500 feet AGL.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...None.
OH...None.
MI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Sunday for LMZ043-046.

&&

DISCUSSION...Fisher
AVIATION...Hammer
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 17, 11:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1141 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

INZ005-012>015-020-022>024-103-104-116-203-204-216-MIZ078-177-277-
190345-
Elkhart-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall-Fulton IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-
Northern La Porte-Eastern St. Joseph IN-Northern Kosciusko-
Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph IN-Southern Kosciusko-Cass MI-
Northern Berrien-Southern Berrien-
1141 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026 /1041 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026/

...TORNADO WATCH 133 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT /2 AM CDT/ SATURDAY...

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.

   Tornado Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Overnight lows in the 30s Saturday night may allow for frost
formation with a freeze possible Sunday night as temperatures dip
below freezing.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

LMZ043-046-190345-
New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI-
1141 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...TORNADO WATCH 133 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT SATURDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SUNDAY...

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.
   Small Craft Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

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

 Small Craft Advisory.

INZ006>009-017-018-025>027-032>034-MIZ079>081-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-
016-024-025-190345-
Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Whitley-Allen IN-Huntington-Wells-
Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Williams-
Fulton OH-Defiance-Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH-
1141 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

A line of strong to possibly severe storms is forecasted this
evening into the early overnight hours. Damaging winds, heavy rain
and isolated tornadoes are all possible, with the line expected to
weaken as it moves east.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Overnight lows in the 30s Saturday night may allow for frost
formation with a freeze possible Sunday night as temperatures dip
below freezing.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 11:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXBerrien54 min
Apr 18, 12:26 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXBerrien, Cass47 min
Apr 18, 12:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXBerrien, Cass, Saint Joseph46 min
Apr 18, 1:41 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXSaint Joseph34 min
Apr 18, 1:56 PM EDTFrost AdvisoryIWXBerrien, Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Saint Joseph19 hr
Apr 18, 1:56 PM EDTFreeze WatchIWXBerrien, Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Saint Joseph12 hr
Apr 17, 9:30 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningIWXCarroll, Pulaski, White55 hr
Apr 17, 10:59 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningIWX2 hr
Apr 18, 12:16 AM EDTTornado WarningIWXLaPorte29 min
Apr 18, 1:06 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementIWXGrant, Kosciusko, Miami, Wabash24 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Michigan, 2026Tornado Warnings in Indiana, 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.